Methods, systems, and devices are provided for thermal enhancement. Thermal enhancement may include absorbing heat from one or more devices. In some cases, this may improve the efficiency of the one or more devices. In general, a phase transition may be induced in a storage material. The storage material may be combined with a freeze point suppressant in order to reduce its melt point. The mixture may be used to boost the performance of device, such as an electrical generator, a heat engine, a refrigerator, and/or a freezer. The freeze point suppressant and storage material may be separated. By delaying the periods between each stage by prescribed amounts, the methods, systems, and devices may be able to shift the availability of electricity to the user and/or otherwise boost a device at different times in some cases.

A method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of nuclear reactor generated energy including diverting a selected portion of energy from a portion of a nuclear reactor system to an auxiliary thermal reservoir and, responsive to a shutdown event, supplying a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to an energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system.

Methods and system for operating a thermal storage device of a vehicle system are provided. In one example, a method comprises estimating a temperature of a thermal battery after the battery and coolant included therein have reached thermal equilibrium, and determining a state of charge of the battery based on the estimated temperature and one or more chemical properties of two phase change materials included within the battery. Specifically, the thermal battery may include two phase change materials with different melting points for providing thermal energy to warm coolant in a vehicle coolant system.

A heat storage system (400) comprising a system gas inlet (460), a system gas outlet (470), and at least two thermal stores (401, 402) connected together in series therebetween, wherein each store comprises a chamber having a gas inlet (461,462), a gas outlet (471,472), and a gas-permeable thermal storage media 431 disposed therebetween, the system further comprising flow controllers (451, 452, 453, 454, 457) operatively connected to bypass passageways and so configured that, during operation, the flow path of a gas flowing through the system (400) for transfer of thermal energy to or from the storage media (431) can be selectively altered in respect of which stores (401, 402) in the series are used in response to the progress of the thermal transfer.

A heat storage system (400) comprising a system gas inlet (460), a system gas outlet (470), and at least two thermal stores (401, 402) connected together in series therebetween, wherein each store comprises a chamber having a gas inlet (461,462), a gas outlet (471,472), and a gas-permeable thermal storage media 431 disposed therebetween, the system further comprising flow controllers (451, 452, 453, 454, 457) operatively connected to bypass passageways and so configured that, during operation, the flow path of a gas flowing through the system (400) for transfer of thermal energy to or from the storage media (431) can be selectively altered in respect of which stores (401, 402) in the series are used in response to the progress of the thermal transfer.

Heat storage apparatus comprising at least one thermal store (300) comprising a chamber (301) having a gas inlet (306), a gas outlet (307), and a gas-permeable thermal storage media (303) disposed therebetween, the apparatus being configured such that, during operation, the flow path of a gas flowing through the chamber (301) from inlet (306) to outlet (307) for transfer of thermal energy to or from the storage media (303) can be selectively altered in response to the progress of the thermal transfer, thereby enabling the flow path to bypass inactive upstream or downstream regions of the storage media where thermal transfer is complete or minimal, so as to minimize the pressure drop across the storage media. A baffle system (305) in a main flow passageway (312) may be used to control the gas flow path.

Heat storage apparatus comprising at least one thermal store (300) comprising a chamber (301) having a gas inlet (306), a gas outlet (307), and a gas-permeable thermal storage media (303) disposed therebetween, the apparatus being configured such that, during operation, the flow path of a gas flowing through the chamber (301) from inlet (306) to outlet (307) for transfer of thermal energy to or from the storage media (303) can be selectively altered in response to the progress of the thermal transfer, thereby enabling the flow path to bypass inactive upstream or downstream regions of the storage media where thermal transfer is complete or minimal, so as to minimize the pressure drop across the storage media. A baffle system (305) in a main flow passageway (312) may be used to control the gas flow path.

A compact cooling system based on thermoelastic effect is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a pair of rollers serving as a heat sink, stress applicator and belt drive, a cold reservoir and a solid refrigerant belt coupled to the cold reservoir and to the heat sinks to pump heat from the cold reservoir to the heat sink. The refrigerant belt comprises solid thermoelastic materials capable of thermoelastic effect. The refrigerant material is mechanically compressed when entering the gap of the roller and subsequently released after passing through. When compressed the refrigerant material transforms to martensite phase and releases heat to the roller and neighboring materials. After released by the rollers, the refrigerant material transforms back to austenite and absorbs heat from the ambient atmosphere.

Heat transfer sheets (70) for a rotary regenerative heat exchanger (10) have a alternating first and second undulation surfaces (71,81). The first and second undulation surfaces (71,81) are composed of parallel ridges (75,85) angled in alternating directions. When the heat transfer sheets (70) are stacked, they create passageways (79) between them that direct air/gas through them. The ridges (75,85) redirect the air flow near the surface of the heat transfer sheet (70) imparting turbulence reducing laminar flow to improve heat transfer. The heat transfer sheets (80) employ curved ridges (95) having valleys (97) between them that define passageways (99) that constantly redirect the air/gas flow minimizing turbulence, creating efficient heat transfer.

A bottom mount refrigerator is provided including a thermal battery or phase change material positioned within the refrigerator or freezer in order to increase energy efficiency and compartment sizes of the refrigerator. The thermal battery can be used with an ice maker to aid in removing heat from the water in the ice maker to produce ice. Furthermore, the phase change material or thermal battery may be used with a thermoelectric cooler to aid in ice production. The phase change material may be tuned to various temperatures according to the desired use of the phase change material, as well as the location of the thermal battery or phase change material. Other embodiments include positioning the phase change material in the liner of the compartments or in thermal storage units in order to further increase the energy efficiency of the refrigerator.