A process for the removal of nitrous oxide from a gas stream having a contaminating concentration of nitrous oxide to provide a gas stream with a significantly reduced concentration of nitrous oxide is described. The process includes the use of a process system having multiple N.sub.2O decomposition reactors each of which contain a nitrous oxide decomposition catalyst and heat transfer units each of which contain a heat sink media that are operatively connected in a particular order and arrangement for use in the process. The gas stream is passed to the process system that is operated for a period of time in a specific operating mode followed by the stopping of such operation and reversal of the process flow. These steps may be repeatedly taken in order to provide for an enhanced energy recovery efficiency for a given nitrous oxide destruction removal efficiency.

The invention provides, in some aspects, a thermal storage system that has one or more fluid-transport vias that contain a heat transfer fluid and that are disposed in thermal coupling with a form of graphite, e.g., expanded graphite. The graphite form is, in turn, disposed in thermal coupling with a bonded aggregate material.

The invention provides, in some aspects, a thermal storage system that has one or more fluid-transport vias that contain a heat transfer fluid and that are disposed in thermal coupling with a form of graphite, e.g., expanded graphite. The graphite form is, in turn, disposed in thermal coupling with a bonded aggregate material.

A heat storage system has a heat source that generates heat and radiates the heat to a first heat medium and a heat storage body that stores heat. The heat storage body changes to a first phase in a solid state when a temperature of the heat storage body is lower than or equal to a phase transition temperature, and changes to a second phase in a solid state when a temperature of the heat storage body exceeds the phase transition temperature. The heat storage body stores or radiates heat due to a phase transition between the first phase and the second phase. A heat storage mode in which the heat storage body stores heat of the first heat medium and a heat radiation mode in which the heat storage body radiates the heat stored in the heat storage body to a heat transfer target are switchable.

A regenerator for glass melting tanks for storing waste heat from combustion cycles and emitting the stored heat to oxidation gases supplied from the outside, having a gas-permeable chamber lattice in which the chamber lining is made of fire-resistant stones held together by lateral wall elements. A cover region is situated over the chamber lattice for the combustion gases entering into the chamber lattice and for the oxidation gases exiting from the chamber lattice, the chamber cover forming a flow duct together with a further cover segment, connected to the cover, limited by a downward-extending terminating wall that is connected to the burner throat and with the wall element. A segment of the lateral wall element between the flow duct running essentially vertically and the upper region of the chamber lattice is fashioned as an intermediate wall having a cooling duct system situated therein.

A regenerator for glass melting tanks for storing waste heat from combustion cycles and emitting the stored heat to oxidation gases supplied from the outside, having a gas-permeable chamber lattice in which the chamber lining is made of fire-resistant stones held together by lateral wall elements. A cover region is situated over the chamber lattice for the combustion gases entering into the chamber lattice and for the oxidation gases exiting from the chamber lattice, the chamber cover forming a flow duct together with a further cover segment, connected to the cover, limited by a downward-extending terminating wall that is connected to the burner throat and with the wall element. A segment of the lateral wall element between the flow duct running essentially vertically and the upper region of the chamber lattice is fashioned as an intermediate wall having a cooling duct system situated therein.

Provided is a heat transfer device comprising: a housing; a regenerator; a first heat exchanger; and a second heat exchanger.

Embodiments of the invention utilize the geothermal energy exchanger and battery (GEEB) to recover and store thermal energy from the dwelling, from the ground, and from the Earth's atmosphere, reuse the thermal energy in another season of the year, and consume electrical energy to heat and cool the structure at electrical Off Peak time periods. The GEEB may be constructed of a compact steel, ribbed and waterproof permanent container that is set at a depth beneath the surface of the ground where the normal soil temperature is virtually constant year round. The container can then be encased in poured concrete, with the exception of piping or conduits. The container is then filled with a heat transfer fluid so that the entire thermal mass of the GEEB and heat transfer fluid reaches the ambient ground temperature and efficiently couples the load and source sides of a heating and cooling system.

Embodiments of the invention utilize the geothermal energy exchanger and battery (GEEB) to recover and store thermal energy from the dwelling, from the ground, and from the Earth's atmosphere, reuse the thermal energy in another season of the year, and consume electrical energy to heat and cool the structure at electrical Off Peak time periods. The GEEB may be constructed of a compact steel, ribbed and waterproof permanent container that is set at a depth beneath the surface of the ground where the normal soil temperature is virtually constant year round. The container can then be encased in poured concrete, with the exception of piping or conduits. The container is then filled with a heat transfer fluid so that the entire thermal mass of the GEEB and heat transfer fluid reaches the ambient ground temperature and efficiently couples the load and source sides of a heating and cooling system.

There is provided a modular and high-temperature thermal energy storage system, which withstands temperature and mechanical conditions. The disclosed thermal energy storage system comprises a thermal energy storage assembly to adapt to storage capacity requirements of an energy consumer comprises a plurality of thermal energy storage modules are stacked on top of each other to increase energy storage capacity, wherein the stack of thermal energy storage modules acts as a single thermal energy storage unit. Also disclosed is a regenerator manufactured using a plurality of thermal energy storage modules comprises a first chamber to store heat from a hot source resulting in charging operation, and a second chamber to transfer the stored heat to air resulting in discharging. A parallel configuration of the thermal energy storage modules allows for simultaneous charging and discharging operations.