An arrangement for storing thermal energy, including a shaft (1) and at least one tunnel (2), the shaft (1) and the tunnel (2) being in fluid communication with each other. The tunnel (2) includes at least a first (2a), a second (2b), and a third (2c) tunnel section. The second tunnel section (2b) is arranged between and connected to the first (2a) and third (2c) tunnel sections. The second tunnel section (2b) is sealed off at an end (4) connected to the third tunnel section (2c), and the third tunnel section is further connected the shaft (1). The shaft (1) and first (2a) and third (2c) tunnel sections hold fluid for thermal storage. The second tunnel section (2b) is an expansion space should a volume of the fluid expand beyond a volume of the shaft (1) and the first (2a) and third (2c) tunnel sections.

Systems and methods are provided for charging a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system. A system may include a compressor or pump configured to circulate a working fluid within a fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits at a second pressure; a first heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a second heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a third heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use, a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, configured to expand the working fluid to the first pressure; a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger; a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger, and a waste heat reservoir connected to the third heat exchanger.

A system and method for providing dry cooling of a source liquid, having a plurality of heat exchangers which depolymerize and polymerize a polymer. Specifically, the depolymerization process is endothermic and draws heat from a source liquid in a first heat exchanger, and the polymerization process is exothermic and expels heat from a second heat exchanger. Additional heat exchangers and holding tanks may be incorporated in the system and method. In some embodiments the system further provides additional cooling of the polymer prior to depolymerization using cooler night ambient air.

A modular thermal energy storage system for storing and transferring thermal energy at a wide range of temperatures. The system includes processing control circuitry, heat transfer fluid (HTF), piping, valves, pumps, a thermal energy source, and a reconfigurable thermal energy storage (TES) tank implemented in one or more insulated shipping containers. Different types of replaceable thermal energy storage material in the TES tank can store thermal energy in a range of −30° F. to temperatures greater than +200° F. The system receives HTF from a customer load and charges the HTF to a desired temperature. Charged HTF in the TES tank transfers thermal energy to and from the storage material. When the stored thermal energy is needed, the system passes a non-charged thermal fluid through the TES tank to draw out the thermal energy through the charged HTF, and transfers the thermal energy to the customer load.

A heat exchanger 1 comprises a shell 2 which has in an interior thereof a heat exchange chamber 20 in which a gas to be cooled or an intermediate medium is filled, and performs heat exchange directly or indirectly between liquid hydrogen and the gas to be cooled, in the interior of the heat exchange chamber 20; a tray 23 which is provided in the interior of the heat exchange chamber 20 and receives a liquefied gas and a deposited substance F which are generated by the heat exchange in the interior of the heat exchange chamber 20; and a liquid discharge mechanism (flashboard 22, drain port 25, and drain pipe 26) which discharges the liquefied gas from the tray 23 in a state in which the deposited substance F is left in the tray 23.

Systems and methods are provided for charging a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system. A system may include a compressor or pump configured to circulate a working fluid within a fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits at a second pressure; a first heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a second heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a third heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use, a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, configured to expand the working fluid to the first pressure; a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger; a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger, and a waste heat reservoir connected to the third heat exchanger.

The invention provides a device for the inductive compression of carbon dioxide via isochoric heating. The resulting hot, supercritical or compressed carbon dioxide is suitable for driving a gas turbine with highly efficient use of the input thermal energy, for local heating and cooling applications, and for pipeline transportation to remote locations where the high enthalpy content of the gas can be harvested.

A cold storage material particle of an embodiment includes at least one first element selected from the group consisting of a rare earth element, silver (Ag), and copper (Cu) and a second element that is different from the first element and forms a multivalent metal ion in an aqueous solution, in which an atomic concentration of the second element is 0.001 atomic % or more and 60 atomic % or less, and a maximum value of volume specific heat at a temperature of 20K or less is 0.3 J/cm.sup.3.Math.K or more.

A system is described. The system includes a first region and a second region. The first region is configured to retain particles and has a first characteristic dimension. The second region is communicatively coupled with the first region such that the particles can travel between the first region and the second region. The second region has a second characteristic dimension of not larger than twice a characteristic length for the particles. The second region has a barrier that offers resistance to or interruption in particle movement.

A method is provided for inputting thermal energy into fluidic medium in a steel manufacturing process by at least one rotary apparatus comprising: a casing with at least one inlet and at least one exit, a rotor comprising at least one row of rotor blades arranged over a circumference of a rotor hub mounted onto a rotor shaft, and a stator configured as an assembly of stationary vanes arranged at least upstream of the at least one row of rotor blades. In the method, an amount of thermal energy is imparted to a stream of fluidic medium directed along a flow path formed inside the casing between the inlet and the exit by virtue of a series of energy transformations occurring when said stream of fluidic medium passes through the stationary vanes and the at least one row of rotor blades, respectively. The method further comprises: integration of said at least one rotary apparatus into a steel production facility configured to carry out steel production processes, such as reacting iron oxide and carbon or production of raw materials, at temperatures essentially equal to or exceeding 500 degrees Celsius (° C.), and conducting an amount of input energy into the at least one rotary apparatus integrated into the heat-consuming process facility, the input energy comprises electrical energy. A rotary apparatus and related uses are further provided.