Thermal energy storage and retrieval systems and methods

    公开(公告)号:US11519655B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-12-06

    申请号:US16945281

    申请日:2020-07-31

    申请人: Photon Vault, LLC

    IPC分类号: F25D3/02 F25D3/00

    摘要: The invention provides, in some aspects, a thermal energy storage and retrieval system with a cavity containing a working fluid and a heat transfer surface disposed in the cavity transverse to a gravity field and in thermal coupling with an ice that is formed from and floating in the working fluid. The heat transfer surface transfers to that ice heat from a heat transfer medium that is thermally coupled to the heat transfer surface. According to aspects of the invention in which the ice is less dense than the working fluid, the heat transfer surface is disposed above (with respect to the gravity field) a region of the cavity where that ice is formed or inlet. According to aspects of the invention in which the ice is more dense than the working fluid, the heat transfer surface is disposed below that region.

    Refrigerator water supply system
    2.
    再颁专利

    公开(公告)号:USRE49314E1

    公开(公告)日:2022-11-29

    申请号:US16394639

    申请日:2019-04-25

    发明人: Sang Min Park

    摘要: A refrigerator has a storage chamber opened and closed by a door and a water supply system to supply water to a water taking port disposed at the door. The water supply system includes a water tank and a plurality of connecting pipes. The water tank includes an elongated cylindrical shaped body and a cap configured to form a reservoir such that a section of the cap overlaps the body, a first port having a passageway integral with the elongated cylindrical shaped body, and a second port integral with the cap, the second port being aligned in a direction different from a longitudinal axis of the water tank. The connecting pipes include a first water line positioned in an opening of the first port in a direction different from the longitudinal axis of the water tank, and a second water line positioned in an opening of the second port.

    PRESSURE ACTIVATED RECHARGING COOLING PLATFORM

    公开(公告)号:US20220183252A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-16

    申请号:US17687121

    申请日:2022-03-04

    IPC分类号: A01K1/015 A01K1/035 F25D3/02

    摘要: A pressure activated recharging cooling platform for cooling an object is provided. The cooling platform comprises a temperature regulation layer, a support layer, and a channeled covering layer. The temperature regulation layer is adapted to hold a composition. The temperature regulation layer has a plurality of angled segments, wherein angled segments within a sealed perimeter of the temperature regulation layer are formed by a top side and a bottom side at a predefined distance, and channels, wherein the channels substantially form sides by contacting the top side with the bottom side at a distance lesser than the predefined distance. The support layer is substantially bonded to the bottom side of the temperature regulation layer and is comprised of material sufficiently pliable to deform and sufficiently rigid to withstand collapse in response to the weight of the object. The channeled covering layer encompasses the support and temperature regulation layers.

    PRESSURE ACTIVATED RECHARGING COOLING PLATFORM

    公开(公告)号:US20220095580A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-03-31

    申请号:US17540395

    申请日:2021-12-02

    IPC分类号: A01K1/015 A01K1/035 F25D3/02

    摘要: A pressure activated recharging cooling platform for cooling an object is provided. The cooling platform comprises a temperature regulation layer, a support layer, and a channeled covering layer. The temperature regulation layer is adapted to hold a composition. The temperature regulation layer has a plurality of angled segments, wherein angled segments within a sealed perimeter of the temperature regulation layer are formed by a top side and a bottom side at a predefined distance, and channels, wherein the channels substantially form sides by contacting the top side with the bottom side at a distance lesser than the predefined distance. The support layer is substantially bonded to the bottom side of the temperature regulation layer and is comprised of material sufficiently pliable to deform and sufficiently rigid to withstand collapse in response to the weight of the object. The channeled covering layer encompasses the support and temperature regulation layers.

    APPARATUS AND METHOD OF COOLING FLUIDS
    7.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20190331412A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-10-31

    申请号:US16477065

    申请日:2018-01-11

    IPC分类号: F25D31/00 F25D3/02

    摘要: An apparatus for cooling a fluid includes a cooling medium (32) and a drive mechanism (37). The cooling medium (32) is arranged to accept, in use, an insert (36) comprising a fluid contained by a wall such that the cooling medium is in thermal contact with a first side of the wall and causes heat from the fluid in contact with a second side of the wall to flow through the wall to the first side to cool the fluid. The drive mechanism (37) is arranged to apply a series of shock accelerations to the wall of the insert for a period of time during cooling of the fluid.

    Cooling apparatus and method
    8.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10238007B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-03-19

    申请号:US14767903

    申请日:2014-01-17

    发明人: Ian Tansley

    摘要: Some embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for cooling an article. The apparatus comprises a heat exchanger arranged to be fed with fluid from a fluid reservoir disposed, in use, above the heat exchanger. The fluid reservoir includes cooling means for cooling fluid in the reservoir such that the fluid flows under gravity into the heat exchanger so as to cool an article. The apparatus may be arranged to cool one or more batteries or other articles, for example in a telecommunications base station.

    Cascading ice luge
    9.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10215484B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-02-26

    申请号:US15367210

    申请日:2016-12-02

    摘要: Embodiments of ice luge apparatuses and methods for making cascading ice luges are disclosed. Apparatuses embodying the principles of the invention feature shelves in a stepwise configuration and alternative configurations. The shelves are positioned by supporting structures. Ice blocks can be frozen in trays such that pre-formed lanes are formed in the ice blocks. The trays can be of convenient size that can be placed in a conventional household freezer. Ice blocks can be arranged and oriented so that a liquid or beverage placed on the uppermost ice block will flow in the preformed lanes in a cascading manner thereby rapidly cooling the beverage with minimal dilution.