A thermal storage unit is purposed to convert electrical energy and store the energy in the form of heat in a more efficient and cost-effective way. It may include a chamber having a predetermined amount of solid particulate. A chamber inlet may be in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid gas. A chamber outlet may allow the pressurized fluid gas to exit the chamber. A plenum disposed between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet may pass the pressurized fluid from the chamber inlet to the solid particulate to form a fluidized bed of the solid particulate in the chamber prior to the pressurized fluid exiting the chamber outlet. A heating element may be thermally coupled to the fluidized bed, where the heating element is configured to convert electrical energy into thermal energy and transfer the thermal energy to the fluidized bed of the solid particulate.

A device for accumulation and exchange of thermal energy of solar origin is provided. The device includes: a casing which defines an internal compartment and has an irradiation opening configured to allow the entry of concentrated solar radiation, the opening puts in direct communication the inner compartment with the external environment being devoid, in use, of closure or screen means; a bed of fluidizable solid particles, received within the inner compartment of the casing, the bed has an operative region directly exposed to the concentrated solar radiation that enters through the opening, in such a way that the particles of the operative region absorb thermal energy from solar radiation; and fluidization means of the bed of particles, configured to adduce a fluidizing gas into the compartment at the operative region.

A device for accumulation and exchange of thermal energy of solar origin is provided. The device includes: a casing which defines an internal compartment and has an irradiation opening configured to allow the entry of concentrated solar radiation, the opening puts in direct communication the inner compartment with the external environment being devoid, in use, of closure or screen means; a bed of fluidizable solid particles, received within the inner compartment of the casing, the bed has an operative region directly exposed to the concentrated solar radiation that enters through the opening, in such a way that the particles of the operative region absorb thermal energy from solar radiation; and fluidization means of the bed of particles, configured to adduce a fluidizing gas into the compartment at the operative region.

A circulating fluidized bed apparatus, comprising a circulating fluidized bed furnace 10 with an outer furnace wall 10r and at least one heat exchange chamber 20, which is friction-locked to a section of the outer furnace wall 10r, as well as a platform PL which extends horizontally and at a distance to an upper ceiling 10c of said heat exchange chamber 20, wherein the heat exchange chamber 20 is further supported by at least one leverage 50, which is arranged onto said platform PL and extends from a first end 50f, pivotally mounted to the outer furnace wall 10r, away from said furnace wall 10r to a second end 50s, and a fastener 60 extending downwardly from said second end 50s of said leverage 50 to a part of the heat exchange chamber 20 offset the outer furnace wall 10r.

A circulating fluidized bed apparatus, comprising a circulating fluidized bed furnace 10 with an outer furnace wall 10r and at least one heat exchange chamber 20, which is friction-locked to a section of the outer furnace wall 10r, as well as a platform PL which extends horizontally and at a distance to an upper ceiling 10c of said heat exchange chamber 20, wherein the heat exchange chamber 20 is further supported by at least one leverage 50, which is arranged onto said platform PL and extends from a first end 50f, pivotally mounted to the outer furnace wall 10r, away from said furnace wall 10r to a second end 50s, and a fastener 60 extending downwardly from said second end 50s of said leverage 50 to a part of the heat exchange chamber 20 offset the outer furnace wall 10r.

Thermal energy is derived from sunlight. The system has a heating surface arranged to support microparticles to be heated, and a group of optical-fibers arranged to transport sunlight to irradiate microparticles on the heating surface. The optical-fibers are moved relative to the heating surface to enable the microparticles to be heated by the transported light as the optical-fiber scans the microparticles. Apparatus for storing the heated particles and for using the thermal energy is also discussed.

A circulating fluidized bed boiler is described, comprising a furnace, a loopseal, and a loopseal heat exchanger arranged in the loopseal. The loopseal heat exchanger comprises walls limiting an interior of the loopseal heat exchanger, a first particle outlet for letting out particulate material from the loopseal heat exchanger, an inlet for receiving bed material, heat exchanger tubes arranged in the interior of the loopseal heat exchanger, and a first ash removal channel configured to let out ash from the loopseal heat exchanger. An ash cooler is configured to receive ash from the first ash removal channel. In the loopseal heat exchanger the first ash removal channel is arranged at a lower level than the first particle outlet.

The present invention describes a device for controlling cooling of a heat transfer solid supplying or withdrawing heat to or from a unit carrying out globally endothermic or exothermic reactions respectively. The exchange bundle of said device is in a triangular pattern.

The present invention describes a device for controlling cooling of a heat transfer solid supplying or withdrawing heat to or from a unit carrying out globally endothermic or exothermic reactions respectively. The exchange bundle of said device is in a triangular pattern.

A cooling tower (2) for cooling a liquid (4) with a gas (6), which cooling tower (2) comprises: (i) a vessel (8) for receiving the gas (6) passing upwardly and the liquid (4) passing downwardly, with the liquid (4) being hotter than the gas (6); (ii) a gas outlet (4) which is at a top portion (16) of the vessel (8) and which is for allowing the gas (6) to pass out of the vessel (8), (iii) a support member (20) which is positioned across a bottom portion (22) of the vessel (8): (iv) a plurality of apertures (24) which are in the support member (20) and through which the gas (6) and the liquid (4) are able to pass; (v) a fluidised bed (26) of packing elements (28) on the support member (20); (vi) liquid emitting means (30) which is positioned in the vessel (8) above the fluidised bed (26), and which is for emitting alas liquid (4) to be cooled such the liquid (4) passes downwardly towards the fluidised bed (26); (vii) pump means (32) for pumping the liquid to the liquid emitting means (30); and (viii) a fan (34) for blowing the pas upwardly through the fluidised bed (26), and the cooling tower (2) being such that it includes (ix) control means (31) for controlling (a) the velocity of the gas through die vessel (8), and (b) the liquid to gas ratio in the vessel (8), whereby the fluidised bed (26) is caused to operate at a tumbling rate which when combined with selected pre-fluidised packing height causes an approach temperature of below 10 F. (5.6 C.); (x) wherein the tumbling rate is controlled by a combination of controlled gas velocity and liquid to gas ratio creating turbulent mixing and tumbling of packing elements (28) in the fluidised bed (26); (xi) and wherein the pre-fluidised height of the fluidised bed (26) is from 0.15-1.0 m.