THERMAL ENERGY EXCHANGER FOR A HEATING, VENTILATING, AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
A thermal energy exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system is disclosed, the thermal energy exchanger includes a phase change material disposed therein, whereby the phase change material is at least one of encapsulated by a thermally conductive material and impregnated with a thermally conductive material.
1 . A thermal energy exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system comprising:
a main housing having a hollow interior;
a plurality of tubes disposed in the hollow interior of the housing; and
a phase change material disposed in the tubes, wherein the phase change material is at least one of encapsulated with a thermally conductive material and impregnated with a thermally conductive material.
2 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the tubes include a plurality of internal fins.
3 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the tubes include at least one screen adapted to militate against a flow of the phase change material therefrom.
4 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the tubes are in fluid communication with a source of cooled fluid.
5 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein the phase change material is cooled and solidified by at least one of a fluid from the source of cooled fluid and a flow of air therethrough.
6 . A thermal energy exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system comprising:
a hollow main housing including a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first inlet and the first outlet are in fluid communication with a source of cooled fluid, the housing further including a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet and the second outlet are in fluid communication with a heat exchanger disposed in a control module of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system, and wherein each of the inlets and the outlets perform as a diffuser;
a plurality of tubes disposed in the housing forming open areas therebetween, wherein at least one of the tubes is adapted to receive one of a fluid from the source of cooled fluid and a fluid from the heat exchanger therethrough; and
a phase change material disposed in the open areas of the housing.
7 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein the phase change material is at least one of encapsulated with a thermally conductive material and impregnated with a thermally conductive material.
8 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein the phase change material is cooled and solidified by a fluid from the source of cooled fluid.
9 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein the phase change material is disposed in one of the fluid from the source of cooled fluid and the fluid from the heat exchanger.
10 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of the inlets and the outlets includes a screen to militate against a flow of the phase change material therefrom.
11 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein the tubes include radially outwardly extending fins formed thereon.
12 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein the tubes include radially inwardly extending fins formed thereon.
13 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein one of the tubes fluidly connects the first inlet and the first outlet.
14 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein one of the tubes fluidly connects the first inlet and the first outlet.
15 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein one of the tubes fluidly connects the second inlet and the second outlet.
16 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein the tubes are interleaved.
17 . A thermal energy exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system comprising:
a main housing having a hollow interior;
a fluid disposed in the housing, the fluid adapted to circulate through a conduit to a heat exchanger disposed in an HVAC module of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system; and
a phase change material disposed in the fluid, wherein the phase change material is at least one of encapsulated with a thermally conductive material and impregnated with a thermally conductive material.
18 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 17 , wherein the conduit includes an inlet end and an outlet end disposed in the housing.
19 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 17 , wherein each of the inlet end and the outlet end of the conduit includes a screen disposed therein to militate against a flow of the phase change material from the housing.
20 . The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 17 , wherein the phase change material is cooled and solidified by at least one of the fluid and a flow of air through the heat exchanger.