Buoyancy-based platform assembly for phase change material thermal management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12259193-B2
Application number	US-202217969456-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2022
Priority date	Oct 20, 2021
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

The disclosed technology includes systems and methods of managing temperature distributions of phase change material. The disclosed technology can include a system comprising a platform having a passageway therethrough. The platform can include a density that is less than a density of the phase change material when in a solid phase and greater than a density of the phase change material when in a liquid phase. The system can further include a whip rod disposed at least partially in the passageway of the platform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for managing temperature distribution of a phase change material, the system comprising:
a platform comprising a passageway therethrough, the platform comprising a density that is less than a density of the phase change material when in a solid phase and greater than a density of the phase change material when in a liquid phase;
a whip rod disposed at least partially in the passageway of the platform, wherein the whip rod is an extendable whip rod.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the density of the platform is an effective density.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform is configured to move through the phase change material while the phase change material changes a phase of the phase change material.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to induce localized flow fields of PCM liquid to cause liquid to flow to a location of solidification activity.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises an insulative material.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one heat transfer fluid line at least partially within the platform, wherein the at least one heat transfer fluid line includes a first portion and second portion, the first portion being proximate to a surface of the passageway.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second portion is proximate an outside surface of the platform, the first portion has a first depth beneath the surface of the passageway and second portion has a second depth below the outside surface, and first depth is less than second depth.

8. A system for managing temperature distribution of a phase change material, the system comprising:
a platform comprising a passageway therethrough, the platform comprising a density that is less than a density of the phase change material when in a solid phase and greater than a density of the phase change material when in a liquid phase; and
a whip rod configured to orbit around a central axis of the passageway proximate an inside surface of the passageway.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the whip rod is configured to reduce scale buildup on a surface of the platform.

10. A system for managing temperature distribution of a phase change material, the system comprising:
a platform comprising a passageway therethrough, the platform comprising a density that is less than a density of the phase change material when in a solid phase and greater than a density of the phase change material when in a liquid phase; and
at least one extensible heat transfer fluid line configured to extend or retract as the platform moves between (1) a first position corresponding to a position of the platform when a majority of the phase change material is in the liquid phase and (2) a second position corresponding to a position of the platform when a majority of the phase change material is in the solid phase.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the extensible heat transfer fluid line is tensioned.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a whip rod disposed at least partially in the passageway of the platform.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the whip rod is an extendable whip rod.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the whip rod comprises a variable length section.

15. A system for managing temperature distribution of a phase change material, the system comprising:
a platform comprising a passageway therethrough, the platform comprising a density that is less than a density of the phase change material when in a solid phase and greater than a density of the phase change material when in a liquid phase,
wherein the platform comprises:
a base portion configured to extend laterally along a line between a first phase and a second phase of the phase change material; and
a housing portion affixed to, and extending from, the base portion,
wherein the passage passes through the base portion and the housing portion.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the base portion has a width and the housing portion has a width and the base portion width is greater than the housing portion width.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising an extensible heat transfer fluid line configured to extend or retract as the platform moves between (1) a first position corresponding to a position of the platform when a majority of the phase change material is in the liquid phase and (2) a second position corresponding to a position of the platform when a majority of the phase change material is in the solid phase.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the extensible heat transfer fluid line passes through the base portion and the housing portion.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the base portion and the housing portion both comprises a generally rectangular cuboid shape, and
wherein the passage comprises a generally cylindrical shape.

20. A method for managing temperature distribution of a phase change material, the method comprising:
providing a platform comprising a passageway therethrough, the platform comprising a density that is less than a density of the phase change material when in a solid phase and greater than a density of the phase change material when in a liquid phase; and
providing an extendable whip rod whip rod disposed at least partially in the passageway of the platform.

Assignees

• Georgia Tech Res Inst

Inventors

• Haynes Comas

Classifications

• F28D2020/0069

  Distributing arrangements; Fluid deflecting means · CPC title

• F28D2020/0095

  movable or floating · CPC title

• Y02E60/14

  Thermal energy storage · CPC title

• F28D20/021 Primary

  the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container (F28D20/023 - F28D20/028 take precedence) · CPC title