The present invention relates to a material and process for producing water- and oxygen-free halogen salts of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, or of a transition metal, or of a metal of groups 13 or 14 of the Periodic Table, in which at least one halogen salt is heated with a heating rate of from 0.2 K/min to 30 K/min, especially from 1.0 K/min to 10 K/min, proceeding from room temperature.

The present invention relates to a material and process for producing water- and oxygen-free halogen salts of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, or of a transition metal, or of a metal of groups 13 or 14 of the Periodic Table, in which at least one halogen salt is heated with a heating rate of from 0.2 K/min to 30 K/min, especially from 1.0 K/min to 10 K/min, proceeding from room temperature.

The present disclosure provides stable elastocaloric cooling materials and methods for producing and using the same. Elastocaloric cooling materials of the present disclosure are capable of withstanding 10.sup.6 cycles. In some embodiments, elastocaloric cooling materials of the present disclosure comprise a mixture of a transforming alloy and a non-transforming intermetallic phase at a ratio of from about 30-70% transforming alloy to about 70%-30% of non-transforming intermetallic phase.

The present disclosure provides stable elastocaloric cooling materials and methods for producing and using the same. Elastocaloric cooling materials of the present disclosure are capable of withstanding 10.sup.6 cycles. In some embodiments, elastocaloric cooling materials of the present disclosure comprise a mixture of a transforming alloy and a non-transforming intermetallic phase at a ratio of from about 30-70% transforming alloy to about 70%-30% of non-transforming intermetallic phase.

An internally cooled valve (2) includes a valve body having a valve head (4) and a valve stem (6). The valve body has at least one cavity (8) in which coolant (10) is situated. The coolant is a nanofluid (12) in which nanoparticles (14) are dispersed in a dispersion medium (16).

A die of an integrated circuit and an upper layer of a circuit assembly are thermally connected by applying a thermal interface material (TIM) on the die, such that the TIM is between the die and an upper layer. The TIM comprises an emulsion of liquid metal droplets and uncured polymer. The method further comprises compressing the circuit assembly thereby deforming the liquid metal droplets and curing the thermal interface material thereby forming the circuit assembly.

A plant uses one or more renewable energy sources to facilitate the processing of a hydrocarbon to produce hydrogen, syngas or other products. One renewable energy source is solar energy, which may be harnessed by (a) directly heating a thermal storage medium by way of a concentrated solar thermal (CST) plant; (b) converting the solar energy using photovoltaic cells to produce electricity and using the electricity to heat the thermal storage medium, (c) a combination of both, or (d) converting the solar energy using photovoltaic cells to produce electricity and using the electricity to heat a reactor by way of resistive or inductive heating. The thermal storage medium, when used, is arranged to store enough thermal energy to enable 24-hours a day processing of the hydrocarbon. Electricity derived from PV cells may be used to enable the production of heat for processing when radiant energy from the sun is insufficient.

A system for the production of molten salt. The system can have a preparation tank configured to melt raw salts, and a bubbler system in communication with the preparation tank. The bubbler can be configured to maintain vacuum conditions within the preparation tank and to remove gases from the preparation tank. A method for producing molten salt includes a step of providing a system for the production of molten salt. The system can have a preparation tank configured to melt raw salts, and a bubbler system in communication with the preparation tank. The bubbler can be configured to maintain vacuum conditions within the preparation tank and to remove gases from the preparation tank. Then, the method can include inserting raw salt into the preparation tank, and heating the raw salt to form molten salt. Then filtering the molten salt, and storing the molten salt.

A system for the production of molten salt. The system can have a preparation tank configured to melt raw salts, and a bubbler system in communication with the preparation tank. The bubbler can be configured to maintain vacuum conditions within the preparation tank and to remove gases from the preparation tank. A method for producing molten salt includes a step of providing a system for the production of molten salt. The system can have a preparation tank configured to melt raw salts, and a bubbler system in communication with the preparation tank. The bubbler can be configured to maintain vacuum conditions within the preparation tank and to remove gases from the preparation tank. Then, the method can include inserting raw salt into the preparation tank, and heating the raw salt to form molten salt. Then filtering the molten salt, and storing the molten salt.

Materials systems resistant to penetration of molten salts and may be present within a molten-salt-facing wall of a device for containing a molten salt bath at an elevated temperature, and molten-salt-facing walls and devices formed by such materials systems. A first layer of such a system defines an outer surface for direct contact with the molten salt bath, and resists erosion and corrosion and is penetrable by the molten salt at the elevated temperature. A second layer is located adjacent to the first layer and exhibits little or no wetting by the molten salt so that at least a portion of a thickness of the second layer is not penetrable by the molten salt. A third layer is located adjacent to the second layer and is porous and exhibits a low thermal conductivity at the elevated temperature.