Systems with multi-circuited, phase-change composite heat exchangers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020232662-A1
Application number	US-202016842076-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 7, 2020
Priority date	May 26, 2017
Publication date	Jul 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system comprising a first plurality of microchannels, a second plurality of microchannels in thermal communication with the first plurality of microchannels such that the first plurality of microchannels and second plurality of microchannels form a heat exchanger, and a phase change composite in thermal communication with the heat exchanger and methods of operating are disclosed herein.

First claim

1 . A system comprising:
a first plurality of tubes; a second plurality of tubes in thermal communication with the first plurality of tubes such that the first plurality of tubes and second plurality of tubes form a heat exchanger; and a phase change composite in thermal communication with the heat exchanger.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of tubes is connected to a first circuit comprising a first fluid, the second plurality of tubes is connected to a second circuit comprising a second fluid and a compressor, and the first circuit is configured to be in thermal communication with an indoor airflow.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the phase change composite comprises a phase change material embedded in the pores of a high thermal conductivity matrix.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first fluid is a refrigerant.

5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first circuit comprises a first coil and a fan.

6 - 15 . (canceled)

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the phase change composite is in thermal communication with a third plurality of tubes connected to a source of domestic hot water.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises in an array of microchannels.

18 . A system comprising:
a first circuit comprising a first fluid, a pump, and a first coil; a second circuit comprising a second fluid, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve; and a heat exchanger comprising a phase change composite; wherein: at least a portion of the first fluid is configured to flow through the heat exchanger, at least a portion of the second fluid is configured to flow through the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger is configured to facilitate thermal communication between the first fluid, the second fluid, and the phase change composite.

19 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising:
a first airflow, wherein: the first coil is configured to facilitate thermal communication between the first airflow and the first fluid.

20 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising:
a second airflow, wherein: the condenser is configured to facilitate thermal communication between the second airflow and the second fluid.

21 . The system of claim 19 , wherein:
the first circuit is configured to remove heat from the first airflow and deposit heat in the phase change composite at a first rate, and the second circuit is configured to remove heat from the phase change composite and deposit heat in the second airflow at a second rate.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein:
the phase change composite is said to be charging when the first rate is greater than the second rate, and the phase change composite is said to be discharging when the first rate is less than the second rate.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein:
the system is operated such that the phase change composite is charged overnight and discharged during the day.

24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein:
the system is operated such that the phase change composite is charged during times when electricity costs are low, and the phase change composite is discharged during times when electricity costs are high.

25 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the phase change composite comprises a phase change material embedded in the pores of a high thermal conductivity matrix.

26 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the first fluid is water and the second fluid is a refrigerant.

27 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the first fluid is a refrigerant and the second fluid is a refrigerant.

28 . The system of claim 18 , wherein:
the first circuit comprises a first plurality of tubes configured such that the first fluid flows through the first plurality of tubes, and the second circuit comprises a second plurality of tubes configured such that the second fluid flows through the second plurality of tubes.

Assignees

• Alliance Sustainable Energy

Inventors

• Kozubal Eric
• Woods Jason David
• Bonnema Eric Jason
• Faramarzi Ramin Teimouri

Classifications

• F24F5/0021 Primary

  using phase change material [PCM] for storage · CPC title

• F24F5/001

  Compression cycle type · CPC title

• Y02E60/14

  Thermal energy storage · CPC title