Provided is an apparatus and method for transferring or exchanging thermal energy between two thermal reservoirs, for converting energy from thermal energy into another form of energy, or for converting energy from another form of energy into thermal energy. A body force per unit mass generating apparatus can be employed to modify a specific heat capacity of a working material. A work exchange apparatus, such as a compressor expander, can be employed to do work on the working material, or allow the working material to do work on the work exchange apparatus.

A refrigerant circuit for a refrigeration apparatus with a thermal storage, which is using CO.sub.2 as refrigerant, includes: at least one compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a thermal storage, including a thermal storage material, which is preferably a phase changing material from the group: organic PCMs like bio-based, paraffin, carbohydrate or lipid derived, or water. The refrigerant circuit further includes: a first fluid communication pipe communicating between a fluid side of the heat-source-side heat exchanger and one side of the thermal storage, and a second fluid communication pipe communicating between the expansion device and the other side of the thermal storage.

A temperature controller for a sorption system having an evaporator to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a flow channel extending between the evaporator and sorber to provide a gas pathway connecting them, a valve to control the rate of gas flow in the flow channel, and a temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of an evaporator surface or the air adjacent thereto indicative of an evaporator surface temperature, and generate a temperature signal. The controller includes an inflatable member having first and second inflation states, and a control unit configured to evaluate the temperature signal and in response control the state of inflation of the inflatable member and thereby the operation of the valve to control the rate of gas flow between the evaporator and sorber through the gas pathway.

A method of operating a solar energy plant and a solar plant are disclosed. Thermal energy produced in the plant is used to heat a first volume of water and charge a hot store in the plant. Electricity produced in the plant operates a heat engine or other device, such as a refrigeration unit, to extract heat and consequently cool a second volume of water and charge a cold store. As desired, energy is transferred from the hot store to a heat engine and energy is transferred from the heat engine to the cold store to operate the heat engine to produce power in the plant.

Versatile temperature control systems adaptable to many different applications employ different states and proportions of a pressurized dual phase medium in direct contact with a thermal load. In one aspect of the invention, thermal energy generated by pressurization of a gaseous medium is stored at a selected temperature level so that it is later readily accessible. In addition, in accordance with the invention temperature control of a two-phase medium can be exercised across selectable dynamic ranges and with different resolutions. In accordance with such features, the control can be exerted by varying the input flow rate of a mixture applied to a thermal load, or by controlling the back pressure of the flow through the thermal load. In accordance with another feature of the invention, substantial energy conservation can be effected by employing an ambient temperature evaporator configuration between the thermal load and the input to the compressor. This variant also utilizes the two-phase characteristics of the medium. Moreover, the system can be configured compactly utilizing a thermal reservoir for retaining thermal energy for special purposes. In a food processing system for providing a frozen product, for example, the thermal reservoir can be accessed to utilize the refrigerant itself in different operating modes, such as rapid heating and system cleansing. In the food processing application, target temperatures can be set and maintained on a platen which is to receive food ingredients using energy flows at two different enthalpies, to enable rapid freezing or temperature elevation.

The application pertains to, for example, novel processes and systems for heat transfer, refrigeration, energy storage, and various cooling and heating processes. Such processes may include cooling or mixing various liquid-liquid phase transition liquids to release and/or energy. Additionally or alternatively, such processes may include charging and/or discharging thermal storage reservoirs with layered liquids of various temperatures.

A climate-control system includes a working fluid circuit and a storage tank. The working fluid circuit has a first compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a flash tank, and a third heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger receives working fluid discharged from the first compressor. The flash tank is disposed downstream the first heat exchanger and includes an inlet and first and second outlets. The first outlet provides working fluid to the third heat exchanger disposed between the flash tank and the first compressor. The second outlet provides working fluid to the first compressor. The storage tank contains phase-change material that is thermally coupled with the second heat exchanger of the working fluid circuit.

Disclosed are systems and methods of flexibly cooling thermal loads by providing a thermal energy storage cooling system for burst mode cooling and a vapor compression system for additional and ancillary cooling to efficiently maintain and cool a thermal load such as from a directed energy weapon system.

Provided is a transport device which can perform easily thermal storage temperature controlling treatment of the thermal storage material even at a cell transport destination. The transport device of the present invention includes: a thermally insulated container that has a cylindrical shape and a bottom, a thermal storage material disposed along the inner circumferential surface of the thermally insulated container, and a temperature control unit that is detachably fitted on the thermally insulated container and is for performing thermal storage temperature controlling treatment on the thermal storage material, wherein the temperature controlling unit comprises a heat transferring body for performing the thermal storage temperature control processing on the thermal storage material when the unit is fitted on the thermally insulated container, and a storage space formed inside the heat-transferring body for storing a stored object so that the object can be freely put in and taken out.

A temperature controller for a sorption system having an evaporator to produce a gas, a sorber containing a sorption material to sorb the gas during a sorption phase, a flow channel extending between the evaporator and sorber to provide a gas pathway connecting them, a valve to control the rate of gas flow in the flow channel, and a temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of an evaporator surface or the air adjacent thereto indicative of an evaporator surface temperature, and generate a temperature signal. The controller includes an inflatable member having first and second inflation states, and a control unit configured to evaluate the temperature signal and in response control the state of inflation of the inflatable member and thereby the operation of the valve to control the rate of gas flow between the evaporator and sorber through the gas pathway.