A drug delivery article provides a dose of a volatilized drug by heating a drug carrying substrate, but not burning any material. A heat source which includes a metal oxide (e.g., calcium oxide), an anhydrous metal sulfate (e.g., magnesium sulfate), an inorganic salt and a sugar, generates heat upon contact of water therewith. The heat produced by the heat source heats the drug in a heat exchange relationship therewith. The drug volatilizes and is drawn into the mouth of the user of the article. Typical heat sources heat the drug to a temperature within 70° C. to 200° C. for 4 to 8 minutes.

Drug delivery article

This paper summarizes literature data concerning a new family of materials for adsorptive cooling. They are composites of a type of "salt confined to a porous host matrix" (so called selective water sorbents or SWSs). These materials demonstrate an intermediate behavior between solid adsorbents, salt hydrates, and liq- uid absorbents. The thermodynamic equilibrium with water vapor has been measured for more than thirty SWSs based on halides, sulphates, and nitrates of alkaline and alkaline earth metals that are confined to various matrices (silica, alumina, porous carbons, clays, MCM-41, etc.). The important advantage of the SWSs is the possibility to controllably modify their water sorption properties in a wide range by varying (a) the chemical nature of the impregnated salt, (b) the porous structure of the host matrix, (c) the amount of the confined salt, and (d) the preparation conditions. This, in principle, allows purposeful synthesis of new solid sorbents with predetermined properties that fit the demands of particular adsorptive cycles. Appropriate examples are pre- sented in the paper. A recent study of adsorption chillers with granulated and compact layers of SWS-1L (CaCl 2 in mesoporous silica) showed an experimental COP as high as 0.6, which is larger than that reported for silica gel/water and zeolite/water systems under the same cycle conditions. The concept of matrix modification with an active salt can also be used for synthesis of efficient sorbents of carbon dioxide, methanol, and ammonia. Other practical applications of SWSs are briefly discussed, such as heat protection, gas drying, and fresh water production from the atmosphere.

New family of solid sorbents for adsorptive cooling: Material scientist approach

Improved thermal energy storage materials (28), devices (80) and systems (60) employing the same and related methods. The thermal energy storage materials may include a phase change material that includes a metal-containing compound. This invention is directed at methods of encapsulating thermal energy storage materials, devices containing encapsulated thermal energy storage materials, and capsular structures (25) for encapsulating thermal energy storage materials.

Heat storage devices

A flavor delivery article provides volatilized flavor by heating a flavor carrying substrate, but not burning any material. A heat source which includes a metal oxide (e.g., calcium oxide), an anhydrous metal sulfate (e.g., magnesium sulfate), an inorganic salt and a sugar, generates heat upon contact of water therewith. The heat produced by the heat source heats flavor in a heat exchange relationship therewith. Flavors volatilize and are drawn into the mouth of the user of the article. Typical heat sources heat the flavor to a temperature within 70° C. to 200° C. for 4 to 8 minutes.

Flavor delivery article

The present invention provides reusable warmers of the supersaturated solution type that are substantially free of saddlebagging. The warmers also exhibit a more sustained period of time during which the heat pack remains within a therapeutically useful temperature range. The reusable warmers of the present invention also maintain a substantial degree of flexibility during their useful heat cycle. The reusable warmers comprise a flexible container, and located within said container, a supercooled salt solution, an activator for initiating crystallization of said supercooled salt solution, and a gelling agent, said gelling agent being present in sufficient quantity to convert said salt solution to a gel.

Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator

A thermal energy storage medium comprising a hydrophilic polysaccharide supporting an inorganic salt that is capable of transforming from one phase to a less hydrated phase absorbing latent heat, and releasing this latent heat upon the reverse transformation. The polysaccharide, preferably Xanthan Gum, may be incorporated in concentrations of 0.05% to 3% together with a nucleating agent in order to form a material that transforms when cooled back to the transformation temperature, or in greater concentrations of 1% to 5% without a nucleating agent to form a material that may be cooled below the transformation temperature without transformation taking place, and stored at ambient temperature while still storing the latent heat until activated. The medium is gelled in the less hydrated phase and in some embodiments the gel is pseudoplastic thus enabling it to be poured into chambers of an energy storage device, and then regain its original viscosity at rest.

Thermochemical energy storage

Thermochemical energy storing medium, storing device and storing method

A latent heat storage device comprises an enclosure containing a phase change material capable of prolonged supercooling. A nucleation port (24) is provided with a penetrable seal (25,2) that is punctured by a hollow needle (5) which carries seed crystals. Nucleation is induced by contact between the crystals in the tip of the needle and the supercooled phase change material. Material lost from the tip of the needle may be replaced by crystallised phase change material from within the enclosure. For long shelf life a prime charging with a wax, suspending agent and crystal nucleator mixture is provided. Once discharged the device is preferably recharged by way of an electrical heater included in the bag.

Heat retaining devices

Heat energy storage medium and heat energy storage and recovery therewith

A latent heat storage device comprises an enclosure containing a phase change material capable of prolonged supercooling A nucleation port (24) is provided with a penetrable seal (25,2) that is punctured by a hollow needle (5) which carries seed crystals Nucleation is induced by contact between the crystals in the tip of the needle and the supercooled phase change material Material lost from the tip of the needle may be replaced by crystallised phase change material from within the enclosure For long shelf life a prime charging with a wax, suspending agent and crystal nucleator mixture is provided Once discharged the device is preferably recharged by way of an electrical heater included in the bag

Thomas Simon Andrew

Papers

Thermochemical energy storage

Thermochemical energy storing medium, storing device and storing method

Heat retaining devices

Heat energy storage medium and heat energy storage and recovery therewith

Latent heat storage device