Disclosed is a storage tank for molten salts, preferably of the thermocline type. The tank is provided with an insulation on the inside, which is provided by molten salts captured and retained in an appropriate metal structure. The metal structure has openings allowing molten salts to flow into it, and may consist of metal supports that hold elements which allow retaining molten salts, such as a structured packing, metal boxes, or gutter wall.

Provided are a multilayered-coating system and a method of manufacturing the same. The multi-layered coating system includes: a layer 1 including a plurality of spherical voids with a radius a.sub.1 that are randomly distributed and separated from one another and a filler material with a refractive index n.sub.1 that is disposed in a space between the spherical voids; and subsequent layers expressed as the following word-equation, “a layer i located above a layer i−1 and including a plurality of spherical voids with a radius a.sub.i that are randomly distributed and separated from one another, and a filler material with a refractive index n.sub.i, the filler material disposed in a space between the spherical voids where i is an integer greater than 1”.

In order to obtain a heating and cooling system capable of localized cooling or heating a given area, a heating and cooling system includes: a supply section configured to supply a heating medium; and a double pipe unit including: an inner pipe, connected to the supply section, through which the heating medium flows, and an outer pipe disposed at an outer peripheral side of the inner pipe, the outer pipe including a space between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, the space being maintained at a vacuum, portions in which a degree of vacuum of the space is different, or in which the degree of vacuum of the space is adjustable.

A switching flow source system includes a switching flow apparatus and a source loop and a production loop that are in fluid communication with the switching flow apparatus. In a cooling mode a first heat exchanger, acting as a condenser, is fluidly connected to the source loop and a second heat exchanger, acting as an evaporator, is fluidly connected to the production loop. The switching flow source system can be switched to a heating mode by operating valves within the switching flow apparatus. In the heating mode the first heat exchanger is switched to being fluidly connected to the production loop while the second heat exchanger is switched to being fluidly connected to the source loop.

A liquid heating appliance for heating water or other liquids, suitably to a target temperature of from 55° C. to around boiling point, includes a primary heat chamber or body (heat source chamber) that is thermally insulated and which in use contains a high thermal density heat storing liquid or solid; and a secondary chamber alongside the primary chamber through which a liquid to be heated is passed in use. The appliance has a heat transfer feature to selectively transfer thermal energy from the heat-storing liquid or solid to the liquid to be heated in the secondary chamber. The secondary chamber is preferably a conduit through which the liquid to be heated is able to flow and the thus heated liquid can be delivered to a tap as hot water for a range of uses. Water may also be heated for a central heating system for space heating.

When products to be shipped are temperature-sensitive, it is necessary to maintain a substantially uniform and constant temperature to avoid spoilage. As a result, thermal shields are often placed on top of the products. Many designs for thermal shields have been considered in the past but improvements are still desired. Accordingly, there is provided a multilayer thermal shield (100) comprising a thermally conductive layer (108), and at least one heat exchange fluid circuit (120) coupled to a first surface of the thermally conductive layer, the at least one heat exchange fluid circuit comprising at least one inlet (124) configured to permit the ingress of heat exchange fluid. The thermal shield further comprises an outer insulation layer (104) connected to a first surface of the thermally conductive layer (108) and comprising grooves designed to receive the heat exchange fluid circuit. The thermal shield further comprises an inner insulation layer (110) connected to a second surface of the thermally conductive layer (108).

In various embodiments, multi-conduit assemblies 100 comprise pluralities of individual or distinct conduits 101 joined by various forms of webs 110, sleeves 176, wraps 222, 212, and/or retainers 181. Assemblies 100 are useful for fluid, electrical, communications, and other applications.

A double-tube heat exchanger includes an outer tube and an inner tube forming a first annular gap. The outer tube is provided with an inlet connection and an outlet connection for inletting and outletting a first fluid flowing in the first annular gap. The inner tube includes a first inlet connection and a second outlet connection for inletting and outletting a second fluid flowing in the inner tube for an indirect heat exchange with the first fluid. One of the tube sections is integrally formed with an assembly wall which joints a first end of the outer tube to the inner tube, to seal the first annular gap at the first end of the outer tube. A second annular gap is exposed to the air and is in fluid communication neither with the first annular gap nor with the inner tube, and is partially surrounded by the first annular gap.

A thermal stand-off includes a rigid thermal stand-off section within a spatial region that extends along a distance between a first location and second, opposed location. The rigid thermal stand-off section includes a tortuous solid-wall thermal conduction path that extends from the first location to the second location. The tortuous solid-wall thermal conduction path is longer than the distance of the spatial region. The tortuous solid-wall thermal conduction path can include a tensile spring constant that is greater than a maximum tensile spring constant of a coil spring that fits in the same spatial region and is formed of the same material composition. The tortuous solid-wall thermal conduction path can include an antegrade section and, relative the antegrade section, a retrograde section.

An insulation retaining assembly for a high temperature rotary pre-heater having a cold-end rotor and a hot-end rotor includes a plurality of elongate retainer elements. Each of the retainer elements has a root end adapted to be held in fixed relationship to the cold-end rotor and a distal end proximate to the hot-end rotor. Portions of each of the plurality of retainer elements are adapted for circumferential movement.