GB2182132A

GB2182132A - Heat storage devices

Info

Publication number: GB2182132A
Application number: GB08520071A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Lane
Original assignee: TI Creda Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: TI Creda Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 1985-08-09
Filing date: 1985-08-09
Publication date: 1987-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2005-08-09
Also published as: GB8520071D0; GB2182132B

Abstract

A heat storage device comprises a casing (6) defining a chamber within which a core (8) of heat storage elements is mounted, electrical heating means (10) being provided to heat the core in conventional manner. Air is drawn into the device through an inlet (12), passing through a primary flow passage (16) and exiting to the room being served through a primary outlet (14). The air exiting through the secondary outlet (24) is cooler than the primary outlet air which it overlies to discourage hot air rising to ceiling and heating room from top towards bottom. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Storage devices Description ofinvention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to heat storage devices, particularly of the kind (hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified) comprising a casing, a core within the casing, providing a heat store, electrical heating means for the core, primary passage means extending from an inlet ofthe heaterthrough the core to an outlet, and flow control means to control the flow of air through the primary passage means.

In a conventional heat storage device of the kind specified, the flow control means is operative, when the temperature of the room being served falls below a predetermined minimum, to cause or allowflow of airthrough the core, to be heated by the heat stored in the core, and to be ducted into the room. Theflow control means maycompriseadamperto open and close the passage means and/or a fan operative to impel air through the passage means.

Wheretheflowofairthroughthe passage means is effected primarily by convection, difficulties are encountered in that the volume ofairflowing through the passage means tends to be relatively low, and on emerging from the device tends immediately to rise, and the room being served is thus heated from the ceiling down.

It will be appreciated that such difficulties will not occur, orwill not occurto the same extent, where air is impelled through the core by a fan, since the air may be impelled into the room with sufficient velocityastocauseitto be dispersed relatively widely, and thus reduce in temperature, before any significant upward movement by convection forces is produced.

There are however advantages in avoiding the use of a fan in a storage heating device ofthe kind specified, particularly in that it avoids the need for power during off-peak periods. The present invention therefore has been devised primarily in relation to a heat storage device of the kind specified, which does not comprise a fan.

According to this invention there is provided a heat storage device of the kind specified comprising secondary passage means from which air emerges at a temperature lowerthan that ofairemerging from the primary passage means, the construction and arrangementbeing suchthatthecoolerairoverliesthe warmer air and reduces the tendency of the warmer airto rise.

The secondary passage means may extend within the casing, but not through the core, and thus be heated (and thus be caused to flow upwardly through the casing by convection) by the core but to a tem- peraturelowerthanthatoftheairflowingthrough the primary passage means.

In suppressing the tendency of the heated air to rise, a more uniform distribution of air may be obtained, reducing tendency of the heated airto rise directly to the top of the room.

The invention may be used where, priorto emerging from the outlet means, the airflowing through the primary passage means is mixed with airflowing through auxiliary passage means in the casing but similarly not th rough the core, forthe purpose of reducing the danger of air emerging from the outlet at an unduly high temperature. In such circumstances it will be appreciated that the temperature of emer- genceof airfrom thesecondarypassage meanswill be at a temperature lower than that of the mixture of air emerging from the primary and auxiliary passage means.

Whilst the present invention is particularly advantageous where airflow through the device is caused by convection, it will nonetheless be appreciated that the invention may be used where such airflow is caused or aided by a fan. Thus it is envisaged that the secondary passage means may be in an upper part of the device, and air may be caused to flowtherethrough by a fan.

According to this invention there is also provided a heat storage device of the kind specified comprising a primaryflow passage extending through the core to a primary outlet means, and a secondary flow passage which does not extend through the core (orat least to the same extent as the primary flow passage) which secondary flow passage extends to a sec ondary outlet means located directly above the primary outlet means.

According to this invention there is also provided a method of reducing tendency of heated air emerging from a heat storage device of the kind specified to rise, in which cooler air is caused to flow from the device as an overlayerto the heated air.

There will now be given a detailed description,to be read with reference to the accompanying drawing, of a heat storage device which has been selected for the purpose of illustrating the invention by way of example.

The accompanying drawing is a schematic vertical section view of the preferred embodiment.

The heat storage device which is the preferred embodiment of thins invention is specifically of the kind specified, comprising a casing 6 defining a chamber within which a core 8 of heat storage elements is mounted, electrical heating means (shown schemat icallyat 10) extending through the core to heatthe core in conventional manner by a supply of off-peak electricity. In use, the device is adapted to be mounted on a wall. as shown in the drawing.

At the lower end ofthe device an inlet 12 is provided, through which air may be drawn intothede- vice, conveniently from the room being served, and provided at an upper end of the device is a primary outlet means 14, conventionally covered by a grill.

Extending from the inlet 12 and passing through the core is a primary flow passage 16.Aflowcontrol means 18, afforded by a thermostatically-controlled damper, is mounted within the primaryflow passage and operates in the use of the device to open and close the primary flow passage.

Extending from the inlet along one side of the core is an auxiliary flow passage 20, airflowing through the flow passage 20 being arranged to be mixed with airflowing through the primaryflow passage 16 priorto emergence from the outlet 14.

Extending from the inlet between the core and the rear wal l of the device is a secondary flow passage 22, said flow passage extending to a secondary outlet 24 located directly above the primary outlet 14.

In the use of the device which is the preferred embodiment ofthis invention, air is drawn by convection forces through the inlet 12, and flowsthroughthe flow passage 20 to emerge from the outlet 14, irres pective ofthe condition of the flow control device 18.

However in the event that the temperature of the room being served falls below a predetermined min imum,theflowcontrol means 18 will open, and air will be drawn through the primary flow passage 16, to be heated thereby to a high temperature, and to emerge in admixturewith airflowingthroughthe passage 20. Such airwill in conventional manner be heated to a temperature sufficient to raisethetem- peratureofthe room being served to a desiredtemperature.

Additionally however air is drawn through the inlet to flowthrough the secondary flow passage 22. It will be appreciated that such air is drawn by convection forces, being heated in part by the core 8, but to a lesser extent than the airflowing through the primary passage 16. Such air therefore flows from the outlet 24 at a temperature lowerthan the temperature ofthe air flowing through the outlet 14, when this contains air having been heated through flow th rough the passage 16.The effect is thatthe cooler airflowing through the outlet 24 acts as an overlayerto the warmer airflowing through the out- let 14, reducing the rate atwhich the warmerair rises, enabling the air to flow into the room being served to an extent greaterthan that which would be achieved in the absence of the secondary, cooler air flow.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, orthe accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or pro cuss for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A heat storage device of the kind specified comprising secondary passage means from which air emerges at a temperature lowerthan that ofair emerging from the primary passage means, the construction and arrangement being such that the cooler air overlies the warmer air and reduces the ten dency of the warmer air to rise.

2. A heat storage device according to Claim 1 wherein the secondary passage means extends within the casing but not through the core.

3. A heat storage device according to Claim 2 wherein the air flowing through the secondary passage means is heated by the core, but to a temperature lowerthan that ofthe airflowing through the primary passage means.

4. A heat storage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein airairflowingthrough the primary passage means is mixed with air flowing through auxiliary passage means prior to emerging from the outlet means, the auxiliary passage means extending through the casing but not through the core.

5. A heat storage device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the airflowthrough the device is caused by convection.

6. A heat storage device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein airflowthrough the device is caused or aided by a fan.

7. A heat storage device of the kind specified comprising a primary flow passage extending through the core to a primary outlet means, and a secondary flow passage which does not extend through the core, or does not extend through the core at least to the same extent as the primaryflow passage, which secondary flow passage extends to a secondary outlet means located directly above the primary outlet means.

8. A method of reducing tendency of heated air emerging from a heat storage device of the kind specified to rise, in which cooler air is caused to flow from the device as an overlayerto the heated air.

9. A heat storage device constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.