In one aspect, thermal energy storage systems are described herein. In some embodiments, a thermal energy storage system comprises a thermal energy storage system comprising a container and a heat exchange apparatus disposed within the container. The heat exchange apparatus comprises a tank, a manifold at least partially disposed within the tank, and a phase change material disposed within the tank and in thermal contact with the manifold.

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 portable heating device that includes a phase changing material mixture to absorb and release thermal energy and warm a space via convection heating. The phase changing material mixture includes sodium sulfate decahydrate, sodium chloride, and sodium polyacrylate. The phase changing material mixture is contained in portable aluminum capsules. A holder, also made of aluminum, can be used to carry one or more of the aluminum capsules.

There is herein described energy storage systems. More particularly, there is herein described thermal energy storage systems and use of energy storable material such as phase change material in the provision of heating and/or cooling systems in, for example, domestic dwellings.

A thermal energy storage system includes a container and a heat exchange apparatus disposed within the container. The heat exchange apparatus includes a tank, a manifold at least partially disposed within the tank, and a phase change material disposed within the tank and in thermal contact with the manifold.

The invention is a portable heater assembly for retaining a disposable heating element within and further providing a means for controlling heat output therefrom.

A retrofittable towel warmer for use with a hot tub preferably comprises a flexible conduit portion which is attachable to one of the jets of the hot tub together with a rigid thermally conductive portion which is detachably mountable on an exterior mast support. There is also preferably provided an exterior housing surrounding the thermally conductive portion designed to provide maximum thermal contact with the cloth material to be heated. The entire unit may be immersed in the hot tub or pool water when not in use. In an alternate embodiment a container having a thermally absorptive medium is provided in a structure which is easily mounted on the mast. In an alternate embodiment a container having a thermally absorptive medium is provided in a structure which is easily mounted on a supporting mast.

The present disclosure provides an energy storage energy system, which converts energy into cold power and/or heat power by utilizing an energy storage mode and stores the cold power and/or heat quantity. The stored cold power is used for a technology and a cold source of an existing freezing or air conditioner refrigeration industry; the stored heat power is used for a technology and heat source of an existing heating or heat supply industry. The energy storage energy system of the present disclosure adopts a large amount of wind power and photovoltaic power generation electric energy. The heat storage is applied to a current heating or heat supply market for sales which is mainly coal-fired. Cold storage subverts the existing refrigerant compression cycle technology, replaces refrigeration compressor freezing and air conditioning refrigeration systems; heat storage subverts boiler heat supply technology, replaces fossil fuel boiler heating and heat supply systems.

A heat store (10) for an energy storage system includes: an inner vessel (40) housing a thermal energy store (14); and an outer vessel (50) surrounding the inner vessel (40), the inner and outer vessels (40, 50) being spaced by a vacuum region (11) extending therebetween.

A method of storing thermal energy includes providing a thermal storage material (TSM) comprising magnesium; delivering thermal energy into the TSM; and subsequently removing the thermal energy from the TSM for a practical purpose. The thermal energy may be delivered into the TSM at a first location and the thermal energy may be removed from the TSM at a second location that is different than the first location.