US 11,877,376 B2
Electrically conductive firebrick system
Charles Forsberg, Lexington, MA (US); and Daniel C. Stack, Middletown, NY (US)
Assigned to MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/462,244.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/104,681, filed on Oct. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0132633 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. H05B 7/06 (2006.01)
CPC H05B 7/06 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermal energy storage system comprising:
a firebrick checkerwork comprising one or more conductive firebrick layers, each conductive firebrick layer comprising a plurality of electrically conductive semiconductor-doped metal oxide firebricks having one or more vents to allow airflow through the firebrick checkerwork; and
a first electrode comprising one or more electrode firebrick layers, each electrode firebrick layer comprising a plurality of electrode firebricks, the first electrode configured to receive electrical power from a source;
wherein the firebrick checkerwork is heated due to application of the received electrical power, and wherein air flowing through the firebrick checkerwork is heated by the firebrick checkerwork.