GB1279404A - Improvements in or relating to thermal storage systems - Google Patents

Abstract

1279404 Thermal storage heating; warm air heating systems ELECTRICITY COUNCIL 22 Sept 1969 [24 June 1968] 30058/68 Heading F4U A thermal storage core is located in a wall of a building and is used, directly or indirectly, as the heat source of a forced flow warm air system for heating a room of the building. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the core has air flow passages 12 and is arranged within insulation 11 together with a fan 13 and an electric heater 20. When a damper 15 is in its solid line position, energization of the heater and fan cause a closed circulation of hot air through the core in order to change the latter. When the damper 15 is moved partially or fully to its dashed line position, operation of the fan 13 and a further fan 21 causes return room air 23 to pass through the core to a room supply duet 22. Fresh air may be added to the return air and a dehumidifier may be included in the supply or return duct. The core may be made of high alumina concrete whose aggregate is stone, magnetite, or ferric oxide. The core may be in one piece or may be made up of blocks. The air flow control may be carried out by a set of four dampers, Fig. 4 (not shown), which may be associated with an electric heater in such a way that circulating room air may pass over the heater without passing through the core. The fans may be of variable speed to control the heat output to the rooms. The system may operate with a single fan, Fig. 5 (not shown). Electric heating elements may be embedded in the core or located in air flow passages through the core. The electric air heater is then omitted. In a further embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 6, a heat pump is used to transfer heat to and from the storage core. The heat pump comprises a compressor 40 and condenser/evaporator coils 32 and 44. A fan 49 circulates room air over the coil 43 and a further fan 47 circulates air in a closed circuit over the coil 44 and through the core. An auxiliary heater 48 is provided so that more heat is available for charging the core than can be provided by the coil 44 when the heat pump is operating to cool the room. If the room is cooled when subsequent heating is not required, a fresh air stream may be blown through the storage core to dissipate its heat. In a modification, Fig. 7 (not shown), one coil of the heat pump is in the room air stream, but the other coil is embedded in the core, together with auxiliary heating elements if required. In a further modication, Fig. 8 (not shown), the other coil is in thermal contact with a secondary heat exchange circuit which has pipes embedded in the core. There may be an auxiliary heater for heating the secondary circuit. Where the core is built up of blocks, Fig. 9 (not shown), each side of the core is covered by four layers comprising aluminium foil, high temperature insulation, lower temperature insulation, and plaster.