Heat storage materials and methods of manufacturing the heat storage materials

Abstract

The present invention includes a heat storage granule having a plurality of microcapsules mixed with a binder and granulated into the heat storage granule. Each of the microcapsules may have an outer case and a phase change material contained therein. The outer case may be made of synthetic resin. The phase change material can absorb and dissipate latent heat in response change in temperature. The heat storage granule may have a cover layer that has heat conductivity and resistance against alcohol, both of which may be higher than those of a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to Japanese patent application serial number 2008-137450, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to heat storage materials that can be disposed within canisters of fuel vapor processing apparatus for inhibiting fuel vapor produced within a fuel tank from dissipating to the atmosphere, and in particular to heat storage materials in forms of granules. Each of the granules has microcapsules each having an outer case and a phase change material that is contained within the outer case and can absorb and dissipate latent heat in response change in temperature. The microcapsules are mixed with a binder and are formed into the granules. The present invention also relates to methods of manufacturing the heat storage materials.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]A known canister for a fuel vapor processing apparatus includes an adsor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]One aspect according to the present invention includes a heat storage material that includes a heat storage granule having a plurality of microcapsules mixed with a binder and granulated into the at least one heat storage granule. Each of the microcapsules may have an outer case and a phase change material contained therein. T...

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, if this heat storage material is used in connection with the operation for adsorbing and desorbing vaporized mixed fuel produced from alcohol-containing fuel, there is a possibility of causing problems, in particular when degraded alcohol-containing fuel is used.

Thus, if alcohol-containing fuel is degraded, this may cause increase of organic acid and peroxide, which act to break cross-linkage of the melamine resin forming the outer cases of the microcapsules.

If the phase change material flows out of the microcapsules, latent heat produced by the microcapsules may be reduced to the result that a suitable heat storage effect cannot be achieved and that the performance of the adsorption material is degraded.

However, in the case that microcapsules are put into a metal container formed into a pellet, a troublesome operation is necessary for putting the microcapsules into the metal container.

However, because the microcapsules are put directly into a canister, the microcapsules are filled close to each other, so that the air cannot easily flow through the canister.

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