A pumped heat storage apparatus has a prime mover, a power take off, first and second fluid working machines functioning as a compressor (8) and as an expander (10), a working fluid circulation pathway with high and low pressure sides, and high and low temperature heat exchangers (18A-B). The heat exchangers operate using direct contact between gaseous working fluid and solid thermal storage media, such as glass beads, which move in opposite directions, typically using an augur (44). The system is reversible between energy storage and energy recovery modes and when it reverses, the direction of movement of the working fluid and the thermal storage media reverses. The apparatus may very rapidly swap between energy storage and energy recovery while having a high capacity and energy throughout.

A gas-particle processing method comprising: introducing gas into a chamber through a gas inlet; flowing the gas through the chamber from the gas inlet to the gas outlet at a first controlled mass flowrate; introducing at least one particle stream into the chamber through one or more particle inlets of the chamber at a second controlled mass flowrate; flowing each particle stream through a respective processing region in the chamber; and controlling the first and/or second mass flowrates, such that the gas-particle mixture porosity in a substantial portion of each processing region is 0.900-0.995.

A gas-particle processing method comprising: introducing gas into a chamber through a gas inlet; flowing the gas through the chamber from the gas inlet to the gas outlet at a first controlled mass flowrate; introducing at least one particle stream into the chamber through one or more particle inlets of the chamber at a second controlled mass flowrate; flowing each particle stream through a respective processing region in the chamber; and controlling the first and/or second mass flowrates, such that the gas-particle mixture porosity in a substantial portion of each processing region is 0.900-0.995.

A method is described for quenching coke coming from the distillation of coal and having a temperature higher than or equal to 900 C., comprising the steps of a) lowering the temperature of said coke to about 700-300 C. by heat exchange with a fluid through walls of a thermally conductive material interposed between coke and fluid, b) feeding a continuous flow of said coke at about 700-300 C. into a turbo-cooler (T), comprising a cylindrical tubular body (18), closed at opposite ends by respective end plates (19,20), provided with an optional cooling jacket (21) for the inner wall thereof, at least one inlet opening (9) for the coke, at least one inlet opening (10, 15, 16) for water, at least one discharge opening (11, 12) and a rotor, rotatably supported in the cylindrical tubular body (5) and comprising a shaft (13) provided with elements (14) projecting radially from said shaft, adapted for the handling and advancement of the coke; c) feeding a continuous flow of water at a temperature less than or equal to 100 C. into the turbo-cooler (T), through said at least one inlet opening (10, 15, 16) and subjecting said flow of coke and water to the action of the rotor, which advances the coke towards said at least one discharge opening (11); d) continuously discharging from said at least one discharge opening (11, 12) a flow of coke at a temperature lower than or equal to 200 C., and a flow of water vapor.

A method is described for quenching coke coming from the distillation of coal and having a temperature higher than or equal to 900 C., comprising the steps of a) lowering the temperature of said coke to about 700-300 C. by heat exchange with a fluid through walls of a thermally conductive material interposed between coke and fluid, b) feeding a continuous flow of said coke at about 700-300 C. into a turbo-cooler (T), comprising a cylindrical tubular body (18), closed at opposite ends by respective end plates (19,20), provided with an optional cooling jacket (21) for the inner wall thereof, at least one inlet opening (9) for the coke, at least one inlet opening (10, 15, 16) for water, at least one discharge opening (11, 12) and a rotor, rotatably supported in the cylindrical tubular body (5) and comprising a shaft (13) provided with elements (14) projecting radially from said shaft, adapted for the handling and advancement of the coke; c) feeding a continuous flow of water at a temperature less than or equal to 100 C. into the turbo-cooler (T), through said at least one inlet opening (10, 15, 16) and subjecting said flow of coke and water to the action of the rotor, which advances the coke towards said at least one discharge opening (11); d) continuously discharging from said at least one discharge opening (11, 12) a flow of coke at a temperature lower than or equal to 200 C., and a flow of water vapor.

The invention provides a powder-gas heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a powder stream and a gas stream in counter-current flow comprising a powder stream mass flow rate substantially equal to a gas stream mass flow rate in a vertical shaft heat exchanger. A hot gas stream may be adapted for use in heating a cool solids stream, or a cool gas stream may be adapted for use in cooling a hot solids stream.

The invention provides a powder-gas heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a powder stream and a gas stream in counter-current flow comprising a powder stream mass flow rate substantially equal to a gas stream mass flow rate in a vertical shaft heat exchanger. A hot gas stream may be adapted for use in heating a cool solids stream, or a cool gas stream may be adapted for use in cooling a hot solids stream.