Stoves and furnaces – Solar heat collector – With heat storage mass
Patent
1995-04-19
1997-07-15
Jones, Larry
Stoves and furnaces
Solar heat collector
With heat storage mass
126617, 126618, 126620, 126400, 126714, F24J 234
Patent
active
056473435
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is related to a latent store for storing the radiation energy of the sun.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In latent heat stores it is per se known to store phase transformation energy, as for instance the heat of melting or the heat of vaporization, by heating at approximately constant temperature and to retrieve this energy from the store in the form of heat when needed. In order to achieve this, other forms of energy, such as electromagnetic energy, are first transformed into thermal energy and stored in this form.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to develop a latent store in the sense of a "solar radiation store", in which the incoming visible or ultraviolet sun rays can be stored directly latently without resorting to heat.
The solution according to the invention is based on the thought that visible or ultraviolet solar radiation may be used for the photoisomerization of organic molecules and therefore for storing energy and liberating this energy. In order to achieve this, it is suggested according to the invention to use an organic storage substance which has at least two stable stereoisomeric configurations, of which the first configuration is photosensitive and can be transformed into the second configuration by photoisomerization and liberation of energy, while the second configuration is transformable into the first configuration by contact with a stereoselective, preferably solar radiation-absorbing regeneration medium while absorbing energy.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the stereoisomers of the storage substance consist of a cis-retinal, preferably of 11-cis-retinal on the one hand and of all-trans-retinal on the other hand (retinal=vitamin A.sub.1 -aldehyde). As a regeneration medium a pigment stereoselective in the direction of regeneration, preferably melanin or a catalyst contained in the pigment is advantageously used. The photosensitive stereoisomeric configuration of the storage substance is advantageously screenable from radiation and subjectable to solar radiation for initiating the stereoisomeric transformation.
According to a preferred form of the invention the stereoisomeric storage substance on the one hand and the regeneration medium on the other hand are each positioned on a carrier, wherein the carriers are moveable with respect to each other, creating a contact between the storage substance and the regeneration medium, the photosensitive regeneration medium is constantly or intermittently subjected to solar radiation, and the storage substance is screened from the solar radiation during the contact phases and subjectable to solar radiation at least intermittently outside the contact phases.
Advantageously, the storage substance-carrier has a high thermal conductivity. In order to absorb the liberated energy, the storage substance-carrier as such or a heat conducting body which may be brought into thermal contact with the carrier during the contact phases is designed as a heat exchanger through which fluid and/or gas flows. The latter may be mechanically coupled to the regeneration medium carrier.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the regeneration medium carrier has at least one ring with a multitude of regeneration medium disks which are positioned at equal distances in a circumferential direction with respect to a central axis, and that in the region inbetween the regeneration medium disks windows are arranged which may be aligned to the sun and which are open toward the storage substance, wherein the storage substance carrier may be rotated with respect to the ring about the central axis in increments, and wherein contact may be established between the storage substance and the regeneration medium during the pauses. In this, the regeneration medium disks are preferably designed as plates stabilized by a lattice structure and preferably made of a powdered regeneration medium pressed using a binder. The plates are subjectable to sunlight on their outer side and may be
REFERENCES:
patent: 4004572 (1977-01-01), Nathan
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