A heat exchanger includes a hollow pillar shaped honeycomb structure, a first outer cylindrical member, an inner cylindrical member, an upstream cylindrical member, a cylindrical connecting member and a downstream cylindrical member. The inner cylindrical member includes a tapered portion whose diameter is reduced from a position of a second end face of the pillar shaped honeycomb structure to the downstream end portion side. A ratio of a difference between an inner diameter of the downstream end portion of the inner cylindrical member and an inner diameter of the downstream end portion of the upstream cylindrical member to the inner diameter of the downstream end portion of the upstream cylindrical member is within ±20%.

The present invention provides a bidirectional energy-transfer system comprising: a thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete, disposed in a structural object; a location of energy supply or demand that is physically isolated from, but in thermodynamic and/or electromagnetic communication with, the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete; and a means of transferring energy between the structural object and the location of energy supply or demand. The system can be a single node in a neural network. The thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete includes a conductive, shock-absorbing material, such as graphite. Preferred compositions are disclosed for the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete. The bidirectional energy-transfer system may be present in a solar-energy collection system, a grade beam, an indoor radiant flooring system, a structural wall or ceiling, a bridge, a roadway, a driveway, a parking lot, a commercial aviation runway, a military runway, a grain silo, or pavers, for example.

The present invention provides a bidirectional energy-transfer system comprising: a thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete, disposed in a structural object; a location of energy supply or demand that is physically isolated from, but in thermodynamic and/or electromagnetic communication with, the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete; and a means of transferring energy between the structural object and the location of energy supply or demand. The system can be a single node in a neural network. The thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete includes a conductive, shock-absorbing material, such as graphite. Preferred compositions are disclosed for the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete. The bidirectional energy-transfer system may be present in a solar-energy collection system, a grade beam, an indoor radiant flooring system, a structural wall or ceiling, a bridge, a roadway, a driveway, a parking lot, a commercial aviation runway, a military runway, a grain silo, or pavers, for example.

High performance ceramic (“HPC”) cooling tower fill plates with scalloped top and bottom edges and cross-hatched veins are used in combination with improved retainers in order to produce high performance, cooling tower fill bundles.

A plate heat exchanger with two heat exchange plates forming a channel system between the heat exchange plates, the channel system being sealed by a sealing member. The channel system includes a support member, the support member is arranged at a distance from the sealing member and a support member material is different from a material of a heat exchange plate.

A plate heat exchanger with two heat exchange plates forming a channel system between the heat exchange plates, the channel system being sealed by a sealing member. The channel system includes a support member, the support member is arranged at a distance from the sealing member and a support member material is different from a material of a heat exchange plate.

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.

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.

A hierarchical heat exchanger manifold includes: first and second fluid passages respectively open to an inlet and an outlet in a first level of the heat exchanger manifold; a plurality of first and second fluid passages in a second level of the heat exchanger manifold; and a plurality of first and second fluid passages in a third level of the heat exchanger manifold. A number of the first fluid passages in the third level is greater than a number of the first fluid passages in the second level. Each of the first fluid passages in the second level is in fluid communication with the inlet and at least one of the first fluid passages in the third level, and each of the second fluid passages in the second level is in fluid communication with the outlet and at least one of the second fluid passages in the third level.

The present invention relates generally to a manifold for a parallel flow heat exchanger and a heat exchanger incorporating that manifold. The manifold comprising a first plurality of channels each having a first opening facing a first direction and a second opening facing a second direction different from the first direction. The manifold further comprises a second plurality of channels interleaved with the first plurality of channels, the second plurality of channels having a third opening facing a third direction and a fourth opening facing the first direction, wherein the third direction is different from the first direction and the second direction.