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 water heater system includes a water heater and a thermal mixing valve. The water heater includes a tank and a cap that each define interior volumes. The interior volume of the tank includes a heating element is the location where fluid is heated, whereas the cap includes a volume within which the thermal mixing valve may be disposed. The thermal mixing valve pulls cool and warm water from the volume of the tank, and then discharges a mixed stream of fluid at a user desired temperature via an outlet.

The invention relates to a system (1) and a method for pasteurizing foods packed in closed containers (2). The containers (2) are supplied with a processing liquid (11) in at least one heating zone (5,6), at least one pasteurization zone (7, 8), and at least one cooling zone (9, 10). In order to cool and heat the processing liquid (11) as needed, a coolant (23) is cooled by means of a heat pump (22) in a cooling circuit (20), and a heating medium (33) is heated by means of the heat pump (22) in a heating circuit via a respective heat exchanger (19, 30) in each case. In order to provide cooling energy, the cooled coolant (23) is introduced into a lower end region of a cold buffer store (24), and in order to provide heating energy the heated heating medium (33) is introduced into an upper end region of a heat buffer store (35).

A tank-type water heater includes a storage tank and a heating circuit outside of the tank. The heating circuit includes at least one heat engine and at least one pump for circulating water from the bottom of the tank through the heat engine and back to the top of the tank. A stratifier introduces the heated water from the heating circuit into the top of the tank in a diffuse manner to promote stratification of hot water in the tank.

A water heater system includes a water heater and a thermal mixing valve. The water heater includes a tank and a cap that each define interior volumes. The interior volume of the tank includes a heating element is the location where fluid is heated, whereas the cap includes a volume within which the thermal mixing valve may be disposed. The thermal mixing valve pulls cool and warm water from the volume of the tank, and then discharges a mixed stream of fluid at a user desired temperature via an outlet.

The power plant system includes a molten salt reactor assembly, a thermocline unit, phase change heat exchangers, and process heat systems. The thermocline unit includes an insulated tank, an initial inlet, a plurality of zone outlets, and a plurality of gradient zones corresponding to each zone outlet and being stacked in the tank. Each gradient zone has a molten salt portion at a portion temperature corresponding to the molten salt supply from the molten salt reactor being stored in the tank and stratified. The molten salt portions at higher portion temperatures generate thermal energy for process heat systems that require higher temperatures, and molten salt portions at lower portion temperatures generate thermal energy for process heat systems that require lower temperatures. The system continuously pumps the molten salt supply in controlled rates to deliver the heat exchange fluid supply to perform work in the corresponding particular process heat system.

The power plant system includes a molten salt reactor assembly, a thermocline unit, phase change heat exchangers, and process heat systems. The thermocline unit includes an insulated tank, an initial inlet, a plurality of zone outlets, and a plurality of gradient zones corresponding to each zone outlet and being stacked in the tank. Each gradient zone has a molten salt portion at a portion temperature corresponding to the molten salt supply from the molten salt reactor being stored in the tank and stratified. The molten salt portions at higher portion temperatures generate thermal energy for process heat systems that require higher temperatures, and molten salt portions at lower portion temperatures generate thermal energy for process heat systems that require lower temperatures. The system continuously pumps the molten salt supply in controlled rates to deliver the heat exchange fluid supply to perform work in the corresponding particular process heat system.

A method of optimizing thermocline zone within a thermal storage system including a plurality of storage tanks fluidly coupled to one another m series, to effectively form a single tank having an equivalent height of the combined height of the plurality of storage tanks. The method including identifying a thermocline zone, computing an average temperature (Tave) of the thermocline zone, directing thermal storage fluid from a bottom of an initial storage tank through a heat source heat exchanger, and terminating fluid flow from the bottom of the initial storage tank and directing thermal storage fluid from a bottom of a first subsequent storage tank when a temperature of the thermal storage fluid exiting the bottom of the initial storage tank reaches Tave.

The disclosed technology includes a liquid storage tank having a heating element, an inlet for receiving unheated liquid, an outlet for outputting heated liquid, and a partition configured to divide the tank into a first portion and a second portion. The partition can have an aperture such that the first portion and the second portion are in fluid communication. The liquid storage tank can include an actuator in mechanical communication with the partition and configured to linearly move at least a portion of the partition based at least in part on the temperature of liquid within the tank.

The application pertains to, for example, novel processes and systems for heat transfer, refrigeration, energy storage, and various cooling and heating processes. Such processes may include cooling or mixing various liquid-liquid phase transition liquids to release and/or energy. Additionally or alternatively, such processes may include charging and/or discharging thermal storage reservoirs with layered liquids of various temperatures.