A system including: a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy, wherein the PHES system comprises a working fluid path circulating a working fluid through, in sequence, at least a compressor system, a hot-side heat exchanger system, a turbine system, a cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system; and (ii) a fluid path directing a hot fluid from a heat source external to the PHES system through a reheater, wherein a portion of the working fluid path through the turbine system comprises circulating the working fluid through a first turbine, the reheater, and a second turbine, and wherein the working fluid thermally contacts the hot fluid in the reheater, thereby transferring heat from the hot fluid to the working fluid.

Thermal recuperation methods, systems, and devices are provided. The methods, systems, and/or devices may provide for: introducing a first fluid into at least a portion of a tank containing a solid; exchanging heat between the solid contained within the tank and the first fluid as the first fluid passes at least around or through the solid; extracting the heated first fluid from at least the portion of the tank containing the solid; and/or passing the heated first fluid with respect to a heat exchanger thermally coupled with a second fluid. The heated first fluid may be cooled as it passes with respect to the heat exchanger and heat may be thermally recuperated between the solid and the second fluid.

A solar concentrator (100) comprising: a base (190); a framework (170), the framework (170) being hingedly joined to the base (190) such that the framework (170) can be rotated relative to the base (190); and a plurality of mirrors (110) arranged relative to a first axis (200) of the framework (170), such that all of the mirrors (110) are located on one side of a plane which contains the first axis (200), each mirror being fixed to the framework (170) and each mirror being arranged to reflect light travelling parallel to the first axis (200) towards a common focus which lies on the first axis (200).

A system and method to store and retrieve energy includes a heat source or an energy consumer thermally connected to a fluid. The fluid is transported through a first well fluidically connected to a second well. A slot is sawed into a rock below the earth's surface and a cable and tubing connect the first well to the second well. The cable and the tubing are partially encapsulated by casing, wherein the cable stores heat. A plurality of materials is filled into the slot. A first hole is disposed beneath a first rig and surrounds the first well. A second hole is disposed beneath a second rig and surrounds the second well. The first hole and the second hole are configured to be vertical or slanted.

A temperature control system is used for controlling a temperature of a control target. The system includes: a first circulation circuit through which a first heat transfer medium circulates; a second circulation circuit that is independent of the first circulation circuit and through which a second heat transfer medium circulates; and a third circulation circuit that is independent of the first circulation circuit and the second circulation circuit and through which a third heat transfer medium circulates. The third heat transfer medium has a usable temperature range wider than usable temperature ranges of the first heat transfer medium and the second heat transfer medium.

In one aspect, a heat transfer apparatus for an industrial process that requires process fluid at a process fluid set temperature. The heat transfer apparatus includes a process fluid heat exchange circuit having a heat exchanger, an airflow generator, and a thermal energy storage. The controller is configured to operate the process fluid heat exchange circuit in a second mode wherein the thermal energy storage transfers heat between the process fluid and the thermal energy storage and the heat exchanger transfers heat between the process fluid and the air based at least in part upon a parameter of the air and a determination of the process fluid heat exchange circuit in a first mode, wherein the process fluid bypasses the thermal energy storage, being unable to provide the process fluid at the process fluid set temperature.

A device that enables storing in a vessel a fluid at high temperature, in which the fluid is under a coverage gas. The tank has a lower concave head and intermediate zone made by cylindrical rings generated by revolution bodies around the central vertical axis, which contains the level of high temperature fluid that is required to store, and an upper closure made up by an upper head with low altitude to diameter ratio to contain the coverage gas, and supported by the intermediate zone.

The present invention relates to a hot water storage tank (202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702), defining a primly storage volume (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704), with at least one heat source (212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712) positioned in and operable to directly heat water in the upper portion (207, 307, 407, 507, 607, 707) of the primary storage volume (204, 304, 404, 04, 604, 704), and a pump or other means (237, 337, 437, 537, 637) that draws water, from the lower portion (209, 309, 409, 509, 609, 709) of the tank into a heat transfer device (216, 316, 416, 516, 616, 716), situated in said upper portion (207, 307, 407, 507, 607, 707). The heat transfer device (216, 316, 416, 516, 616, 716) is configured to enable the transfer of heat from heated water in the upper portion (207, 307, 407, 507, 607, 707) to the drawn water prior to discharge into the water in the upper portion (207, 307, 407, 507, 607, 707).

A heat storage system using a heat storage container includes a tubular body, a chemical heat storage material accommodated in the tubular body, and a flow channel that penetrates the tubular body in a longitudinal direction. The heat storage system includes a diffusion layer for transporting liquid from the flow channel to the chemical heat storage material. The liquid functions as a reaction medium of the chemical heat storage material. The liquid is transported to the flow channel and the diffusion layer. The liquid transported to the diffusion layer reacts with the chemical heat storage material, the chemical heat storage material generates heat, and the liquid is vaporized by the heat to become heat transport fluid.

The invention relates to a system and a method for heat storage and recovery comprising a fixed bed (2) of storage particles. Fixed particle bed (2) comprises an obstacle (4), a flange for example, arranged on the periphery of fixed bed (2) of storage particles, and substantially perpendicular to the circulating flow (3) of said fluid.

The invention also relates to a system and a method for energy storage and recovery using the system and the method for heat storage and recovery.