The invention provides a heat-storage medium conveying system for a solar-thermal power plant. The system includes a high-level tank subsystem including a high-level tank used to store the heat-storage medium. The system further includes a heat-storage medium transport subsystem. The high-level tank subsystem is connected with the heat-storage medium transport subsystem. The heat-storage medium transport subsystem includes a low-level tank. A mounting height of the low-level tank is lower than that of the high-level tank. A volume of the low-level tank is smaller than a volume of the high-level tank. The heat-storage medium can enter the low-level tank from the high-level tank partially or completely by its own gravity. The low-level tank is provided with a conveying pump, and the heat-storage medium is pumped out of the low-level tank through the conveying pump. The invention solves the problems such as construction cost, operation and maintenance cost brought about by using the vertical long-shaft submerged molten salt pump, while avoiding the potential safety hazards in the design of large and small tanks or high-level and low-level tanks.

In one aspect, compositions are described herein which include a first phase change material (PCM) component comprising an organic PCM, a second PCM component comprising an inorganic PCM, and a crosslinker linking the first PCM component to the second PCM component. In another aspect, a thermal energy storage system is described herein which comprises a container, a heat exchanger disposed within the container, and a composition described herein disposed within the container. The heat exchanger and the composition of such thermal energy storage systems are in thermal contact with one another.

A heat exchange apparatus for cooling water of a fuel cell includes a body, through which a cooling water pipe having cooling water flowing therethrough to be supplied to a fuel cell stack, passes; and a heat accumulator provided in an interior of the body and filled with a PCM heat accumulation material that exchanges heat with the cooling water. The body includes a medium space provided between the cooling water pipe and the heat accumulator such that the heat accumulator is spaced apart from the cooling water pipe. The PCM heat accumulation material exchanges heat with the cooling water by a medium of the medium space.

A heat exchange apparatus for cooling water of a fuel cell includes a body, through which a cooling water pipe having cooling water flowing therethrough to be supplied to a fuel cell stack, passes; and a heat accumulator provided in an interior of the body and filled with a PCM heat accumulation material that exchanges heat with the cooling water. The body includes a medium space provided between the cooling water pipe and the heat accumulator such that the heat accumulator is spaced apart from the cooling water pipe. The PCM heat accumulation material exchanges heat with the cooling water by a medium of the medium space.

A pallet cover suitable for use in covering at least a portion of a payload on a pallet and a kit for use in making the pallet cover. In one embodiment, the pallet cover includes a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall, wherein the walls are detachably joined to one another. Each of the top wall, the front wall, the rear wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall includes a first fabric sheet and a second fabric sheet, the first and second fabric sheets being joined together to form a plurality of pockets. Each pocket may removably receive a temperature-control member containing a phase-change material. At least one of the top wall, the front wall, the rear wall, the left side wall and the right side wall may include a plurality of detachably joined portions.

A pallet cover suitable for use in covering at least a portion of a payload on a pallet and a kit for use in making the pallet cover. In one embodiment, the pallet cover includes a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall, wherein the walls are detachably joined to one another. Each of the top wall, the front wall, the rear wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall includes a first fabric sheet and a second fabric sheet, the first and second fabric sheets being joined together to form a plurality of pockets. Each pocket may removably receive a temperature-control member containing a phase-change material. At least one of the top wall, the front wall, the rear wall, the left side wall and the right side wall may include a plurality of detachably joined portions.

A rotating heat pipe is used for temperature control of electric motors and generators and other rotating heat generating assemblies to ensure their proper operation. The heat pipe is integral with the shaft, and unlike conventional devices, incorporates a solid-liquid phase change material as the heat transfer/transport material. In addition, it comprises a scraped surface heat exchange mechanism at the heat dissipation region to allow for high cooling rates as required. This scraped surface mechanism is preferentially driven by a magnetic coupling to eliminate issues related to leaks of the heat transfer material.

A rotating heat pipe is used for temperature control of electric motors and generators and other rotating heat generating assemblies to ensure their proper operation. The heat pipe is integral with the shaft, and unlike conventional devices, incorporates a solid-liquid phase change material as the heat transfer/transport material. In addition, it comprises a scraped surface heat exchange mechanism at the heat dissipation region to allow for high cooling rates as required. This scraped surface mechanism is preferentially driven by a magnetic coupling to eliminate issues related to leaks of the heat transfer material.

The invention relates to a method for supplying electrical energy (10), wherein a heat accumulator (2) is charged with thermal energy (3) in a heat charging station (1), wherein the thermal energy (3) is converted into electrical energy (10) in a conversion station (5). The invention also relates to an energy supply system for supplying electrical energy (10), in particular according to said method, wherein the energy supply system has at least one heat accumulator (2), and wherein the energy supply system has a heat charging station (1) for charging the heat accumulator (2) with thermal energy (3). The energy supply system has a conversion station (5) for converting thermal energy (3) stored in the heat accumulator (2) into electrical energy (10), wherein the system has an energy generating device for generating electrical energy (10), and wherein the system is designed to convert electrical energy (10) generated by the energy generating device into thermal energy (3) and to store same in the heat accumulator (2).

The disclosed technology includes systems and methods of managing temperature distributions of phase change material. The disclosed technology can include a system comprising a platform having a passageway therethrough. The platform can include a density that is less than a density of the phase change material when in a solid phase and greater than a density of the phase change material when in a liquid phase. The system can further include a whip rod disposed at least partially in the passageway of the platform.