The invention relates to a system and a method for storing electrical energy which are based on a closed thermodynamic cycle. They make it possible to store electrical energy in a very efficient, cost-effective, and safe manner. No environmentally hazardous or expensive materials are required. The system comprises a compressor, a turbine, and two packed-bed storage units which are operated at different temperature levels. In order to load the packed-bed storage units, the cycle is operated as a counterclockwise heat pump process. In this process, the heat generated at the outlet of the compressor is expanded at a high temperature level into a first packed-bed storage unit and stored therein. The “cold” produced during the subsequent expansion of the gaseous working medium in a turbine is stored in a second packed-bed storage unit. This requires mechanical energy which is provided by an electrical machine. In order to discharge the energy storage system, the cycle is operated in reverse (i.e., as a clockwise cycle). Before entering the compressor, the working medium is cooled with the cold stored in the second packed-bed storage unit and, after compression, absorbs the heat from the high-temperature packed-bed storage system. The hot working medium at high pressure is expanded by means of the turbine and thus energy is generated.

Process for cracking hydrocarbon gases, wherein the hydrocarbon gas is passed through a flow channel of an absorptive receiver reactor (1, 30, 40), characterized in that cracking takes place during the passing through the receiver reactor (1, 30, 40), wherein in a first region (21) of the flow channel (2) the hydrocarbon gas is heated to its cracking temperature, in an adjoining second, downstream flow region (22) is heated to beyond its cracking temperature and in a third, further downstream region (23) of the flow channel is heated yet further and is brought therein into physical contact, over the cross-section of said region, with a reaction accelerator, after which the stream of products downstream of the reaction accelerator is discharged from the receiver reactor (1, 30, 40), and wherein the heating of the hydrocarbon gas to above its cracking temperature is achieved by absorption of blackbody radiation (20) which is given off by the reaction accelerator heated by solar radiation (7) incident thereupon to the hydrocarbon gas flowing towards it, in such a way that the hydrocarbon gas in the flow channel (2) and extending up to the reaction accelerator forms disc-shaped, consecutive temperature zones (60 to 67) of ever-increasing temperature extending transversely to the flow channel (2).

A heat exchanger, including a heat exchanger tube for guiding a first medium in its interior, and also at least one connection for a second medium, wherein the region around the heat exchanger tube is provided by an open-pored, in particular solid, material, preferably a body of such a material, into which the second medium in particular can enter.

A heat dissipation structure includes a heat dissipation portion and a heat storage portion. The heat dissipation portion has the heat receiving surface including the contact surface in contact with the semiconductor generating the heat, and dissipates the heat of the semiconductor in contact with the contact surface. The heat storage portion is arranged to sandwich the semiconductor. The heat storage portion has, for example, the heat storage opening portion in which the semiconductor is positioned, and surrounds the semiconductor. The heat storage portion is provided to he in contact with the heat receiving surface, and stores the heat of the semiconductor conducted through the heat dissipation portion.

An energy storage system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 1000° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. An array of bricks incorporating internal radiation cavities is directly heated by thermal radiation. The cavities facilitate rapid, uniform heating via reradiation. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. Gas flows through structured pathways within the array, delivering heat which may be used for processes including calcination, hydrogen electrolysis, steam generation, and thermal power generation and cogeneration. Groups of thermal storage arrays may be controlled and operated at high temperatures without thermal runaway via deep-discharge sequencing. Forecast-based control enables continuous, year-round heat supply using current and advance information of weather and VRE availability. High-voltage DC power conversion and distribution circuitry improves the efficiency of VRE power transfer into the system.

A heat store comprises heat-storage bodies for storing thermal energy, a housing, in which the heat-storage bodies are accommodated; and at least one line for a heat-transfer fluid, in order to feed thermal energy to the heat-storage bodies and/or carry it away from the heat-storage bodies. Each of the heat-storage bodies comprises a metal rail of an elongated form, the cross-section of which has a web between widened ends.

Thermal energy storage and heat exchanger, distinctive in that it comprises: a number of hardened concrete thermal energy storage elements; a housing, into which said elements have been arranged; an active heat transfer and storage medium in the volume between said elements and said housing, in the form of either: a stagnant liquid or phase change material, or a dynamic fluid arranged to flow in the volume between said elements and said housing; at least one means for delivery of thermal energy to the thermal energy storage; at least one means for taking out thermal energy from the thermal energy storage; and thermal insulation.

Solid-state thermoclines with internal baffle structures are in used in place of heat exchangers in a closed thermodynamic cycle power generation or energy storage system, such as a closed Brayton cycle system. The baffles limit the conductive and/or radiative transfer of heat between a solid thermal medium within different zones defined by the baffle structures.

A heating device for heating a gas stream is proposed, the heating device comprising two electric connection elements (43, 44) for being connected to a power source and at least one heating plate unit (39A, 39B, 39C, 39D, 39E) having an inlet side and an outlet side, which comprises a plurality of heating plate strips (45, 46) which are in the gas stream and each have a first end area and a second end area, adjacent heating plate strips (45, 46) being connected to each other in the first end areas and the second end areas each via a conductive spacer structure (47).

The invention relates to a system for the storage and recovery of thermal energy, using, as its medium, at least one phase change material (solid-liquid) and a sensible heat solid material for storing/recovering the heat obtained from an external source in the form of phase change latent heat and sensible heat. The aforementioned materials are duly housed inside a single tank containing at least two zones which are differentiated by the range of temperatures to which they are subjected, each zone containing a different material. The most common configuration consists of three different zones located inside the tank, namely: a hot zone in the upper part of the tank, enclosing an encapsulated phase change material characterized by a high melting temperature; a cold zone housed in the lower part of the tank, containing a phase change material with a low melting temperature; and a middle zone containing a sensible heat solid material.