An exothermic composite, comprising: a reactive material (RM) that undergoes an exothermic reaction upon contact with an oxidizer, and a phase-changing thermal storage material (PCM) having a phase change temperature, wherein (1) RM and PCM are intermixed with one another or (2) one of RM and PCM is interpenetrated with the other. Devices, comprising (1) a sample container that defines a sample volume therein or (2) a receptacle configured to accept a sample container defining a sample volume therein, and the device configured such that the sample container is in thermal communication with a composite according to the present disclosure. Also provided are related methods.

An exothermic composite, comprising: a reactive material (RM) that undergoes an exothermic reaction upon contact with an oxidizer, and a phase-changing thermal storage material (PCM) having a phase change temperature, wherein (1) RM and PCM are intermixed with one another or (2) one of RM and PCM is interpenetrated with the other. Devices, comprising (1) a sample container that defines a sample volume therein or (2) a receptacle configured to accept a sample container defining a sample volume therein, and the device configured such that the sample container is in thermal communication with a composite according to the present disclosure. Also provided are related methods.

A heat generating system includes a heat-generating element cell and a circulation device. The heat-generating element cell includes a container having a recovery port and a discharge port, and a reactant that is provided in the container, is made from a hydrogen storage metal or a hydrogen storage alloy, has metal nanoparticles on a surface of the reactant. The heat-generating element cell generates excess heat when hydrogen-based gas contributing to heat generation is supplied into the container and hydrogen atoms are occluded in the metal nanoparticles. The circulation device circulates the hydrogen-based gas in the heat-generating element cell. The circulation device includes a circulating passage that is provided outside the container and connects the recovery port to the discharge port, a pump circulates the hydrogen-based gas in the container via the circulating passage, and a filter on the circulating passage adsorbs and removes the impurities in the hydrogen-based gas.

A heat generating system includes a heat-generating element cell and a circulation device. The heat-generating element cell includes a container having a recovery port and a discharge port, and a reactant that is provided in the container, is made from a hydrogen storage metal or a hydrogen storage alloy, has metal nanoparticles on a surface of the reactant. The heat-generating element cell generates excess heat when hydrogen-based gas contributing to heat generation is supplied into the container and hydrogen atoms are occluded in the metal nanoparticles. The circulation device circulates the hydrogen-based gas in the heat-generating element cell. The circulation device includes a circulating passage that is provided outside the container and connects the recovery port to the discharge port, a pump circulates the hydrogen-based gas in the container via the circulating passage, and a filter on the circulating passage adsorbs and removes the impurities in the hydrogen-based gas.

A method is provided for inputting thermal energy into fluidic medium in a process or processes related to oil refining and/or petrochemical industries by at least one rotary apparatus comprising a casing with at least one inlet and at least one exit, a rotor comprising at least one row of rotor blades arranged over a circumference of a rotor hub mounted onto a rotor shaft, and a stator configured as an assembly of stationary vanes arranged at least upstream of the at least one row of rotor blades. In the method, an amount of thermal energy is imparted to a stream of fluidic medium directed along a flow path formed inside the casing between the inlet and the exit by virtue of a series of energy transformations occurring when said stream of fluidic medium passes through stationary and rotating components of said rotary apparatus, respectively. The method further comprises: integration of said at least one rotary apparatus into a heat-consuming process facility configured as a refining and/or petrochemical facility and further configured to carry out heat-consuming process or processes related to refining of oil and/or producing petrochemicals at temperatures essentially equal to or exceeding 500 degrees Celsius (° C.), and conducting an amount of input energy into the at least one rotary apparatus integrated into the heat-consuming process facility, the input energy comprises electrical energy. A rotary apparatus and related uses are further provided.

A heat generating device includes a container, a heat generating element disposed inside the container, a heater for heating the heat generating element, a conductive wire part connecting a wall portion of the container and the heater, a hydrogen supply unit for supplying a hydrogen-containing hydrogen-based gas to the heat generating element, and a vacuum evacuation unit for evacuating the container. Formula (1) is satisfied:

A.sub.HCη.sub.eq(T.sub.H−T.sub.W)+A.sub.sε.sub.eqσ(T.sub.S.sup.4−T.sub.W.sup.4)+P.sub.m<H.sub.ex   (1),

where T.sub.H is heater temperature, T.sub.W is external environmental temperature, A.sub.HC is equivalent heat conduction area, k.sub.eq is equivalent thermal conductivity, L.sub.eq is equivalent thermal conduction length, A.sub.S is sample radiation surface area, T.sub.S is sample surface temperature, ε.sub.eq is equivalent emissivity, σ is Stefan-Boltzmann constant, P.sub.m is energy required for maintaining operation, H.sub.ex is thermal energy generated by the heat generating element, and η.sub.eq is (k.sub.eq/L.sub.eq).

A heat generating device includes a container, a heat generating element disposed inside the container, a heater for heating the heat generating element, a conductive wire part connecting a wall portion of the container and the heater, a hydrogen supply unit for supplying a hydrogen-containing hydrogen-based gas to the heat generating element, and a vacuum evacuation unit for evacuating the container. Formula (1) is satisfied:

A.sub.HCη.sub.eq(T.sub.H−T.sub.W)+A.sub.sε.sub.eqσ(T.sub.S.sup.4−T.sub.W.sup.4)+P.sub.m<H.sub.ex   (1),

where T.sub.H is heater temperature, T.sub.W is external environmental temperature, A.sub.HC is equivalent heat conduction area, k.sub.eq is equivalent thermal conductivity, L.sub.eq is equivalent thermal conduction length, A.sub.S is sample radiation surface area, T.sub.S is sample surface temperature, ε.sub.eq is equivalent emissivity, σ is Stefan-Boltzmann constant, P.sub.m is energy required for maintaining operation, H.sub.ex is thermal energy generated by the heat generating element, and η.sub.eq is (k.sub.eq/L.sub.eq).

An apparatus including a boiler configured to receive water, sodium hydroxide, and aluminum. A generator adjacent to the boiler and configured to generate electricity based on heat received from the boiler. A hydrogen capture system coupled with the boiler and configured to capture hydrogen from the boiler. A fuel cell communicatively coupled with the hydrogen capture system and configured to receive at least a portion of the hydrogen from the hydrogen capture system to generate electricity. A transformer electrically coupled with the generator and the fuel cell.

An apparatus including a boiler configured to receive water, sodium hydroxide, and aluminum. A generator adjacent to the boiler and configured to generate electricity based on heat received from the boiler. A hydrogen capture system coupled with the boiler and configured to capture hydrogen from the boiler. A fuel cell communicatively coupled with the hydrogen capture system and configured to receive at least a portion of the hydrogen from the hydrogen capture system to generate electricity. A transformer electrically coupled with the generator and the fuel cell.

A transportable device for heating foodstuffs includes a container for receiving the foodstuff as well as a closed-off heating chamber which adjoins the container and is thermally coupled thereto while simultaneously being hermetically separated therefrom via a shared, thermally-conductive wall. The heating chamber includes a first chamber and a second chamber that are separated by a water vapor-permeable wall. In the first chamber is a substance or a substance mixture which, when a liquid, preferably water, is supplied, generates heat in an exothermic chemical reaction with water vapor being formed. In the second chamber, a zeolite is located which can adsorb the water entering from the first chamber via said water vapor-permeable wall, generating heat. A transportable heating element which can be used in the device contains a hermetically-sealed heating chamber that adjoins a thermally-dissipating outer wall.