US20180283726A1

US20180283726A1 - Pcm module heat exchanger assembly with concurrent charging and discharging of different pcm sections

Info

Publication number: US20180283726A1
Application number: US15/945,229
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Wetzel; Lawrence E. Wetzel
Original assignee: Air Innovations Inc
Current assignee: Air Innovations Inc
Priority date: 2017-04-04
Filing date: 2018-04-04
Publication date: 2018-10-04

Abstract

A phase change material (PCM) module heat exchanger assembly includes a multi-section PCM container rotatingly supported about a center long axis of the multi-section PCM container, or a multi-section PCM container where one or more sections are slidingly mounted to the multi-section PCM container. Each section of a plurality of rotatably or slidingly selected PCM sections is selectably insertable into an air flow. A method of placing one of a group of two or more PCM sections into a building's heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) ductwork and a method to harvest heating or cooling capacity for later use are also described.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/481,323, PCM MODULE HEAT EXCHANGER ASSEMBLY WITH CONCURRENT CHARGING AND DISCHARGING OF DIFFERENT PCM SECTIONS, filed Apr. 4, 2017, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE APPLICATION

The application relates to a phase change material (PCM) module assembly and particularly to a PCM module heat exchanger assembly with a rotating PCM tube container.

BACKGROUND

Phase change materials (PCM) have been used in heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) applications. PCM modules have been incorporated into hybrid HVAC systems and traditional HVAC heating and air conditioning apparatus.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a phase change material (PCM) module heat exchanger assembly includes a multi-section PCM container rotatingly supported about a center long axis of the multi-section PCM container, or a multi-section PCM container where one or more sections are slidingly mounted to the multi-section PCM container. A plurality of rotatably or slidingly selected PCM sections are disposed within the multi-section PCM container. Each section of the plurality of rotatably or slidingly selected PCM sections is selectably insertable into an air flow. At least one section of the plurality of rotatably or slidingly selected PCM sections includes at least one or more tubes filled with a PCM and adapted for an airflow over the at least one or more tubes filled with a PCM, or at least one or more tubes defining a volume between outer surfaces of the tubes, the volume filled with a PCM and adapted for an airflow through each of the at least one or more tubes.
In one embodiment, at least one section of the multi-section PCM container includes a heating PCM having a first PCM melting temperature, and another section includes a cooling PCM having a second PCM melting temperature.
In another embodiment, the multi-section PCM container includes a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, triangular, square, rectangular, elliptical, and polygonal.
In yet another embodiment, the multi-section PCM container includes at least a heating section and an air conditioning section.
In yet another embodiment, the at least one or more tubes are disposed lengthwise substantially parallel to the center long axis.
In yet another embodiment, each tube of the at least one or more tubes in a tube sheet at about either end of the multi-section PCM container.
In yet another embodiment, each tube of the at least one or more tubes terminates in a header at about either end of the multi-section PCM container.
In yet another embodiment, the header includes in interior void fillable with a PCM in a liquid state, and each tube is fluidly coupled to the header.
In yet another embodiment, at least one tube includes a tube of a cross section selected from the group consisting of triangular, square, rectangular, elliptical, and polygonal.
In yet another embodiment, at least one tube includes a flat rectangular tube.
In yet another embodiment, each tube of the at least one or more tubes extends radially from a center portion of the multi-section PCM container and about perpendicular to the center long axis and extends to about an inner wall surface of an outer cylindrical wall of the multi-section PCM container, or to a cylindrical tube sheet disposed about at an inner surface of the outer cylindrical wall.
In yet another embodiment, each tube of the at least one or more tubes includes a bend radius and each tube terminates in a tube header or tube sheet bar which extends from a center of the multi-section PCM container perpendicular to the center long axis.
In yet another embodiment, at least two nested tubes include different bend radii.
In yet another embodiment, at least one stack of tubes is disposed in at least one tube rack which is disposed a section of the multi-section PCM container.
In yet another embodiment, the PCM module heat exchanger assembly is a component of a building heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system.
In yet another embodiment, the PCM module heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of ductwork couplings, wherein a first set of ductwork fluidly couples air flow to and from a building heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) ductwork, a second set of ductwork fluidly coupled to a different ductwork of a building wherein the different ductwork of a building fluidly couples air flow to and from an outside air exterior to the building, and wherein when a first section of the multi-section PCM container is fluidly coupled to the building HVAC ductwork, a second section of the multi-section PCM container is fluidly coupled to the outside air.
In yet another embodiment, the multi-section PCM container includes a plurality of wedge shaped sections disposed in a disk.
In yet another embodiment, the multi-section PCM container includes a heating PCM section having a first melting point temperature and a different cooling PCM section having a second melting point temperature. During a daytime, the different cooling PCM section is discharged by a phase change from solid to liquid, and the heating PCM section is concurrently charged by a phase transition from solid to liquid. During a nighttime, the heating PCM section is discharged by a phase change from liquid to solid, and the different cooling PCM section is concurrently charged by a phase transition from liquid to solid.
According to another aspect, a method of placing one of a group of two or more PCM sections into a building's heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) ductwork including the steps of: providing a phase change material (PCM) module heat exchanger assembly including a multi-section PCM container having at least one heating PCM section and at least one cooling PCM section, the PCM module heat exchanger assembly supported adjacent to a HVAC ductwork; selecting a section of the multi-section PCM container based on a HVAC system mode of operation as a selected section; and rotating or sliding the selected section of the multi-section PCM container into an airflow of the HVAC ductwork to move an interior temperature towards a set point temperature at least in part by an exchange of heat energy between an airflow in the HVAC ductwork and a PCM disposed within the selected section of the multi-section PCM container.
According to another aspect, a method to harvest heating or cooling capacity for later use includes providing a multi-section PCM container including a heating PCM section having a first melting point temperature and a different cooling PCM section having a second melting point temperature; during a daytime, discharging the different cooling PCM section by a phase change from solid to liquid to cool a building air, and concurrently charging the heating PCM section by a phase transition from solid to liquid by use of a warm outside air; and during a nighttime, discharging the heating PCM section by a phase change from liquid to solid to warm a building air, and concurrently charging the different cooling PCM section by a phase transition from liquid to solid by use of a cool outside air.
The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the application will become more apparent from the following description and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the application can be better understood with reference to the drawings described below, and the claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a rotating PCM module assembly in the form of a rotating cylindrical structure container;

FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of a rotating PCM module assembly in the form of a rotating cylindrical structure container;

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment, where the PCM material is disposed in the half cylindrical sections around and between the tubes;

FIG. 4 shows a drawing where a substantial portion of the airflow from a rectangular air duct airflow flows between and around the tubes of the half cylinder;

FIG. 5 shows a drawing where a substantial portion of the airflow from a rectangular air duct airflow is directed to a selected section of the cylinder by lead-in and lead-out portions of ductwork or by ductwork flanges;

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a rotating PCM module assembly where square or rectangular PCM modules can be disposed within a rotating cylinder;

FIG. 7 shows a drawing of a relatively large rotatable PCM module assembly with interfacing size reducing and size expanding ductwork between the rotating PCM assembly and a corresponding duct work on either side;

FIG. 8A shows a drawing of a top view of another exemplary embodiment of a rotating PCM assembly with tube spokes;

FIG. 8B shows a side view of the rotating PCM assembly of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A shows a drawing of an end view of another exemplary embodiment of a rotating PCM assembly with nested curved tubes;

FIG. 9B shows a side view of the rotating PCM assembly of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A shows a drawing of an end view of another exemplary embodiment of a rotating PCM assembly with racks of tubes;

FIG. 10B shows a side view of the rotating PCM assembly of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 shows a drawing of a rotating PCM assembly with unequal sized sections;

FIG. 12 shows a schematic drawing of an exemplary ductwork selection apparatus which places one section of a rotating PCM assembly in a building ductwork airflow and another section in an outside air flow;

FIG. 13 shows a drawing of an exemplary rotating PCM assembly where instead of cylindrical shaped container, there is more of disk like container;

FIG. 14 shows another exemplary embodiment of a disk like rotating PCM assembly having three PCM tubes;

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of a linear translation PCM assembly;

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary linear translation PCM assembly having a plurality of PCM tubes;

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary motor drive for the rotating PCM module of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 18 shows an exemplary motor drive for the linear translation PCM assembly of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described hereinabove, phase change materials (PCM) have been used in heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) applications. For example, PCM modules have been incorporated into HVAC systems.
PCM materials are typically chosen for an HVAC heating or air conditioning application. Unfortunately, for reasons such as, for example, melting temperature, there is no single optimal PCM material choice for both heating and cooling applications.
There is a need for a PCM heat exchanger which can operate with optimized efficiency for both nighttime storage, where the PCM cool night air pre-conditioning is used later for day time air pre-conditioning, and for day time heat storage, where the PCM warm daytime pre-conditioning is used later for night time heating.
To harvest heating or cooling capacity for later use, a new PCM heat exchanger structure includes two or more PCM sections, each of which can be rotated (or otherwise mechanically translated) into an HVAC duct as needed for a more efficient use of PCM enhanced heating or air conditioning.
In some embodiments, to harvest heating or cooling capacity for later use, the sections of the new PCM heat exchanger structure can operate concurrently. For example, at night, the PCM heat exchanger structure can use the cooler outside air temperature to freeze (change phase) the cooling PCM to use to later the next day to cool the building air during the following warm daytime. Also at night, at the same time, having used the earlier hot outside daytime air temperature to liquefy (change phase) the heating PCM to use the heating PCM to concurrently heat the building during the cooler night temperature. Thus, during the day the cooling PCM can be “discharged” during the day to cool the building, while at the same time, the heating PCM is concurrently being “charged” for use at night to heat the building air.
Similarly, during the day, the PCM heat exchanger structure can use the warmer daytime outside air temperature to liquefy (change phase) of the heating PCM to use to later warm the building air during the following cool nighttime. And, then also during the day, at the same time, having used the earlier cool outside nighttime air temperature to solidify (change phase), to use the cooling PCM concurrently to cool the building during the warmer daytime temperature. Thus, at night the heating PCM can be “discharged” at night to warm the building, while at the same time, the cooling PCM is concurrently being “charged” for use the next day for air conditioning.
Concurrent operation can be achieved, for example, by two separate ductwork, where a first ductwork directs building air to a first PCM section of the PCM heat exchanger structure and a second ductwork, concurrently directs outside air to a second PCM section of the PCM heat exchanger structure.
The description which follows begins with various embodiments of PCM heat exchanger and PCM section structures. Any of those structures can be used in a single duct, or in a concurrent structure with two or more separate airflows (typically building air and outside air). An exemplary concurrent HVAC application with separate building ductwork and outside air ductwork is described with respect to FIG. 12.

Definitions

Phase change material (PCM) module heat exchanger assembly: A phase change material (PCM) module heat exchanger assembly defines a mechanical assembly which can be configured or adapted to be mounted near or adjacent to an airflow where sections of a multi-section PCM container can be rotatingly or slidingly moved into the airflow to condition (e.g. heating or cooling) the air of the airflow. Typically, the PCM module heat exchanger assembly is mounted to a ductwork of a HVAC system.
Multi-section PCM container: A multi-section PCM container includes two or more sections. Each section includes at least one heating or cooling PCM tube, or in some embodiments a blank through which air can flow. Each section can be rotatingly or slidingly inserted into an airflow, typically the air flow of an adjacent HVAC duct. In some embodiments, there can be no sections inserted, a blank section inserted, or a heating or cooling section inserted. In some embodiments, two or more sections, typically either heating or cooling sections, can be simultaneously inserted into the air flow.
A PCM module heat exchanger assembly structure typically includes at least two different sections. One section includes a PCM optimized for a heating PCM application, and another section, includes a PCM optimized for a cooling PCM application. Typically, the differences between the two heating PCM and the cooling PCM are in the melting temperature of the PCM material itself. The at least two different PCMs can have the same composition, varying in proportions of constituent parts to achieve the desired properties, such as melting temperature, or more typically can include two different types of PCM with two different melting temperatures.
Tube: A tube as used hereinbelow includes elongate structures with a hollowed out interior. A tube can be a long rod of about circular cross section. Or, the tube can have any suitable cross section shape, such as, for example, triangular, square, rectangular, or polygonal. In some embodiments, there can be a wide rectangular tube as a flat tube, such as, for example, a rectangular box like structure, which still falls within the definition of a tube as used hereinbelow because, although box like, the length dimension is longer than either of the height and width dimensions.
PCM: PCM are well known in the art. Especially since about 2000, there are many new types of PCM which can be adjusted to have a melting point at any desired temperature, including a range of typical room temperature or building interior temperatures including a range from about 65 degrees F. to about 80 degrees F. Use of such relatively new PCM materials with melting temperatures near the desired operating temperature provide higher efficiencies when compared for example, with legacy phase change HVAC strategies based on the relatively inconvenient water melting temperature of 32 degrees F. and water boiling temperature of 212 degrees F. Also, as compared to use of primary air conditioning refrigerants of the twentieth century, with room temperature melting PCMs, a condenser or evaporator may no longer be required.
Embodiments described hereinbelow use at least one heating PCM and at least one cooling PCM. There can be significant differences between heating and cooling PCMs, such as, for example, the heating and cooling PCM typically (but not necessarily) have different chemical compositions. PCMs are being manufactured by many companies around the world and typically have several different characteristics, such as, for example, latent heat capacity, melting point, density, corrosion, etc.
PCM pre-conditioning: PCM pre-conditioning includes transferring heat energy into a PCM module to store thermal energy for later heating use by melting the PCM to a liquid state. Later, the stored heat energy is extracted from the PCM heat exchanger and the PCM material of the PCM heating module returns in part or in whole to a solid state. PCM pre-conditioning also includes transferring heat energy out of a PCM module so that the PCM contents change into a solid state to remove thermal energy for a cooling use. Later, when the heat energy of interior building air is transferred back into the PCM heat exchanger to cool the building air, the PCM material returns in part or in whole to a liquid state.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a rotating PCM module assembly 100 in the form of a rotating cylindrical structure container. The interior of the rotating cylinder of the is divided into two halves, to provide a multi-section PCM container. A plurality of tubes (101, 103) is disposed about parallel to a long axis of the cylindrical container 105. The tubes are divided into sections (101, 103) of a multi-section PCM container. Tubes 101 are for a heating use and tubes 103 are for an air conditioning use. In some embodiments, each of the tubes can be supported at either end by a tube sheet. The tube sheet has an end mounting arrangement, typically a hole, to accept the end of each tube. The hole can be about the tube diameter, or sized in shape (e.g. square or round) and/or size to mountingly accept an end structure or end peg of each tube. A tube end or tube end peg can be of any suitable shape.
Each of the tubes can be cylindrical tubes, or any other suitable shaped elongated structures, such as, for example, a triangular, rectangular, or polygon sided tube, or any combination thereof. It only important that the elongated structure can contain a PCM or an air flow and be able to transfer heat energy across the wall of the elongated structure.
FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of a rotating PCM module assembly in the form of a rotating cylindrical structure container using rectangular tubes. It is understood that there can be equivalent alternative embodiments, where for example, any suitable rotating shape can be used in place of a rotating cylinder or drum shape, such as for example, a rotating rectangular structure as shown in FIG. 2, which is divided into two or more lengthwise portions. There can also be different embodiments of a rotating PCM module assembly 100. For example, in one embodiment, each of the tubes is filled with a PCM, and air flows over the tubes.
The cylindrical container 105 can be rotated into a ductwork such that the air flow is at some angle to each of the tubes, such as, for example perpendicular to each of the tubes. In other embodiments, the tube sheets can have additional openings to allow ductwork air to flow through each tube sheet to exchange heat energy with the flowing air.

Example

One exemplary PCM filled tube suitable for use in a rotating PCM module assembly as described hereinabove is the TubeICE™ product available from PC Phase Change Material Products limited of Cambridgeshire, U.K. TubeICE™ rod like structures are PCM-filled HDPE tubular design enables them to be stacked effectively in both rectangular and cylindrical tanks. From the TubeICE™ product brochure, TubeICE™ concept is based on custom-made plastic containers filled with our PlusICE Phase Change Materials (PCM) solutions which have operating temperatures between −40° C. (−40° F.) and +117° C. (+243° F.). They can be stacked in either cylindrical/rectangular tanks for atmospheric/pressurized systems for a variety of thermal energy storage applications. TubeICE custom-made HDPE plastic containers are filled with PlusICE PCM solutions and the filling port fully sealed after filling for safe and reliable operation. The self-stacking concept can be applied for both water and air circuits and the gap between each container provides an ideal flow passage with a large heat exchange surface with minimal pressure drop. Each TubeICE™ can be held in place by a tube sheet at either end of a rotating cylinder (or, any suitable rotating shape, such as for example, a rotating rectangular structure divided into two or more lengthwise portions, each portion having elongated tubes (e.g. TubeICE™ cylinders) or any other suitable shapes, such as, for example, elongated triangular, rectangular, or polygon sided tubes. According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, TubeICE™ heating tubes 101 can be disposed in a half cylinder 105 a, and TubeICE™ cooling tubes 103 can be disposed in a half cylinder 105 b. Such tubes can be self-stacked within two or more sections of the rotating cylinder, or held in place by tube sheets as described hereinabove. The number of TubeICE™ in the example used for heating need not match the number of TubeICE™ used for cooling. For example, the fractional portion of the heating section can be larger (with more TubeICE™) than the fraction portion of the cooling PCM section (i.e. less TubeICE™).
In summary, a phase change material (PCM) module heat exchanger assembly 100 includes a multi-section PCM container 105 rotatingly supported about a center long axis 109 of the multi-section PCM container. A plurality of tubes (101, 103) is disposed within each section (105 a, 105 b) of the multi-section PCM container 105 such that an air flow flows over the plurality of tubes (101 or 103) of a rotatably selected section (105 a or 105 b) of the multi-section PCM container 105.
FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment, where the PCM material (301, 303) is disposed in the half cylindrical sections around the tubes, where each tube interior is open at both ends and the air flow is through the tubes. In such embodiments, typically each end of the rotating PCM module is fluidly (airflow) coupled to the airflow 317 of the corresponding ductwork.
Typically, the rotatable container (e.g. rotating container 105) can be mounted such that either half of the rotating container 105 can be rotated into the air stream of a ventilation ductwork. When rotated in, there can be embodiments where a substantial portion from a rectangular air duct airflow flows between the tubes of the half cylinder (e.g. half cylinder 105 a, 105 b) which has been rotated into the air duct (FIG. 4). Or, there can be embodiments as shown in FIG. 5, where there is lead-in and lead-out mating ductwork (501, 503) (e.g. ductwork flanges) to channel air from different shaped air duct on either side of the rotating cylinder 105, for example to channel air to or from a rectangular ductwork to a half cylinder shaped ductwork housing the selected half cylinder 103 a, 103 b of rotating container 105 which is intended to be in the ductwork air stream at any given time.
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a rotating PCM module assembly 600 where square or rectangular PCM modules can be disposed within a rotating cylinder 605. The cylinder can be divided into two or more sections, such as, according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, where a first half 605 a is filled with heating PCM modules 601, and second half cylinder 605 b is filled with cooling PCM modules 603. The principle of operation is the same as described hereinabove with respect to cylindrical embodiments using elongated tubes. The rectangular PCM modules (601, 603) can be stacked lengthwise to make for longer rectangular PCM structures along the long axis of the cylinder. Or, there can be elongated rectangular structures of any suitable length. There can be embodiments where PCM is disposed within the rectangular PCM modules (601, 603) which is expected to be the most common embodiment. Or, there can be embodiments where the PCM material fills the spaces between the modules, and where the air flow is through open ends at either end of rectangular walled structures with ends open to air flow at either end. While FIG. 6 shows the at least two sections (e.g. one heating PCM section, and one cooling PCM section) disposed within a rotating cylinder, it is understood that any suitable rotatable structure can be used, such as for example, a rotatable overall triangular structure, a rotatable rectangular structure, a rotatable polygonal structure, or any combination thereof.

Example

One suitable PCM filled tube for use in a rotating PCM module assembly as described hereinabove is the FlatICE™ product available from PC Phase Change Material Products limited of Cambridgeshire, U.K. From the FlatICE™ product brochure, FlatICE™ custom-made HDPE plastic containers are filled with PlusICE™ PCM solutions and the filling port fully welded after filling in order to ensure safe and reliable operation. The design of the container incorporates internal support columns as well as external guide circles so that the containers can be stacked on top of each other forming a self-assembling large heat exchanger within the tank. The self-stacking concept can be applied for both water and air circuits and the gap between each container provides an ideal flow passage with a large heat exchange surface. FlatICE™ containers can only be stacked up to a height of 2.6 m (8½ ft) and therefore the height of the tank is restricted to around 3 m (10 ft) and the foot print of the tank can be adjusted around this limit. In principle, the longer the tank the larger the temperature difference one can achieve across the tank and the width/length ratios can be adjusted to suit the site requirements. Furthermore, if the required storage capacity is too large and the design requires multiple tanks, they can be arranged either in parallel or series format to suit the application and available space.
While typically, such FlatICE™ use as described hereinabove would be manufactured to fit in, or to be compatible with standard building ductwork sizes, as shown in FIG. 7, there could also be relatively large rotatable PCM module assemblies (e.g. large versions of the embodiment of FIG. 1 or of FIG. 6) which are many feet long and/or many feet in diameter. In such cases, there can be interfacing size reducing and size expanding ductwork between the rotating PCM assembly and the corresponding duct work on either side.
FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B show another embodiment of a rotating PCM assembly 800. The difference is that the elongated parts (e.g. tubes) are disposed in a spoke like manner A first end of each of the tubes (tube spokes 801) extend from a center structure 811 running lengthwise along the long axis of the cylinder. The other end of each of the tube spokes 801 is mounted in an outer cylindrical wall 813, or in an outer cylindrical tube sheet such as can be mounted in some embodiments, within the outer wall 813 of the cylinder. In the Exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8A, the top view shows a cylinder horizontally mounted and rotating about a long cylinder axis in the horizontal plane. FIG. 8B shows a side view of the rotating PCM assembly of FIG. 8A, where half of the spokes are rotated into a ductwork wall 809. Typically, half of the tube spokes 801 can be filled with a heating PCM and the other half of the tube spokes 803 can be filled with a cooling PCM material. In the embodiment of FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, most typically, it is the tube spokes 801 which are filled with PCM and the air of the ductwork flows across the tube spoke. It is possible, yet possibly more complex, to also flow duct air through each of the tube spoke 801 where the PCM surrounds and fills the volume outside and between the tube spokes. The elongated parts (e.g. the tube spokes 801) can be of any suitable shape. The cylinder can also be replaced by any rotatable container of any suitable triangular, rectangular, square, or polygonal shape. Cylindrical or polygonal shapes are most suitable because then the elongated parts can be of about the same lengths. However, the structure can work according to the spirit of a rotating PCM module in any suitable shaped rotatable structure, using any suitably shaped elongated parts, where it is the elongated parts in this embodiment which are typically filled with PCM.
FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B show exemplary drawings of another embodiment of a rotating PCM assembly 900. FIG. 9A shows a drawing of end view of rotating PCM assembly 900. In this embodiment, a plurality of rows of nested tubes 901 fill each cylindrical sector. For example, in FIG. 9A, there are two sections, one for heating PCM and the other for cooling PCM. The end view of FIG. 9A shows one group of nested tubes 901 which occupy about 180 degrees of a round cross-section of a cylindrical shape. Although, the tubes traverse about 180 degrees of each half cylinder section, the tubes closest to the center are shorter in length than the progressively longer tubes to the outermost tube of the larges radius from the center of rotation. The exemplary side view of FIG. 9B shows three rows of the nested tubes 901. Each of the tubes can further have any suitable number of fins to increase the efficiency of heat transfer between the air in the ductwork passing over the rows of nested tubes. Each of the tubes is mounted to and terminates in a header. In some embodiments, at least some or all of the tubes are fluidly coupled to a header with an internal reservoir of the same PCM as in the tubes. In such embodiments, each section of the assembly can be filled via at least one port in the header.
While the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B shows two section, each of about 180 degrees, there can be any number of suitable sections. For example, there can be four sections of about 90 degrees. Of those sections, they can alternate between heating and cooling sections. Or, there could be two successive heating sections and two successive cooling PCM sections, such that as one section is discharged, the next one is rotated into the ductwork. Where there sections are smaller than 90 degrees, there can be interfacing parts of ductwork to pass air substantially only over a selected section.
The rotating PCM assembly 900 of FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B can be placed in the ductwork where the view of FIG. 9A is looking into the long direction of the inside of the duct. Or, the assembly can be placed in the ductwork about at a right angle. However, it is expected that the most common and most efficient heat transfer will be where the air flow is substantially perpendicular to the circular sections.
FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B show exemplary drawings of another embodiment of a rotating PCM assembly 1000. FIG. 10A shows a drawing of an end view of rotating PCM assembly 1000. In this embodiment, a plurality of rows of tubes 1111 are stacked in rectangular mounting structures 1001. Each tubes has substantially the same length and terminates in a header. In some embodiments, the header can include a PCM reservoir as described hereinabove, in which case at least some of the tubes can be in fluid communication with the header reservoirs.
As shown in FIG. 10A, the rectangular mounts can occupy half of the interior of a cylindrical shape. Each half can be selected by rotating that half into the ductwork so that duct air flows through the stacked tubes in each of the rectangular mounts. In some embodiments, at least some of the tubes can have fins to improve heat transfer between the PCM inside the tubes and the duct air flowing over and between the stacked PCM tubes. The side view of FIG. 10B shows successive rows of stacked tubes. As with the embodiments described hereinabove, the rotating PCM assembly 1000 can be installed in the ductwork so that the air flows about perpendicular to a plane defined by a surface of each rectangular mounted group of tubes. Or, while a 90 degree assembly mount is an alternative, in these embodiments, it is expected that flowing air perpendicular to the rectangular mounts will be most efficient as to heat transfer between the air flow and the PCM within the tubes and headers.
Multiple sections: In any of the embodiments described hereinabove, there can be any suitable number of sections. While embodiments have been described hereinabove as having two sections, one heating PCM section and one cooling PCM section, there can be any suitable number of heating or cooling PCM sections. In some embodiments, where sections become smaller, e.g. 90 degree sections instead of 180 degree half sections of a cylindrical assembly, there can be guiding ductwork to and from larger ductwork apertures on either sides of the rotating PCM assembly (i.e. upstream and downstream ductwork channeled to flow air substantially over the selected section at any given time).
In multiple section embodiments of three or more sections, it is unimportant if successively selected (adjoining) sections are both heating, both cooling, or alternating heating and cooling, or any combination thereof.
Moreover, in multiple section embodiments of three or more sections, either of heating and/or cooling PCM sections can have different melting points. For example, two heating PCM sections can have different melting temperatures. For example, it may be desirable based on any one of, or combination of actual room temperature, desired room temperature (set point temperature), outside air temperature, outside humidity, inside humidity, time of day (including time to sunrise, time in the daily traversal of the sun across the sky, etc.) to select a slightly different PCM module (e.g. with a slightly different melting temperature, or other different PCM properties).
Also, any of the heating and/or cooling PCM sections can have different PCM volumes with respect to each other and need not contain an identical volume of PCM. Two or more heating PCM sections can contain a different volume of PCM. For example, it may be desirable based on any one of, or combination of actual room temperature, desired room temperature (set point temperature), outside air temperature, outside humidity, inside humidity, time of day (including time to sunrise, time in the daily traversal of the sun across the sky, etc., to select a slightly different volume PCM module (for example, as shown FIG. 11, where, a heating section could be 220 degrees of a cylinder, and a cooling section only 140 degrees with respect to the 360 degrees end view of the cylinder). In such embodiments, suitable transitions from and to ductwork can be made flow substantially all of the ductwork airflow over a selected section. Although more complex, in some embodiments, suitable transitions could also change in aperture to match a different sized section selection. Or, use of oversized sections can be made by a continuous or stepped movement of an oversized selection through a fixed size aperture to the connecting ductwork.
In most embodiments, the PCM in a particular heating or cooling section is the same PCM material throughout that section. However, there can be embodiments (for example, using TubeICE™ tubes as described in an example hereinabove), where some tubes in a particular heating or cooling section contain different PCM having one or more property (e.g. melting temperature and/or composition) different from other tubes within the same section.
In any of the embodiments described hereinabove, any of the elongated structures, such as, for example, tubes, can further include any number of, and any suitable shaped, heat exchange fins. Such fins can be of the same material of the elongated structures, or of a different material. Similarly, any of the rectangular or box like modules can also further include heat exchange fins of the same or a different material than the material of the rectangular or box like modules.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the rotating PCM module assembly can be rotating supported, for example by a rod mounted directly or indirectly (e.g. below) a HVAC duct, such as an existing HVAC duct. Or, in other embodiments, there can also be provided a PCM module assembly frame which includes a rotating center rod support. Also, there can be embodiments which include HVAC ductwork flanges or couplings.
It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that any suitable index or detent mechanism can be used to place any desired section of multi-section PCM container into the air flow stream of a ductwork. Any suitable rotation mechanism as known in the art can be used to rotate the multi-section PCM container to the desired rotational position. For example, there can be rod extending through the center long axis of the multi-section PCM container which can be rotated by a gear system, a belt system, a direct drive motor or stepper motor, etc. Any suitable motor control or controller can be used to cause the multi-section PCM container to rotate. A belt system can drive the center line rod directly, or there can be embodiments where a belt drives the cylinder directly by traveling over an outer wall of the cylinder. There can also be present any suitable electrical, electronic, electro-optic, shaft encoder, etc. to provide feedback to a controller and/or display to control, provide feedback, and/or to show which section of the multi-section PCM container is in the air flow stream. Such motor, control, and position detecting devices, and apparatus are well known to those skilled in the art.
Any of the features of any of the embodiments described hereinabove can be used or applied separately or in combination as variations of any of the embodiments. Also, any of the embodiments can be scaled in size or number of rods to any suitable number of rods, rod dimensions, cylinder dimensions, etc.
In operation, a section of the multi-section PCM container can be selected based on a HVAC system mode of operation (e.g. heating, air conditioning, humidification, de-humidification, etc. The section of the multi-section PCM container is rotated into the HVAC ductwork as a selected section of the multi-section PCM container to move an interior temperature towards a set point temperature at least in part by an exchange of heat energy between an airflow in the HVAC ductwork and a PCM disposed within the selected section of the multi-section PCM container.
Structures and Methods to Pre-Condition PCM Modules
A PCM material optimized for night time heating can also be pre-conditioned in the same building ductwork by warm or hot air during the day. For example, a heating PCM can absorb heat from the building interior ventilation ductwork during the day and later release the stored energy into the interior of the building at night via the same ductwork as the heating PCM transitions from a liquid to a solid at night.
Or, in a more advanced embodiment, the heating PCM can be directly pre-conditioned by warm or hot outside air by being switched into different pre-conditioning ductwork path during the day, where warm or hot outside air is directly flowed into or over the heating PCM module during the day time and returned directly to the outside independent of the building interior ventilation ductwork. Then, at night when needed for heating, the pre-conditioned heating PCM module can be rotated into the building interior ventilation ductwork to provide heat energy flow from the PCM module into the building interior air ductwork to heat the interior of the building.
In some embodiments, the PCM can be pre-conditioned by a different ductwork system, prior to use in the building HVAC ductwork which directly heats or cools the interior of the building. In such embodiments, for example, for an air-pre-conditioning application as described hereinabove, instead of the PCM module remaining in the duct work of the interior building air flow at all times, the PCM module is rotated out of the building interior air duct work when not in use into a PCM charging duct work. At night, the PCM module can be rotated into a different ductwork which flows outside air directly over the PCM module to pre-condition it for its later intended air conditioning use. Cool air from outside of the building can be flowed across or through the pre-conditioning PCM module to provide a cooled solid PCM module for later use. In such cases, the colder the outside air the better, because even after the PCM module is made completely solid, the temperature of the module can still be reduced below the PCM freezing temperature, to the outside air temperature. In this way, outside air which may be too cold for circulation directly in the building interior HVAC ductwork at night, can be used to pre-condition an air pre-conditioning PCM module for later daytime air pre-conditioning use without need to circulate cool or cold air in the building's interior air ventilation ductwork. Similarly, there can be heating applications, where warm or hot outside air flows through a different ductwork to melt and warm PCM modules for later use for night time heating of airflow in the building ductwork.
FIG. 12 shows a schematic drawing of an exemplary ductwork selection apparatus 1200 to house a rotating PCM assembly 1240. The two PCM sections 1203, 1205 are rotated into respective outside air ductwork 1251 and inside air building ductwork 1253 as described hereinabove. For example, during a daytime HVAC system cooling (air conditioning) cycle, air conditioning PCM module 1205 is rotated into the building ductwork 1253 where air flows via building return air (BLDG RA) through the building ductwork 1253 side of the ductwork selection apparatus 1200 through cooling PCM module 1205 as forced by ductwork selection apparatus 1200 building fan 1233 into the building supply air (BLDG SA) ductwork 1217 thus flowing PCM module 1205 cooled air back into the building.
Simultaneously, outside air fan 1231 flows warm or hot daytime outside air (OA) 1211 through the outside air ductwork 1251 across heating PCM module 1203 and back to the outside via outside air exhaust 1213.
Fan 1233 can be operated continuously, on a timed schedule, or be controlled by any suitable controller to switch on or off as appropriate to maintain a desired building interior temperature. Similarly, fan 1231 can be operated continuously, on a timed schedule, or be controlled by any suitable controller to switch on or off as appropriate to maintain a desired PCM module temperature or other sensed parameter of the PCM module being pre-conditioned (e.g. sensing a solid or liquid state), or one or more sensed parameters from a building interior, such as, for example, temperature, humidity, etc.
In embodiments where the PCM module can be rotated into a pre-conditioning ductwork, such as a pre-conditioning ductwork which draws and returns air directly from and to the outside, there may still be scenarios where it can be desirable to pre-condition the PCM in the building's interior air ductwork in part or in whole depending on the interior air temperature. For example, for a winter heating PCM, if there is a warming of the interior air above what is needed to solidify the PCM, there could also be some pre-conditioning (i.e. pre-heating) of a warming PCM module by use of building interior air to help stabilize the interior air to a desired temperature. Such hybrid scenarios, where a PCM module normally pre-conditioned in a separate ductwork, is pre-conditioned at least in part in the building interior ductwork could be performed as weather conditions and fluctuations in outside air temperature. Or, in work spaces or operating spaces where, for example where electronic equipment is transferring relatively large amounts of heat energy into a building's interior air, there can be pre-conditioning where such equipment causes heating of the building's interior air making it more efficient to pre-condition the PCM using air flow from the building's interior ventilation air ductwork, than by rotating the PCM module into an outside air pre-conditioning ductwork air flow.
A manual selection or a controller which causes rotation of the PCM modules would generally first select a heating or a cooling PCM for either daytime cooling or night time heating. However, as described hereinabove, even where there is a separate pre-conditioning ductwork, such as by use of direct flow of outside air, there can be pre-conditions where a manual selection or automatic controller rotation of the rotating PCM assembly to pre-condition a PCM by use of the building's interior air ductwork and to control the temperature of the interior air towards a desired interior temperature during the PCM pre-conditioning process.
Alternative Rotating Embodiment
FIG. 13 shows a drawing of an exemplary rotating PCM assembly 1300 where instead of cylindrical shaped container, there is more of disk like container 1305. The container length is shorter than the container diameter and in some embodiments, shorter than the container radius. The tubes described hereinabove are shorted in the lengthwise direction of the axis of rotation where the tube length is shorter than a tube cross section dimension across an end face of the tube. Otherwise, there are at least two PCM shortened tubes (1301, 1303). At least one of the shorted tubes 1301 contains a heating PCM and the other a cooling PCM. The disk like container is similarly rotatingly mounted and rotates PCM tubes into a ductwork about a rod 1309, axle, or other suitable rotation mount.
FIG. 14 shows another exemplary embodiment of a disk like rotating PCM assembly 1400 having three PCM tubes 1401, 1403, and 1404. The tubes can be blank or completely open (e.g. open on each side to allow air to flow through), contain a heating PCM, or a cooling PCM in any order or combination thereof. The disk like container is similarly rotatingly mounted and rotates PCM tubes into a ductwork about a rod 1409, axle, or other suitable rotation mount. As in all of the rotating embodiments described hereinabove, any suitable manual or motorized rotation means, typically a motorized, direct drive, gear drive, belt drive, etc., as described hereinbelow can be used.
Any of the features, such as for example, PCM tube features and/or rotational mechanisms and controls described hereinabove can be used as suitable with a rotating PCM assembly 1300, 1400.
Alternative Embodiment with Linear Translation
FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of a linear translation PCM assembly 1500. The PCM tubes (1501, 1503) are moved in a substantially linear direction of travel (arrow 1523) into and out of adjacent airflow, typically an airflow of a HVAC ductwork. Any suitable rack, guide rails, and/or lifting or sliding mechanisms can be used to so move the PCM tubes. Tubes can be moved individually as a section into and out of the ductwork. Or, there can also be sections, such as, for example, or racks or other sub-assemblies which move two or more tubes into and out of the ductwork 1555. Any of the features described hereinabove with respect to other embodiments can be applied as suitable to the linear translation embodiments. At least one of the PCM tubes contains a heating PCM and at least one other PCM tube contains a cooling PCM. Either PCM tube can be translated into the ductwork separately, or both or all of the PCM tubes can be retracted from the ductwork.
FIG. 16 shows an exemplary linear translation PCM assembly 1600 having a plurality of PCM tubes (1501, 1502, 1503, 1504, 1505, 1506, 1507, 1508). In some embodiments, the heating and cooling PCM tubes can be interlaced. For example, odd numbered PCM tubes can contain a heating PCM and even numbered tubes a cooling PCM. Or, there can be any distribution or combination (e.g. different numbers) of heating and cooling PCM tubes. Moreover, the PCM tubes can all be retracted from the ductwork, or any suitable number of sections of PCM tubes (typically of the same type) can be simultaneously retracted or inserted into the ductwork.
Any of the features, such as for example, PCM tube features and/or rotational mechanisms and controls described hereinabove can be used as suitable with a linear translation PCM assembly 1500, 1600.
CONTROLS AND DRIVE MEANS—in the drawings, curved and straight lines with arrows denote either a rotational drive means, or a linear translation sliding means. A rotational drive means includes any suitable means to rotate a rotatable PCM module such that one or more sections rotate into or out of an airflow, such as, for example, an airflow of a HVAC ductwork. Such rotational drive means are well known to those skilled in the art.
Similarly, a sliding or linear drive means includes any suitable means to linearly translate or to slide a slidable PCM module such that one or more sections slide into or out of an airflow (e.g. where each PCM module is slidably mounted on one or more sliding rails or slides, such as, for example, an airflow of a HVAC ductwork. Such sliding or linear drive means are well known to those skilled in the art.
Generally, as understood by those skilled in the art, drives for all of the embodiments described hereinabove can by any suitable actuator or motorized drive arrangement. For example, linear actuators can be used to slide PCM modules. Or, as shown in the example FIG. 18 hereinbelow, a motor can move a cable, belt, or chain drive to make a linear movement of one or more PCM modules. Rotational of a rotatable PCM container or canister can be accomplished by a motor and pulley system driving a belt, cable, or chain drive. Ratios of motor shaft speed to canister rotation rate can be established by different sized pulleys, gears, etc. Gears can be at the motor (e.g. a gear box) in the form of a speed changing arrangement (typically speed reducing), or gears can be used between a motor shaft and gears on the canister to drive the rotation based on a gear ratio. The motor can be any suitable motor including for example, AC, DC, and stepper motors as known in the art.
Generally, as understood by those skilled in the art, positioning of a multi-section PCM container can be accomplished with or without position information or feedback. For example, in some embodiments there can be mechanical elements which close one or more switches (e.g. a tap or cam on the outside of the container) and/or electro-optical sensors (e.g. a tab breaks a light path) to show canister (or linearly translated module) position. Also, there can be any suitable shaft encoder (e.g. the rotational position of the center rod of a rotatable multi-section PCM container. Any combination of linear or rotational position indicators can be used. Or, as described hereinbelow, for example, an electromechanical clockwork type mechanism can position a PCM canister (or sections of linear moving modules) without any position indication or position feedback information.
There can also be a clockwork type drive, where for example, an AC motor suitable for electro-mechanical clockwork apparatus, can turn gears or pulleys and belts in a ratio suitable to turn a PCM canister through a typical day-night cycle, for example, inserting the appropriate PCM module into a HVAC duct for daytime or for nighttime charging and/or discharging of the respective PCM modules in one or multiple ducts according to the various embodiments described hereinabove.
The exact means for rotating or sliding a PCM section of a multi-section PCM container according to the Application into or out of an airflow is unimportant.
Rotating PCM sections can be selected (e.g. rotated into an air flow) by any suitable manual or controllable means. While in some embodiments, a rotating PCM container can be rotated manually, in most embodiments, the PCM container will be rotated by a motorized means, such as can be controlled by any suitable switch controls or more commonly by any suitable controller, such as any suitable processor-based controller including, for example, microcomputer controllers which include programmable logic controllers. A motorized means can include any suitable drive, such as for example, a direct or belt or gear drive having an electrical motor, mechanical drive, or an electro-mechanical drive.
FIG. 17 shows an exemplary motor drive for the rotating PCM module of FIG. 3. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 17, a motor 1701 can rotate the PCM module 200 via a belt 1703. An exemplary sensor system, here using an exemplary magnetic detector 1721 and a magnet 1723 can be used to read and set the rotation angle. There can be more than one position marker and/or more than one position sensor. In some embodiments, there can be a marker (e.g. an optical mark) for each PCM section. Any suitable detector can be used including, any suitable mechanical, electro-mechanical, or electrical shaft or rotation encoder. For example, an encoder can include any suitable optical encoder system, optical marks used with an optical sensor or camera, etc. Such rotation position detections systems are well known to those skilled in the art. In embodiments using a PCM module or section position, any suitable position or rotation angle detector device can be used.
In Linear translation embodiments, the PCM module controls can place sections of PCM modules in or out of an airflow, such as, for example into or out of the ductwork in a two-position system where any one or group of the PCM tubes are in or out of the ductwork. Or, there can be embodiments, were PCM tubes are moved a desired amount into the ductwork (e.g. half way in). Or, there can be continuous positioning to any desired insertion length of a PCM tube into the ductwork. There can also be embodiments where there is a continuous movement of the PCM tube over a period of time into or out of the ductwork, typically where such motion is reversed at some desired insertion length, or after a full insertion, or after a period of time at some desired insertion length, or after a full insertion.
FIG. 18 shows an exemplary motor drive for the linear translation PCM assembly of FIG. 15. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 18, PCM sections travel linearly or slidably on rails 1831. Motor 1801 drives either of sections 1501 or 1503 into the air flow. The motor drive is merely exemplary of a motorized system. Any suitable linear translation apparatus can be used. Such linear translation apparatus and devices are well known to those skilled in the art. Moreover, there can be markers and sensors as described above to remotely determine a translational position of each PCM section, or which PCM section is in or out of the air flow. Such linear position devices are well known to those skilled in the art. In embodiments using a PCM module or section position, any suitable position detector device can be used.
Slidingly selected modules can be manually inserted or removed from an airflow (e.g. an air flow of a HVAC ductwork). More commonly, any suitable motorized means, such as can be controlled by any suitable switch controls or more commonly by any suitable controller, such as any suitable processor-based controller including, for example, microcomputer controllers which include programmable logic controllers. A motorized means can include any suitable drive, such as for example, a direct, or belt driven, or gear driven (e.g. rack and gear, rack and pinion, etc.), cable drive, linear motion drive having an electrical motor, mechanical drive, or an electro-mechanical drive.
Any of the exemplary drive and control mechanisms described herein can be used in any combination thereof. The examples of FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are merely non-limiting exemplary embodiments.
Processor based controllers include any suitable processor such as, for example, a microcontroller, a microcomputer, or any suitable logic elements configured as processor or controller. A controller can be, for example, a dedicated processor or computer board, a programmable logical controller, or any suitable computer, including any suitable desktop, lap top, or notebook computer.
In some embodiments, there can be in part, or in whole, mechanical controllers, such as, for example a clockwork type mechanical controller to rotate or slide a PCM module into or out of an air flow as desired (e.g. into or out of a HVAC ductwork).
It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A phase change material (PCM) module heat exchanger assembly comprising:

a multi-section PCM container rotatingly supported about a center long axis of said multi-section PCM container, or a multi-section PCM container where one or more sections are slidingly mounted to said multi-section PCM container; and

a plurality of rotatably or slidingly selected PCM sections disposed within said multi-section PCM container, each section of said plurality of rotatably or slidingly selected PCM sections selectably insertable into an air flow, at least one section of said plurality of rotatably or slidingly selected PCM sections comprising:

at least one or more tubes filled with a PCM and adapted for an airflow over said at least one or more tubes filled with a PCM, or

at least one or more tubes defining a volume between outer surfaces of said tubes, said volume filled with a PCM and adapted for an airflow through each of said at least one or more tubes.

2. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one section of said multi-section PCM container comprises a heating PCM having a first PCM melting temperature, and another section comprises a cooling PCM having a second PCM melting temperature.

3. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said multi-section PCM container comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, triangular, square, rectangular, elliptical, and polygonal.

4. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said multi-section PCM container comprises at least a heating section and an air conditioning section.

5. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one or more tubes is disposed lengthwise substantially parallel to said center long axis.

6. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein each tube of said at least one or more tubes in a tube sheet at about either end of said multi-section PCM container.

7. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein each tube of said at least one or more tubes terminates in a header at about either end of said multi-section PCM container.

8. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 7, wherein said header comprises in interior void fillable with a PCM in a liquid state, and each tube is fluidly coupled to said header.

9. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one tube comprises a tube of a cross section selected from the group consisting of triangular, square, rectangular, elliptical, and polygonal.

10. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one tube comprises a flat rectangular tube.

11. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein each tube of said at least one or more tubes extends radially from a center portion of said multi-section PCM container and about perpendicular to said center long axis and extends to about an inner wall surface of an outer cylindrical wall of said multi-section PCM container, or to a cylindrical tube sheet disposed about at an inner surface of said outer cylindrical wall.

12. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein each tube of said at least one or more tubes comprises a bend radius and each tube terminates in a tube header or tube sheet bar which extends from a center of said multi-section PCM container perpendicular to said center long axis.

13. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 12, wherein at least two nested tubes comprise different bend radii.

14. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one stack of tubes is disposed in at least one tube rack which is disposed a section of said multi-section PCM container.

15. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said PCM module heat exchanger assembly is a component of a building heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system.

16. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ductwork couplings, wherein a first set of ductwork fluidly couples air flow to and from a building heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) ductwork, a second set of ductwork fluidly coupled to a different ductwork of a building wherein said different ductwork of a building fluidly couples air flow to and from an outside air exterior to the building, and wherein when a first section of said multi-section PCM container is fluidly coupled to said building HVAC ductwork, a second section of said multi-section PCM container is fluidly coupled to said outside air.

17. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said multi-section PCM container comprises a plurality of wedge shaped sections disposed in a disk.

18. The PCM module heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein said multi-section PCM container comprises:

a heating PCM section having a first melting point temperature and a different cooling PCM section having a second melting point temperature; and

wherein during a daytime, said different cooling PCM section is discharged by a phase change from solid to liquid, and said heating PCM section is concurrently charged by a phase transition from solid to liquid; and

wherein during a nighttime, said heating PCM section is discharged by a phase change from liquid to solid, and said different cooling PCM section is concurrently charged by a phase transition from liquid to solid.

19. A method of placing one of a group of two or more PCM sections into a building's heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) ductwork comprising the steps of:

providing a phase change material (PCM) module heat exchanger assembly comprising a multi-section PCM container having at least one heating PCM section and at least one cooling PCM section, said PCM module heat exchanger assembly supported adjacent to a HVAC ductwork;

selecting a section of said multi-section PCM container based on a HVAC system mode of operation as a selected section; and

rotating or sliding said selected section of said multi-section PCM container into an airflow of the HVAC ductwork to move an interior temperature towards a set point temperature at least in part by an exchange of heat energy between an airflow in said HVAC ductwork and a PCM disposed within said selected section of said multi-section PCM container.

20. A method to harvest heating or cooling capacity for later use comprising:

providing a multi-section PCM container comprising a heating PCM section having a first melting point temperature and a different cooling PCM section having a second melting point temperature;

during a daytime, discharging said different cooling PCM section by a phase change from solid to liquid to cool a building air, and concurrently charging said heating PCM section by a phase transition from solid to liquid by use of a warm outside air; and

during a nighttime, discharging said heating PCM section by a phase change from liquid to solid to warm a building air, and concurrently charging said different cooling PCM section by a phase transition from liquid to solid by use of a cool outside air.