The present application pertains in some embodiments to a thermal storage system. The system may include, for example, a warm thermal storage region; a cold thermal storage region; and a physical divider. The warm thermal storage region may include at least two liquid phases. The cold thermal storage region may include at least one liquid phase. The physical divider substantially separates the warm thermal storage region from the cold thermal storage region.

A thermal storage solution system is disclosed herein. The system includes an insulated container having a thermal storage medium, a heating element configured to heat the thermal storage medium, a heat receiving unit (e.g., thermophotovoltaic (TPV) heat engine, heat transfer fluid, an industrial process component) configured to convert heat into electric energy, and a mechanism configured to control a view factor between the thermal storage medium and the heat engine. In another embodiment, the system includes multiple thermal storage media as unit cells in a single enclosure or container with insulation between adjacent unit cells.

The present invention provides an energy storage apparatus. The energy storage apparatus comprises a storage tank (100, 220) for receiving thermal energy storage fluid (103, 203) therein, a first energy transfer component (107, 205) and a second energy transfer component (106, 206). The storage tank has a first portion and a second portion, each portion having a first end vertically spaced from a second end. The first portion is in fluid communication with the second portion at the respective first ends and at the respective second ends. The first energy transfer component is configured to transfer thermal energy into thermal energy storage fluid in the first portion of the storage tank. The second energy transfer component is configured to transfer thermal energy from thermal energy storage fluid in the second portion of the storage tank. The energy storage apparatus is configured such that operation of at least one of the first energy transfer component and the second energy transfer component causes convective fluid flow of the thermal energy storage fluid from the first energy transfer component towards the second energy transfer component and from the second energy transfer component towards the first energy transfer component.

A phase change thermal management device includes a casing, a plurality of inner walls and a phase change material. The casing defines an internal space. The inner walls are arranged in the internal space and crossed one another to form a plurality of accommodation cells. Two adjacent accommodation cells are communicated with each other through at least one opening on one of the inner walls. The phase change material is provided in at least portions of the accommodation cells.

The invention is a container (200) for a system for storing and restoring heat, comprising a vessel including means for injecting and withdrawing a gas to be cooled or reheated. The vessel is limited by a first jacket formed from concrete (203) surrounded by a thermally insulating layer (206), which is surrounded by a steel shell (204). The vessel comprises at least two modules formed from concrete (210) located one above the other and centered to form a first jacket from concrete (203). Each module formed from concrete comprises a volume limited by a side wall formed from concrete (211) and a perforated base formed from concrete (205). The volume contains a fixed bed of particles of a material for the storage and restitution of heat (207).

The present inventions is directed to a sensible heat storage apparatus and use thereof. The apparatus comprises an inner vessel (2) comprising an internal volume (3) adapted to comprise a fluid (4); an outer container (5) enclosing said inner vessel; a thermal insulation layer (6) between said inner vessel and said outer container; and at least two integrated connections (71, 72) to connect the internal volume of said inner vessel to an outer environment through the thermal insulation layer. Said integrated connections are adapted to integrate and accommodate at least two individual sub-connections such that every integrated connection forms a single thermal bridge (8) between the inner vessel and outer container and wherein all thermal bridges are located in the bottom 75% of the total height of said outer container.

The heat exchanger is adapted for cooling a coolant (e.g., water), used to cool a device or an area (e.g., building interior), such as during periods of peak energy cost and usage, to save energy and energy costs. The heat exchanger includes a coolant storage tank with one or more refrigerant circulators in contact with the floor of the tank. The circulators use a refrigerant having a freezing temperature colder than the coolant, with coolant on the floor of the tank forming a layer of ice thereon. A rotary scraper extends up through the tank floor from each circulator, with the scrapers operating to remove the thin layer of ice from the floor as the ice forms. The resulting ice chips are relatively small and thin, thus having a relatively large surface area for their volume in order to maximize melting and rapid cooling of the coolant.

A spraying heat preservation vapor supplying device comprises: a heat preservation boiler having an inner chamber, an outer chamber surrounding the inner chamber and a compartment layer separating the inner chamber from the outer chamber; a high heat capacity material filled in the outer chamber; a heater connected to the heat preservation boiler and heating the high heat capacity material, heat of the high heat capacity material being transferred to the inner chamber through the compartment layer; a supplier tube having a first end disposed in the inner chamber; a liquid source connected to a second end of the supplier tube and supplying a liquid to the inner chamber through the supplier tube to absorb heat of the inner chamber so that a vapor is generated; and a vapor outlet connected to the inner chamber and outputting the vapor. A generator apparatus using the vapor supplying device is also provided.

A thermal energy storage is provided comprising a housing, a thermal energy storage structure arranged within the housing, the thermal energy storage structure comprising thermal energy storage elements and a plurality of dividing elements, the plurality of dividing elements being arranged such that the thermal energy storage elements are divided into a plurality of layers, a fluid inlet, the fluid inlet being in fluid communication with the housing and adapted to receive a working fluid and provide a flow of working fluid towards the housing, and a convection reducing structure arranged adjacent the thermal energy storage structure at a side of the thermal energy storage structure that faces the fluid inlet. Furthermore, a method of storing thermal energy and a steam power plant for producing electrical energy are described.

The invention relates to a container (200) for a heat storage and restitution system, comprising a vessel in which a gas is circulating in order to be cooled or heated. The vessel is limited by a first jacket formed from concrete (203) surrounded by a thermally insulating layer (206), which is itself surrounded by a steel shell (204). The vessel comprises at least two modules (210), each comprising a double wall formed from concrete and a perforated base (205) limiting at least two volumes (217 and 216) which are each capable of containing a fixed bed of particles of a material for storage and restitution of heat (207). The modules are disposed one above the other in a centered manner such that the double wall formed from concrete forms the first jacket formed from concrete (203) and a second jacket formed from concrete (215).