Air temperature regulating assembly using thermal storage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010876-A1
Application number	US-201514797662-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 13, 2015
Priority date	Jul 14, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An air temperature regulating assembly is provided having a packed rock bed through which air may flow between outer and inner spaces by way of interstices between rock units in order to transfer heat to or from the rock bed, in use. Dampers control the flow of air between the outer space, the inner space, an enclosed air space the temperature of which is to be regulated by raising or lowering it and the surrounding atmosphere. A fan moves air within the assembly. The rock bed is in the form of a pile of rocks having an upper surface that is inclined and directed in the general direction of the sun to directly absorb solar energy. The outer space is defined between the upper inclined surface of the rock bed and a transparent cover spaced upwardly from the surface of the rock bed.

First claim

1 . An air temperature regulating assembly comprising an outer space and an inner space separated by a packed rock bed of individual rock units such that air may flow between the outer and inner spaces by way of interstices between individual rock units in order to provide for the transfer of heat to or from the rock bed, in use; a first damper and a first duct or opening communicating between the outer space and an enclosed air space the temperature of which is to be regulated by raising or lowering it; a second damper and second duct or opening communicating between the inner space and the enclosed air space; a third damper and a third duct or opening communicating directly between the inner space and outer space; a fourth damper and fourth duct or opening communicating between the outer space and the surrounding atmosphere; and a fan for moving air within the inner space; wherein the rock bed is in the form of a pile of rocks having an upper surface that is inclined and directed in the general direction of the sun so that it can directly absorb solar energy and wherein the outer space is defined between the upper inclined surface of the rock bed and a transparent cover spaced upwardly from the surface of the rock bed and forming an upper boundary of the outer space.

2 . An air temperature regulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the rock bed is formed against an upright structure so as to have substantially only the upper inclined surface directed upwards and outwards in the general direction of the sun.

3 . An air temperature regulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the inner space is formed between a lower extremity of the rock bed that is supported by a suitable grid or mesh to maintain the inner space which is located in a corner between a floor and an upright wall supporting the rock bed on its side opposite the inclined upper surface.

4 . An air temperature regulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which a retractable heat retaining layer is provided for the transparent cover to selectively cover it from time to time.

5 . An air temperature regulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which a series of sprinklers is provided for applying water to the top surface of the rock bed as may be required for the purpose of evaporative cooling.

6 . An air temperature regulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the fan is a variable speed fan.

7 . An air temperature regulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the assembly has a positive charging mode of operation in which the first and second dampers are closed or only partially open; the fourth damper is closed and the third damper is open so that air can be drawn through the rock bed from the outer space to the inner space to become warmed by heated rocks near the inclined surface and transfer heat deeper into the rock bed as the air moves towards the inner space and a discharging mode in which the first and second dampers are open and the third damper and fourth dampers are closed so that heat that has been accumulated in the rock bed is recovered by circulating air through the rock bed and thence to the enclosed air space.

8 . An air temperature regulating assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the assembly has a retractable heat retaining layer to selectively cover the transparent cover from time to time wherein the retractable heat retaining layer is closed during a discharge mode of operation.

9 . An air temperature regulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the assembly has a negative charging mode in which the rock bed is cooled using cool night air or evaporative cooling using sprays from the series of water sprinklers, or both wherein the fourth damper is open and cool night air passed through the rock bed in order that the rock bed becomes cooled and a negative discharging mode in which the first and second dampers are open and air from the enclosed air space is circulated through the rock bed to become cooled by contact with the cooled rocks.

10 . An air temperature regulating assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which a controller operates the various dampers and the operation of the fan, the controller operating according to inputs from temperature sensors that sense the temperatures in the enclosed air space, the ambient temperature, and the temperature of air in or leaving the inner space.

11 . An air temperature regulating assembly as claimed in claim 10 in which the inputs to the controller include a pressure drop across the rock bed and a pressure drop between the inner space and the enclosed air space.

Assignees

• Univ Stellenbosch

Inventors

• Reuter Hanno Carl Rudolf
• Terblanche Johann Pierre
• Kröger Detlev Gustav

Classifications

• F24D11/007 Primary

  combined with solar energy · CPC title

• F24D19/109

  system using solar energy · CPC title

• Y02E10/44

  Heat exchange systems · CPC title

• F24D2200/14

  Solar energy · CPC title

• Y02B10/70

  Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies · CPC title