A water heater system includes a tank defining a fluid chamber and having a top end and a bottom end and a thermal mixing valve. The thermal mixing valve is arranged exterior of the tank and at the top end thereof. The thermal mixing valve includes a first fluid inlet that draws water from the bottom end of the tank, a second fluid inlet that is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, and a fluid outlet exterior to the tank.

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.

At least two series-connected storage cells have hot liquid supplied to or removed from a first cell and cold liquid supplied to, or removed from, a final cell. The liquid temperature decreases from the first cell to the final cell. Individual cells are connected from the warmer cell lower region to the colder cell upper region. At least one cell is closed by a cover forming a gas space between the liquid and the cover. A gas line branches off from the gas space entering into the liquid of a colder cell or into the liquid in the connection of two adjacent cells. At least one of the adjacent cells has a lower temperature than that of the cell from the gas space of which the gas line branches off.

Methods and systems for energy storage and management are provided. In various embodiments, heat pumps, heat engines and pumped heat energy storage systems and methods of operating the same are provided. In some embodiments, methods include controlling thermal properties of a working fluid by virtue of the timing of the operation of cylinder valves. Methods and systems for controlling mass flow rates and charging and discharging power independent of working fluid temperature and system state-of-charge are also provided.

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 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.

Energy storage systems include a heat source and a thermal energy storage system to store thermal energy produced by the heat source. The thermal energy storage system includes a first tank containing a first salt having a first melting temperature and a second tank containing a second salt having a second melting temperature. At least one input conduit is configured for transferring thermal energy from the heat source to the first tank and second tank. A first output conduit is in thermal communication with the first tank. A second output conduit is in thermal communication with the second tank. Additional energy storage systems include a heat booster positioned and configured to add thermal energy to a heated heat transfer fluid prior to reaching a tank containing at least one thermal storage material. Methods include transferring thermal energy from a thermal energy source to a plurality of thermal energy storage tanks.

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.

A water heater tank has several components formed of a one-piece seamless construction. The water heater tank includes a cylindrical wall with inner and outer surfaces. A helical condenser channel may be formed in the outer surface of the cylindrical wall. The water heater includes a cold water inlet. A cold water channel may be formed in the inner surface of the cylindrical wall in fluid communication with the cold water inlet and the interior volume of the tank.

A heat storage system is provided that is capable of being manufactured at lower cost and has higher heat transmission efficiency. A heat storage system includes a heat storage material having a higher specific gravity in a solid phase than in a liquid phase, a heat storage tank for containing the heat storage material, a cooling side heat exchanger arranged at an upper section inside the heat storage tank and for cooling the heat storage material, a heating side heat exchanger arranged at a lower section inside the heat storage tank and for heating the heat storage material, and a wall surface heater for heating a side wall of the heat storage tank.