Thermal energy recovery apparatus and method

摘要

Thermal energy storage apparatus 1 comprises heat input means, heat output means and thermal store comprising a thermal energy storage medium 9. The heat input means is connected to an engine (2 fig 1) so that a heated fluid (exhaust gases) from the engine is delivered to the thermal store and thermal energy is transferred from the heated fluid to the thermal energy storage medium. The heat output means comprises an enclosure 13 surrounding the thermal store and a heat transfer fluid (water / glycol or gas) selectively passes through the heat output means to absorb thermal energy from the thermal energy storage medium. The heat output means comprises an inlet 14 and an outlet 15 connected to an entity (19, fig 4) that is to be heated. The thermal store may contain a phase change material. The apparatus may be mounted to a vehicle. The entity to be heated may be an element of the vehicle or separate from the vehicle such as water of a central heating system or domestic hot water. The heat transfer fluid may be pumped (20) and when water it may be drained from the apparatus by gravity or driving out by compressed air.