IP Library Granted Patent US 12680765
Granted Patent B2
US 12680765 · App. 18/310,900 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Latent heat storage

Inventor: Michio Horiuchi (Nagano, JP)
Assignee: SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
F28D20/021F28D20/0056
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680765
App. No.
18/310,900
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A latent heat storage includes a ceramic part, formed of a polycrystalline material, and including a closed space famed therein, and a metal part provided inside the closed space, and including copper.

Claims (42)

1 . A latent heat storage comprising:

a ceramic part, formed of a polycrystalline material, and including a closed space formed therein;

a metal part provided inside the closed space, and including copper; and

a heater, embedded in the ceramic part, and configured to heat the metal part via the ceramic part, wherein:

the ceramic part is monolithic, and

the ceramic part includes one of

aluminum oxide at a proportion greater than or equal to 90 mass %,

mullite at a proportion greater than or equal to 90 mass %,

aluminum nitride at a proportion greater than or equal to 95 mass %, and

a mixture of aluminum nitride and boron nitride at a proportion greater than or equal to 95 mass %.

2 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a volume of the closed space is larger than a volume of the metal part.

3 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a volume of the closed space at 25° C. is in a range greater than or equal to 112% and less than or equal to 120% of a volume of the metal part.

4 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metal part includes copper at a proportion greater than or equal to 99 mass %.

5 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the ceramic part has a tubular shape including an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, and

the closed space and the metal part have a spiral shape along the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface.

6 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:

a plurality of pairs of the closed space and the metal part, wherein

the ceramic part is formed with a plurality of through holes extending in a first direction, and

the closed space and the metal part have a columnar shape parallel to the first direction.

7 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the ceramic part is formed with a plurality of through holes extending in a first direction, and

the closed space and the metal part have a bellows shape extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

8 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the ceramic part is formed with a plurality of through holes extending in a first direction, and

the closed space and the metal part have a bellows shape extending in the first direction.

9 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein titanium is present between the metal part and the ceramic part.

10 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 9 , wherein a mass of the titanium is in a range greater than 0% and less than or equal to 10% of a mass of the metal part.

11 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the heater includes a mixture of tungsten and aluminum oxide, or a mixture of molybdenum and aluminum oxide.

12 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the heater includes one of molybdenum disilicide, ruthenium oxide, a nickel-chromium alloy, and a silver-palladium alloy.

13 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the heater further includes glass.

14 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a thermocouple configured to generate an electromotive force by a temperature change in the metal part.

15 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the thermocouple is provided within the ceramic part.

16 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the thermocouple is provided on a surface of the ceramic part.

17 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the thermocouple includes a tungsten-rhenium alloy.

18 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the ceramic part has a flow path through which a heating medium flows.

19 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the ceramic part has a cylindrical shape with a through hole,

the metal part has a columnar shape and is provided inside the through hole, and

the heater embedded in the ceramic part has a shape extending along the columnar shape of the metal part.

20 . The latent heat storage as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the heater has a spiral shape alternately repeating a clockwise turn and a counterclockwise turn when viewed from a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the columnar shape of the metal part.