U.S. patent number 3,785,365 [Application Number 05/335,771] was granted by the patent office on 1974-01-15 for temperature conditioning means.
Invention is credited to Ingeborg Laing, Nikolaus Laing.
United States Patent |
3,785,365 |
Laing , et al. |
January 15, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
TEMPERATURE CONDITIONING MEANS
Abstract
A temperature conditioning device for controlling temperature in
a room where said device has a heat source wall, a heat sink wall,
and a chamber between the walls adapted to be filled with a
saturated vapor of a low boiling point heat carrier whereby the
vapor of the condensate serves to transfer heat between the walls.
A temperature responsive condensate control valve may be included
to control flow of condensate of the heat carrier from one wall on
which it may condense to the other wall on which it vaporizes such
that the valve serves to regulate transfer of heat between the
walls. A method of charging a temperature conditioning device with
a low boiling point heat carrier which includes cooling the device,
evacuating a chamber in the device, and then injecting in liquid
form a low boiling point heat carrier into the chamber.
Inventors: |
Laing; Ingeborg (Stuttgart,
DT), Laing; Nikolaus (Stuttgart, DT) |
Family
ID: |
27145876 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/335,771 |
Filed: |
February 26, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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830457 |
Jun 4, 1969 |
3720198 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/400; 165/54;
165/104.21; 392/345; 165/104.11; 165/104.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24S
50/80 (20180501); F24D 13/022 (20130101); F24C
15/34 (20130101); C09K 5/063 (20130101); F24D
13/024 (20130101); F28D 20/02 (20130101); F28D
20/023 (20130101); C09K 5/06 (20130101); F28D
17/00 (20130101); F24F 5/0046 (20130101); F24H
7/002 (20130101); F24F 5/00 (20130101); F28D
15/02 (20130101); F24D 13/02 (20130101); F24H
7/062 (20130101); F24D 11/00 (20130101); Y02B
10/24 (20130101); Y02B 30/26 (20130101); Y02B
30/00 (20130101); Y02P 20/10 (20151101); Y02E
60/145 (20130101); Y02E 60/147 (20130101); Y02E
60/14 (20130101); Y02E 10/40 (20130101); Y02A
30/272 (20180101); Y02B 10/20 (20130101); Y02P
20/124 (20151101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24D
11/00 (20060101); F24C 15/00 (20060101); F24D
13/02 (20060101); F24F 5/00 (20060101); F24C
15/34 (20060101); F24H 7/06 (20060101); F24H
7/00 (20060101); F24J 2/40 (20060101); C09K
5/00 (20060101); C09K 5/06 (20060101); F28D
20/02 (20060101); F28D 17/00 (20060101); F28D
15/02 (20060101); F24h 007/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;165/105 ;126/400 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: O'Dea; William F.
Assistant Examiner: Anderson; Wiliam C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Willis H. Taylor, Jr. et al.
Parent Case Text
REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS
This application is a division of our copending application Ser.
No. 830,457 filed June 4, 1969 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3720198.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A temperature conditioning device for conditioning the
temperature of a room where said device is adapted to form part of
a wall or ceiling of a room and where said device comprises a
hollow body member having a first wall adapted to act as a heat
absorbing sink and a second wall adapted to act as a heat emitting
source and where the first and second walls are adapted to face
zones of different temperatures, characterized in that said hollow
body member forms a hermetic chamber, in having a heat carrier
medium in said chamber where said medium is in the form of a
saturated vapor and a condensate of said vapor, in having an
insulation material in said chamber where said insulation material
is permeable to the saturated vapor in the direction of the
temperature gradient, and in having a condensate return means for
conveying condensate from said second wall acting as a heat
emitting source to said first wall acting as a heat absorbing
sink.
2. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 1 further
characterized in having a heat storage element in heat conductive
communication with said first wall acting as a heat absorbing sink
and where said first wall is adapted to face the room to be
conditioned.
3. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 2 further
characterized in that said heat storage element is positioned
within the hollow body member.
4. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 2 further
characterized in that said heat storage element comprises a
meltable latent storage substance having a crystallization
temperature below the desired room temperature during the day and
above the lowest temperature of the heat emitting source during the
night when said device is used to cool a room.
5. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 2 further
characterized in that said heat storage element comprises a
meltable latent storage substance, the crystallization temperature
of which is between 10.degree.C. and 20.degree.C.
6. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 2 further
characterized in having a plastic sheet container enclosing said
heat storage element.
7. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 2 further
characterized in that approximately one-half of said heat storage
element comprises a mixture of sodium sulphate and sodium chloride
and the other half a mixture of borax and water.
8. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 2 further
characterized in that the heat storage element comprises a meltable
latent heat storage substance the crystallization temperature of
which is above the desired room temperature and is below the
highest temperature of the second wall when said device is used to
heat a room.
9. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 8 further
characterized in having absorbent means in said chamber adjacent
said second wall acting as a heat emitting source and extending to
said heat storage element, and where said second wall is adapted to
face the interior of a room to be heated whereby condensate
collected on said second wall will be distributed to said heat
storage element.
10. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 9 further
characterized in having a heating means in said device in heat
conductive communication with said heat storage element.
11. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 9 wherein
said heat storage substance comprises sodium sulphate
octohydrate.
12. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 2 further
characterized in that said condensate return means includes an
intercepting member positioned between said second wall acting as a
heat emitting source and said heat storage element wherein said
intercepting member has a plurality of cell-like indentations for
collecting condensate with apertures on the sides of said
indentations through which vapor may pass.
13. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 2 further
characterized in having a secondary support structure within said
heat storage element.
14. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 1 further
characterized in that said condensate return means includes a vapor
permeable separating wall disposed between said first and second
walls for intercepting condensate formed on one of said walls.
15. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 14 further
characterized in having a collecting channel for collecting
condensate intercepted by said separating wall and in having a
valve for controlling flow of condensate from said collecting
channel to said first wall acting as a heat absorbent sink.
16. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 1 further
characterized in that said condensate return means includes a
separating wall disposed between said first and second walls
wherein said separating wall has perforations through which vapor
may flow, a trough for collecting condensate formed on said second
wall, and an aperture leading from said trough to said first wall
means whereby condensate may flow to said first wall means.
17. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 16 further
characterized in having an absorbent means in said chamber for
conducting condensate over said first wall means.
18. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 17 further
characterized in that said absorbent layer is disposed between said
storage element and said insulation material.
19. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 16 further
characterized in having a valve for controlling flow of condensate
through said aperture.
20. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 19 further
characterized in that said valve is temperature responsive to close
below a predetermined temperature.
21. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 20 further
characterized in having a housing the walls of which contain a
first meltable latent heat storage mass enclosing said valve.
22. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 21 further
characterized in having a second meltable latent heat storage mass
in the walls of said housing and having a main meltable latent heat
storage substance in said chamber and wherein said first and second
meltable heat storage masses have a crystallization temperature
respectively a few degress above and below the crystallization
temperature of said main meltable latent storage substance.
23. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 1 further
characterized in having side walls connecting said first and second
walls wherein said side walls have heat-resistance properties
decreasing the flow of heat in the direction of the temperature
gradient.
24. A temperature conditioning device according to claim 23 further
characterized in that said side walls are corrugated to increase
their effective length between said first and second walls and thus
increase the resistance to heat flow.
25. An insulation panel adapted to form part of a wall or ceiling
of a room and where said panel comprises a hollow body member
having a first wall adapted to act as a heat absorbing sink and a
second wall adapted to act as a heat emitting source and where the
first wall is adapted to face a zone of a lower temperature and the
second wall is adapted to face a zone of a higher temperature,
characterized in that said hollow body member forms a hermetic
chamber, in having a heat carrier medium in said chamber where said
medium is in the form of a saturated vapor and a condensate of said
vapor and where said vapor has a condensation temperature which is
above said lower temperature, in having an insulating material in
said chamber where said insulating material is permeable to the
saturated vapor in the direction of the temperature gradient, and
in having a condensate return means for conveying condensate from
said second wall acting as a heat emitting source to said first
wall acting as a heat absorbing sink.
26. A temperature conditioning device for conditioning the
temperature of a room where said device is adapted to form part of
a wall or ceiling of a room and where said device comprises a
hollow body member having a first wall adapted to act as a heat
absorbing sink and a second wall adapted to act as a heat emitting
source and where the first and second walls are adapted to face
zones of different temperatures, characterized in that said hollow
body forms a hermetic chamber, in having a heat carrier medium in
said chamber where said medium is in the form of a saturated vapor
and a condensate of said vapor, in having an insulating material in
said chamber where said insulating material is permeable to the
saturated vapor in the direction of the temperature gradient, in
having a condensate return means for conveying condensate from said
second wall acting as a heat emitting source to said first wall
acting as a heat absorbent sink, in having a heat storage element
in heat conductive communication with said first wall acting as a
heat absorbing sink said element comprising a meltable latent heat
storage substance and in having a support structure distributed
through said substance carrying seed crystals where said crystals
are held uniformally throughout said substance.
Description
GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a temperature conditioning
device which in one form may be utilized to keep the temperature of
a room within a predetermined range by controlling flow of heat
from the interior of a room to the exterior thereof through the use
of storage elements when the device is used as an air conditioner.
It is known that heat storage elements may be used to maintain
temperature in a room within a desired range where the heat storage
elements absorb heat from a room during the day and release the
same to the exterior of a room during the night. Such storage
bodies which act as heat sinks have the same effect as walls of
rooms having extremely high heat capacity, as for example basement
walls or rooms having very thick walls where the temperature of the
walls during the day is substantially below the outside temperature
and where the heat accumulated by the walls during the day is
transferred to the exterior of a room at night when the outside
temperature drops below that of the walls.
The invention is directed towards controlling temperature of a room
in the same general manner as that provided by the use of thick
walls of high heat storage capacity but by providing structure
which accomplishes this in a more efficient manner. Broadly, the
invention comprises a temperature conditioning device having a wall
acting as a heat sink adapted to face the interior of a room and a
wall acting as a heat source adapted to face the exterior of a room
when the device is used to cool a room. The wall acting as a heat
source may comprise a heat storage element. A hermetic chamber is
provided between the walls and is adapted to be filled with a
saturated vapor of a low boiling point heat carrier. Control means
are provided to regulate flow of the condensate of the heat carrier
from the heat source wall upon which the vapor of the heat carrier
condenses to the heat sink wall or storage element upon which the
condensate vaporizes. When the condensate is allowed to flow to the
heat storage element, the vapor formed by the evaporation of the
condensate contacting the storage element will serve as a means to
carry the heat from the storage element to the heat source wall and
thus to the exterior of a room where the heat absorbed by the heat
storage element during the day may be discharged at night. When the
condensate is prevented from flowing on to the heat storage
element, the conditioning device acts as an insulation means to
prevent passage of heat between the heat storage element and the
heat source wall. Such a device acts as a temperature conditioning
means in a more efficient degree than a wall of extremely high heat
capacity (i.e. thick brick walls) in that heat may be discharged
directly from the room without first discharging the heat in the
wall.
A device constructed according to the invention further has the
advantage that it can be easily combined with heating elements in
order to heat a room. This can be accomplished by including a heat
storage element having heating means connected thereto to heat the
same and a means for controlling flow of a saturated vapor of the
heat carrier from the heat storage element to a heat emitting or
heat source wall of the device facing the room. Where the device is
included in the ceiling of the room. capillary means are provided
to carry the condensate from the heat source wall on which the
vapor condenses and which faces the ceiling of a room upwardly to
the heat storage element.
The invention also relates in a further form to a temperature
conditioning device which acts as an insulation panel. In this
embodiment the device need not include any heat storage element but
may comprise only the heat source and heat sink walls separated by
a hermetic chamber having a condensate of a low boiling point heat
carrier therein. Preferably the device is in panel form with the
heat source wall facing the exterior of a room and the heat sink
wall facing the interior of the room. During the day when the
outdoor temperature is above the condensation temperature of the
saturated vapor of the heat carrier, no condensate will form on the
heat source wall and no heat will be transferred between the walls
such that the device acts as an insulation means. At night when the
outdoor temperature drops below the condensation temperature,
condensate will form on the heat source wall, move to the heat sink
wall where it is vaporized and condense again on the heat source
wall transferring heat during the process from the interior of a
room to the outdoors.
The invention also relates to a temperature responsive control
valve to automatically provide a rectifier effect to the
conditioning device, either when used as an air conditioner or as
an insulation means, to shut off flow of condensate to the heat
sink wall when the average outside temperature drops below the
desired room temperature over a prolonged period of time, such as
occurs during the winter. The valve also, however, must allow
transfer of heat when the outside temperature drops below the room
temperature over brief time spans, as for example during the night
in the summertime. Alternatively, a manually operated control valve
may be utilized to control condensate flow.
Broadly the control valve comprises a bimetallic coil which opens
and shuts a valve in response to temperature change to control flow
of condensate from the heat source wall of the device on which the
vapor of the heat carrier condenses to the heat sink wall. The
valve is housed in a casing which is immersed in condensate. The
casing walls preferably have two heat storage substances therein
with one substance having a crystallization temperature slightly
above the crystallization temperature of the main heat storage
substance associated with the heat storage element and the other
substance having a crystallization temperature slightly below that
of the main substance. This construction will in effect increase
the response time of the valve to temperature change and compensate
for periods of the year when outdoor temperatures over a prolonged
period of time are below the desired room temperature but which may
rise briefly during the day to the desired room temperature, as for
example might occur during an autumn day. The effect of increasing
the response time is to assure that the valve remains closed during
those short periods of time that the temperature is at or above the
desired room temperature.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an end view of a temperature conditioning device
constructed according to the invention in panel form with the end
of the panel removed and illustrating a phase of operation when the
panel may cool a room, as for example during a summer day;
FIG. 2 is a view of the device of FIG. 1 illustrating a phase of
operation when the device discharges heat to the exterior of a
room, as for example during a summer night;
FIG. 3 is a view of the device of FIG. 1 when acting as an
insulation panel, as for example during the winter;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a condensate
collecting dish for use in the conditioning device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of a temperature
conditioning device used as an intermediate ceiling member with a
condenser portion on the outer wall of a building;
FIG. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of a temperature
conditioning device in panel form having a supplementary electrical
heating means and used for heating a room;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a condensate control valve for use
with a conditioning device of the type shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 illustrates the mode of operation of the condensate control
valve of FIG. 7 in summer during brief periods of cooling;
FIG. 9 illustrates the mode of operation of the condensate control
valve of FIG. 7 in winter during brief periods of heating; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a secondary support structure that
may be included in a heat storage element used in a temperature
conditioning device constructed according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a temperature conditioning
device in panel form comprising an inner heat absorbing wall 130
acting as a heat sink adapted to face a room the temperature of
which is to be regulated and an outer heat emitting wall 133 acting
as a heat source adapted to be exposed to the exterior of a room. A
heat storage element 132 joins and is in heat conductive connection
with the inner wall 130 and may be considered as comprising part of
heat sink wall 130. The heat storage element which acts as a heat
sink to abosrb heat from the interior of a room during day time
operation is preferably filled with a meltable heat storage
substance, for example sodium sulphate octohydrate, and preferably
a material having a crystallization temperature below 18.degree.C.
A chamber 134 is included between the outer heat source wall 133
and the heat storage element 132 which chamber may be substantially
filled with an insulation material, for example a permeable,
porous, loose filling cellular insulation material. An apertured
wall member 135 is positioned directly below the outer wall 133 and
acts as a collecting means for collecting condensate that forms on
the wall 133.
A condensate of a low boiling point heat carrier having a boiling
point less than the maximum operating temperature of the device,
for example a chlorinated hydrogen floride having a boiling point
over 50.degree.C., is included in the chamber 134. A saturated
vapor of the carrier may then pass through the insulating material
filling the chamber 134 and on through the apertures 201 of the
apertured wall member to reach the heat source wall 133 where the
vapor is condensed into a condensate. The member 135, as more
clearly shown in FIG. 4, has a plurality of cell-like indentations
200 with apertures 201 in the sides of the indentations such that
the condensate which collects on wall 133 will fall onto the area
of the member 135 between the indentations 200 and flow in the
direction of arrow 202 to a condensate collecting channel 136. A
condensate flow valve means 137 is included in channel 136 and
serves to regulate flow of condensate back to chamber 134. The flow
valve is preferably of bimetallic form and responsive to
temperature of the condensate.
The top of the storage element 132 is covered by an absorbant layer
of paper 138 whereby the condensate that flows back through valve
137 will be evenly distributed over the top of the storage
element.
The heat source wall 133 of the device may comprise sheet metal or
concrete. When the wall is of sheet metal, grooves 139 may be
provided to act as a stiffening means. The side walls 140 of the
device connecting the walls 130 and 133 are corrugated with the
waves of the corrugations extending parallel to the walls 130 and
133 which effectively increase the length of the side walls to
increase the resistance to heat flow in the side walls in the
direction of the temperature gradient. The corrugated construction
is such that adjacent panels may be interlocked.
Preferably the low boiling heat carrier has a high molecular weight
so that its vapor will likewise have a high molecular weight in
order that the resultant Brownian molecular speed, which determines
the kinetic heat transfer of the vapor, remains low. In addition it
is desirable that the cellular construction of the insulating
material be so dimensioned that it coincides in the order of
magnitude with the free mean path of the vapor molecules to further
reduce heat transfer. This combination of molecular weight of the
vapor and cellular size of the insulating material results in an
insulating layer having a coefficient of thermal conductivity much
smaller than that of a layer made up of the best air filled
insulating materials.
The operation of the conditioning device is as follows. When the
heat source wall 133 becomes heated as during the day as shown in
FIG. 1, the temperature responsive valve means 137 is closed. This
prevents condensate from flowing into chamber 134 so that the
device acts as an insulating panel in preventing heat from the
outside of the room entering the room. At the same time, the heat
storage element which is thermally connected to the heat sink wall
130 will absorb heat from the interior of the room to cool the
same.
When the temperature of the heat source wall 133 and the condensate
in channel 136 drops below the critical temperature of the storage
element, 18.degree.C. where the storage element has a material
therein which crystallizes at 18.degree.C., the temperature
responsive valve 137 will open thus allowing condensate to flow
from the channel 136 onto the absorbant paper 138 where it is
distributed over the storage element. This phase of operation which
usually occurs during the night when the outdoor temperature drops
is illustrated in FIG. 2. The condensate on the storage element
will then be heated up by the heat stored in the element and
vaporize such that a saturated vapor of the heat carrier will rise
to contact the heat source wall 133 where the vapor will condense
thus carrying heat from the storage element to the wall 133 during
the process. The condensate will then again flow back through the
open valve 137 to the storage element such that there is a
continuous evaporation and condensation cycle which serves to
discharge the heat absorbed by the storage element during the day
to the outdoors during the night. During summer the conditioning
device thus acts as an air conditioning unit but without the
disadvantage of air currents, noise, power consumption and
maintenance. The only mechanical element in the device is the
condensate valve 137 which has no sliding parts and hence no parts
are subject to wear.
During winter the conditioning device as shown in FIG. 1 would
continuously transport heat from the interior of a room to the
outdoors, even during the day time, if there were no provisions
made to close the valve 137. This is because the valve is set to
normally open when the temperature of the heat source wall 133 and
condensate in channel 136 drops below that of the crystallization
temperature of the storage element. Manual or automatic means are
therefore provided for closing the valve during winter or other
periods of prolonged low temperature.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated the room conditioning
device shown operating in the wintertime and where it acts only as
an insulation device. In this instance the valve 137 is locked
closed and thus prevents flow of condensate from the channel 136
back to the chamber 134 so that there will be no transfer of
interior heat through the chamber 134.
If the device is to act only as an insulation means, it is not
necessary to include a heat storage element. In such event the
structure of the insulation means would be the same as that shown
in FIGS. 1-3 without the storage element 132 and the operation of
the device would be the same as previously described.
Further if the device were to be used only in warm climates not
subjected to prolonged periods of low temperature, it would not be
necessary to include a condensate flow control valve. In this
instance, during the day the heat source wall 133 would be above
the condensation temperature of the vaporized heat carrier and
there would be no heat transfer between the walls. At night, the
carrier would condense on the wall 133 and flow back to wall 130
where it would be vaporized to again condense on wall 133
transferring heat during the process.
FIG. 5 illustrates a further form of the invention where the
conditioning device is adapted to be applied to a ceiling 191 of a
room and where the heat emitting portion of the device is to be
affixed to the exterior wall 190 of an upper room. The storage
element 192 is generally similar to the storage element 132 of FIG.
1 and contains a meltable storage material 193. A space 194 is
provided above the element 192 and communicates by tube 195 to a
condenser 196 mounted on the wall 190. The condenser includes a
condensate collecting means 197 having therein a temperature
responsive condensate flow valve 198 which regulates flow of
condensate in the direction of the arrow 199 towards the heat
storage element. In this instance the portion of the device facing
the interior of a room and on which the storage element is mounted
corresponds to the heat sink wall of FIG. 1, the side walls of the
condenser to the heat source wall of FIG. 1, and the space 194, the
interior of the tube 195 and of the condenser 196 to the chamber of
FIG. 1.
The operation of this device is generally similar to that of FIG. 1
in that heat is absorbed during the day by the storage element 192
to cool a room. When the outside temperature and temperature of the
condensate in collecting means 197 drops below the crystallization
temperature of the heat storage substance 193, the temperature
responsive valve 198 opens allowing condensate to flow through tube
195 onto element 192. The condensate is then vaporized and rises to
the condenser where the vapor is condensed and flows back to valve
197. The saturated vapor thus serves to transfer heat absorbed by
the storage substance during the day to the condenser where the
heat is emitted to the exterior of a room during the night.
The principal of the invention is also applicable for use with
devices to heat a room. Referring to FIG. 6, a conditioning device
is shown which includes a heat storage element 220 disposed between
two insulation layers 221 and 222 with the former layer being
hermetically separated from the latter layer. The storage element
contains a meltable heat storage substance having a crystallization
temperature above the desired operating temperature of the room to
be heated, for example sodium sulphate octahydrate having a melting
point over 32.degree.C. Conventional electrical heating elements
233 are provided to charge the heat storage element 220, for
example during the night when electricity tariffs are low. A
condensate 226 of a heat carrier having a boiling point above the
maximum operating temperature of the device is included in the
device. A valve 224 controlled by a room thermostat is opened to
establish a connection between a capillary skin means 225 and the
condensate 226 when it is desired to withdraw heat from the heat
storage element to heat a room.
The condensate which is carried to the heat storage element by the
capillary skin means 225 contacts the element and vaporizes with
the saturated vapor then moving to contact the wall 227 facing the
interior of a room and on which it condenses. The saturated vapor
thus serves to transfer heat from the heat storage element to the
wall 227 which then becomes a heat emitting or heat source wall
while the heat storage element acts as a heat sink wall. When the
temperature of the room reaches a predetermined level, the
thermostat controlled valve 224 will close thus breaking the
vaporization-condensation cycle to stop transfer of heat. Since the
insulation layer 221 is hermetically separated from the saturated
vapor, there is heat transfer only from the element 220 towards the
surface 227.
While electrical heat elements 223 are disclosed, the conditioning
device is also applicable for use with hot oil heating. Hot oil
installations usually have maximum operating temperatures on the
order of 400.degree.C. and the pipes used to transmit the hot oil
to the point of use usually have small cross sections such that
when operated continuously during the day. the heat loss occurring
is considerable because of the high temperatures utilized. This
loss however may be minimized if the devices are operated for short
cycles, for example on the order of two hours, in conjunction with
heat storage devices of the type shown in FIG. 6.
Panels of the type shown in FIG. 6 may be intermixed with panels
such as the type shown in FIG. 1 such that full air conditioning
can be also obtained as well as full heating.
Referring to FIG. 7 there is illustrated in greater detail a
temperature responsive valve similar to valve 137 of FIG. 1. A
bimetallic coil 160 pivotally mounts a valve disc 161 so that it
may seat and unseat with respect to valve seat 162 to control flow
of condensate through the valve seat. A magnet 163 is positioned on
the opposite side of the valve disc 161 from the seat 162 and
cooperates with the magnet 164 mounted on the valve disc to insure
a definite two point change over of temperatures at which the valve
disc 161 will move. The coil, as well as the magnets, are installed
with an insulation casing 165, which is situated in a condensate
collecting channel. The casing walls in turn preferably have two
chambers containing two layers 166 and 167 of meltable heat storage
substances having different temperatures of crystallization with
the crystallization temperature of one layer being a few degrees
above the crystallization temperature of the storage substance 132
and the crystallization temperature of the other layer being a few
degrees below the crystallization temperature of the storage
substance 132. Alternatively, the casing may contain a single
storage substance which is the same as the heat storage substance
132. This insulation of the valve including the heat substances
insures that the change over from summer operation to winter
operation of the conditioning device will occur only after
relatively long periods of temperature change rather than over a
short period of change as might occur for example on a summer night
where outdoor temperature drop is for a short period.
The functional operation of the bimetallic control valve in the
insulated casing is more clearly explained by reference to FIGS. 8
and 9. In FIG. 8, temperature is shown plotted on the Y axis and
time plotted on the X axis. Line 170 represents the temperature at
which the valve is closed which is the temperature limit below
which no heat is to be withdrawn from the conditioning unit, i.e.
crystallization temperature of the storage substance 132. Line 171
represents the temperature change that may occur during a brief
period of cooling as for example during a summer night. Line 172
represents the temperature within the insulated casing with the
horizontal portion 173 of the line being equivalent to the
crystallization temperature of the storage material 167 contained
in the casing. It is seen that if the portion 173 is longer in
duration of time than the portion of line 171 below the change over
temperature 170, that the valve will remain open and not interrupt
the discharge of heat from the conditioning device, i.e. the heat
transfer from the heat sink wall 130 to the heat source wall
133.
FIG. 9 illustrates a period of heating such as occurs on a sunny
day during the wintertime. During the winter the valve disc 161
remains seated on its seat to shut off flow of condensate such that
the temperature conditioning device acts as an insulator. The line
180 represents the daily temperature variation for a sunny day. The
line 181 represents the temperature of the interior of the casing
with the horizontal portion 182 corresponding to the
crystallization temperature of the storage material 166. When the
outdoor temperature rises briefly during the day, as represented by
line 180, the interior of the casing will remain at a lower
temperature represented by line 182 thus assuring that the valve
will remain closed. When seasonal temperature variations of long
duration occur, there will be an automatic change over from heat
insulation operation of the device as represented in FIG. 3 to a
heat equalization operation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The heat storage element of the device may include secondary
support structure as for example, a honeycomb structure 260 as
illustrated in FIG. 10, to increase structural strength of the
conditioning device or to provide a means for positioning seed
crystals within the storage substance contained in the storage
element. As shown the edge walls 261 of the honeycomb structure are
reinforced with respect to the inner walls 262 such that
mechanically rigid panel elements are formed.
The heat storage element when used with the device may be included
within the chamber between the heat sink and heat source walls as
shown in FIG. 1 or outside of the chamber and thermally connected
to a heat sink wall as shown in FIG. 5. Further the storage element
may be encased in a plastic sheet container.
The storage substance used in the storage element preferably should
have a crystallization temperature below the desired room
temperature during the day and above the lowest outdoor temperature
when the device is used to cool a room, namely in the region
10.degree.C.- 20.degree.C. A suitable substance comprises one-half
a mixture of sodium sulphate and sodium chloride and the other half
a mixture of borax and water.
A temperature conditioning device of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and
5 is charged with a heat carrier utilizing the following steps. The
device is cooled below the crystallization temperature of the
storage substance 132. The interior of the chamber 134 is evacuated
by applying negative pressure thereto. A heat carrier, for example
a chlorinated hydrogen chloride with a boiling point above
50.degree.C. is introduced into the chamber such that the absorbant
layer 138 is completely impregnated and the groove 136 is partially
filled with liquid heat carrier in the operating temperature. The
chamber is then sealed and the device allowed to return to ambient
temperature at which time it will be ready for use to condition the
temperature of a room.
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