A thermal energy storage apparatus, including: a block of a heat-absorbing material, the block defining at least one receptacle and being a contiguous block of compressed sintered graphite; and a phase change material stored in the or each receptacle, the phase change material being one that expands as it cools, wherein separation of side walls of the or each receptacle progressively increases as they extend upwardly from the base, whereby as the phase change material solidifies and expands it is urged upwardly to reduce pressure applied to the heat-absorbing material.

The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for integration of renewable and conventional energy to enhance electric reliability and reduce fuel consumption and emissions via thermal energy storage.

A heat exchange system with at least one heat exchange chamber with heat exchange chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber, wherein the heat exchange chamber boundaries include at least one first opening for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one second opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior is provided. At least one heat storage material is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior such that a heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material and the heat transfer fluid.

A dispatchable storage combined cycle power plant comprises a combustion turbine generator, a steam power system, a heat source other than the combustion turbine generator, and a thermal energy storage system. Heat from the heat source, from the thermal energy storage system, or from the heat source and the thermal energy storage system is used to generate steam in the steam power system. Heat from the combustion turbine may be used in series with or in parallel with the thermal energy storage system and/or the heat source to generate the steam, and additionally to super heat the steam.

Systems and methods for energy storage and energy recovery are provided. An electrical-to-electrical energy storage system includes a thermochemical energy storage device, a blower, a compressor, a turbine, and an electrical generator. The TCES device includes a vessel, a porous bed, and a heater. The porous bed is disposed within an interior volume of the vessel. The porous bed comprises a reactive material. The reactive material is configured to release oxygen upon being heated to a reduction temperature, and generate heat when exposed to oxygen. The heater is in thermal contact with the reactive material. The blower is configured to remove oxygen from the interior volume. The compressor is configured to flow oxygen into the interior volume. The turbine is configured to receive a heated, oxygen-depleted gas from the interior volume. The generator is configured to be powered by the turbine to generate electricity.

An energy storage device for storing electrical energy in the form of heat energy and a corresponding method for operating an energy storage device of this type. The energy storage device includes an electric heater for converting electrical energy into heat energy, a heat storage device for storing the heat energy of the electric heater, and a heat exchanger for emitting heat energy from the heat storage device. The heat storage device includes, at least, multiple metal rods arranged upright and serving to store heat energy from the electric heater; a base; and multiple supporting units. Each supporting unit supports one of the metal rods and is connected with the base.

A fluid storage tank can be configured to store a cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state. A first heat exchanger can be configured to release heat into the fluid storage tank. A second heat exchanger can be disposed fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and configured to exchange heat between the cooling fluid and a heat load. A pressure control device can be disposed fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger can be fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger such that cooling fluid, after being heated in the second heat exchanger, passes through the first heat exchanger and thereby heats upstream cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank.

An energy storage system includes a heat generation apparatus configured to generate heat from electric power and a heat storage device configured to store the heat generated by the heat generation apparatus, the heat generation apparatus including an electric motor connected to an electric power system and rotated by surplus electric power received from the electric power system, and a heat generator having a rotary unit rotated by the electric motor and a heat generating unit configured to generate heat through electromagnetic induction, and configured to convert rotational force of the electric motor to heat.

The present invention discloses an electric heating thermal management system for an oil and gas transportation pipeline based on renewable energy and CO.sub.2 energy storage. It transmits the feedback data value through a data collection device arranged in the pipeline to the early warning device by the control device. After analysis and processing, the early warning device can feed back the data value to the control device and the remote operation device in two modes. Different degrees of heating amount can be generated for the oil and gas transportation pipelines at different positions in different modes. Hierarchical and distributed management control for the oil and gas transportation pipelines can be targetedly conducted in unblocked, easily blocked and blocked positions of the oil and gas transportation pipeline. The present invention couples the renewable energy electricity supply device and the CO.sub.2 energy storage device.

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.