Embodiments of the present invention relate to compressed gas storage units, which in certain applications may be employed in conjunction with energy storage systems. Some embodiments may comprise one or more blow-molded polymer shells, formed for example from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Embodiments of compressed gas storage units may be composite in nature, for example comprising carbon fiber filament(s) wound with a resin over a liner. A compressed gas storage unit may further include a heat exchanger element comprising a heat pipe or apparatus configured to introduce liquid directly into the storage unit for heat exchange with the compressed gas present therein.

Heat exchangers for thermal storage systems include a valve that can direct process fluid passing through the heat exchanger through supplemental heat exchanger tubing based on a temperature of the process fluid. The supplemental heat exchanger tubing can be located in areas where ice formation can occur during freezing of the storage fluid of the thermal storage system, but apart from the standard flow path for the heat exchanger. The valve can be a thermally-actuated valve. The thermally actuated valve can be set to divert flow of the process fluid to the supplemental tubing when the process fluid is at or above a melting temperature of the storage fluid. Methods can include selectively flowing process fluid through supplemental heat exchange tubing when it is at a temperature greater than the melting point of a storage material.

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.

A system comprising a structure (1) defining a volume for containing or receiving a body of water. The system further comprises a solar energy system for heating a body of water. The system comprises a solar radiation receiving unit (2) configured to receive solar radiation and configured to convert said solar radiation into heat energy. The system also comprises a barrier means (3) of varying solar radiation transmittance arranged over said solar radiation receiving unit (2). The barrier means (3) is configured to varyingly control the solar radiation receivable by said solar radiation receiving unit (2).

A liquid heating appliance for heating water or other liquids, suitably to a target temperature of from 55° C. to around boiling point, includes a primary heat chamber or body (heat source chamber) that is thermally insulated and which in use contains a high thermal density heat storing liquid or solid; and a secondary chamber alongside the primary chamber through which a liquid to be heated is passed in use. The appliance has a heat transfer feature to selectively transfer thermal energy from the heat-storing liquid or solid to the liquid to be heated in the secondary chamber. The secondary chamber is preferably a conduit through which the liquid to be heated is able to flow and the thus heated liquid can be delivered to a tap as hot water for a range of uses. Water may also be heated for a central heating system for space heating.

Supplying thermal energy to a consumer, such as a parked vehicle, e.g., a parked aircraft, while reducing carbon emission and expenditure on electricity, by charging an energy storage unit at a first location to obtain a charged energy unit, and then mobilizing the charged energy storage unit from the first location to a location of a consumer, where the charged energy storage unit can then be connected to the consumer and can be discharged at the location of the consumer, providing the consumer with thermal energy.

Provided are a novel heat utilization system and heat generating device that utilize an inexpensive, clean, and safe heat energy source. A heat utilization system 10 includes a heat-generating element 14 configured to generate heat by occluding and discharging hydrogen, a sealed container 15 having a first chamber 21 and a second chamber 22 partitioned by the heat-generating element 14, and a temperature adjustment unit 16 configured to adjust a temperature of the heat-generating element 14. The first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 have different hydrogen pressures. The heat-generating element 14 includes a support element 61 made of at least one of a porous body, a hydrogen permeable film, and a proton conductor, and a multilayer film 62 supported by the support element 61. The multilayer film 62 has a first layer 71 made of a hydrogen storage metal or a hydrogen storage alloy and having a thickness of less than 1000 nm and a second layer 72 made of a hydrogen a hydrogen storage metal different from that of the first layer, a hydrogen storage alloy different from that of the first layer, or ceramics and having a thickness of less than 1000 nm.

A first system herein may include: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of stored thermal energy into electricity, wherein the PHES system includes 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 first fluid through an intercooler and to a power generation plant, and wherein the working fluid path through the compressor system includes circulating the working fluid through, in sequence, at least a first compressor, the intercooler, and a second compressor, and wherein the intercooler thermally contacts the working fluid with the first fluid, transferring heat from the working fluid to the first fluid.

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.

A heat exchanger comprising: a heat exchange unit that exchanges heat between a heat transfer medium and a heat exchange object; a phase change unit, which comprises a liquid phase space that accommodates the heat transfer medium in a liquid phase state, and a gas phase space that accommodates the heat transfer medium in a gas phase state, the heat transfer medium being capable of moving into and out of the gas phase space; and a first channel along which the heat transfer medium is moved from the phase change unit to the heat exchange unit, wherein the heat exchanger is configured such that a saturated vapor pressure at a temperature of the heat transfer medium in the liquid phase flowing into the phase change unit differs from a pressure of the heat transfer medium in the gas phase in the gas phase space.