Barocaloric heat transfer systems and related methods are generally described. In some embodiments, a heat transfer system may include a barocaloric material which may generate heat upon compression and may cool down upon decompression. The barocaloric material may be pressurized using high pressure and low pressure fluids, which may, in some embodiments, also transfer heat to/from the barocaloric material. The heat transfer system may also include a hot heat exchanger to dissipate heat from the heat transfer system to a first environment and a cold heat exchanger to absorb heat from a second environment, effectively cooling the second environment. In some embodiments, the barocaloric material may be in particulate form.

Thermal energy storage systems are disclosed in this application. Systems of the inventive subject matter are designed to reduce maintenance requirements by sequestering, for example, corrosive fluids that might otherwise damage difficult-to-fix internal components are kept out of those components by introducing a non-corrosive heat transfer fluid to facilitate heat transfer between a thermal energy storage medium (e.g., molten sulfur) and a potentially corrosive working fluid. Thus, the potentially corrosive fluid is kept out of a thermal energy storage tank containing the thermal energy storage medium, which, by design, is difficult to repair when internal components corrode or otherwise require maintenance.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for performing cyclical energy storage for a process region in a cyclical operation using an energy storage medium having a hot side and a cold side, the method comprising the following method steps, which are repeated in a cycle time. The energy storage medium is heated on the hot side by means of a hot medium in order to initiate internal thermal conduction in the energy storage medium from the hot side to the cold side. The temperature on the cold side of the energy storage medium is continuously captured by means of a temperature sensor and is compared with a preset limit temperature. After the limit temperature has been reached, a cold medium is fed to the cold side of the energy storage medium and the stored energy is discharged beginning from the cold side toward the hot side of the energy storage medium. At the start of a new energy storage cycle, the energy storage medium is heated on the hot side again.

Methods and devices for long-duration electricity storage using low-cost thermal energy storage and high-efficiency power cycle, are disclosed. In some embodiments it has the potential for superior long-duration, low-cost energy storage.

A porous honeycomb heat storage structure including: a honeycomb structure which has a porous partition wall which defines a plurality of cells extending one end face to the other end face and allows a reaction medium to flow into the cells; and a heat storage portion which is configured by filling a heat storage material performing heat storage and heat dissipation by a reversible chemical reaction with the reaction medium or physical adsorption/desorption in at least a portion of each cells, wherein the heat storage portion has an area ratio in a range from 60% to 90% with respect to a cross sectional area of a honeycomb cross section orthogonal to an axial direction of the honeycomb structure.

A heat storage unit includes: a heat storage material that contains water and high polymers that exhibit hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity depending on a temperature; a heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to be performed between a heating fluid and the heat storage material to heat the heat storage material and store heat in the heat storage material, and causes heat exchange to be performed between a heat utilization fluid and the heat storage material to receive heat from the heat storage material and cause heat to be transferred from the heat storage material; and a container that is filled with the heat storage material and houses the heat exchanger.

A heat storage unit includes: a heat storage material that contains water and high polymers that exhibit hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity depending on a temperature; a heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to be performed between a heating fluid and the heat storage material to heat the heat storage material and store heat in the heat storage material, and causes heat exchange to be performed between a heat utilization fluid and the heat storage material to receive heat from the heat storage material and cause heat to be transferred from the heat storage material; and a container that is filled with the heat storage material and houses the heat exchanger.

A heat storage unit, at least comprises one single-layer closed case (2) that has at least one heat exchange surface (8, 9) and a non-heat exchange surface; the internal space of the closed housing (2) is filled with a foam skeleton (4); the phase change medium (6) is homogeneous distributed in the voids of the foam skeleton (4), and forms a composite material (02) together with the foam skeleton (4), the composite material has a higher thermal conductivity coefficient than that of the pure phase transition medium (6); vibration particles (3) are made of shape memory alloy, pressed into strips and then filled into the voids of the foam copper frame (4) by filtration; the ultrasonic generator (05) emits ultrasonic to induce the vibration particles (3) to generate vibration, the vibration converts the liquid phase transition medium (6) from natural convection or pure heat conduction to forced convection.

A heat storage reactor, comprising: a plurality of heat storage layers including first flow paths through which a first fluid can flow, each of the first flow paths being filled with heat storage materials; and a plurality of heat exchange layers including second flow paths through which a second fluid can flow. In the heat storage reactor, the plurality of heat storage layers and the plurality of heat exchange layers are alternately stacked. Further, open ends for the second flow paths are formed on a surface different from a surface on which open ends of the first flow paths are formed. Furthermore, at least a part of the second flow paths is formed in parallel to the first flow paths.

A thermal heat storage system is provided, including a storage tank, a heat injection system and a heat recovery system. The storage tank holds a material for thermal storage. The heat injection system is coupled to an intake on the storage tank. The heat recovery system is coupled to an output on the storage tank and also uses vapor under depressurized conditions for heat transfer.