A thermal energy storage system includes one or more containment vessel comprising an internal cavity containing a bed of phase change material (PCM) operable to store thermal energy, an array of heaters embedded in the molten phase change material, and a tube bundle. The heaters are electrically coupled to an electric power source and operable to heat and melt the PCM to a molten state. The tube bundle comprises heat exchanger tubes embedded in the molten PCM and configured to convey a working fluid (e.g., water or other) through a tube-side of the tubes. The tubes may be arranged in plural individual tube cartridge each insertable and removable from the vessel. In operation, the working fluid is heated by absorbing stored thermal energy from the molten phase change material. The PCM may be heated by power extracted from the power grid during off-peak demand periods.

A thermal management system includes a closed-circuit refrigeration system that includes a vapor cycle system (VCS) and a liquid pumping system (LPS). The VCS includes a receiver that stores a refrigerant fluid and a liquid separator. The vapor cycle system is configured to operate in one or more operational modes including at least one of a TES cooling mode, a heat load cooling mode, or a pump-down mode. The LPS includes a thermal energy storage (TES) that stores a phase change material (PCM) and a pump fluidly coupled to at least one evaporator. The evaporator is configured to extract heat from a heat load that is in thermal conductive or convective contact to the evaporator to transfer heat to the refrigerant fluid and provide the refrigerant fluid from an evaporator outlet to the TES.

A food delivery system comprising an induction heating apparatus, an induction-heatable apparatus, and a food delivery cart. The induction heating apparatus includes an induction heating element and an electronic system including a communication element configured to communicatively link to an ordering system. The induction-heatable apparatus is configured to be heated via the induction heating apparatus and includes an RFID tag configured to store information of food being heated and information of an intended recipient or intended destination of the food. The food delivery cart includes an induction heating element configured to warm the induction-heatable apparatus and hence the food and an electronic system including an RFID reader to determine information corresponding to the food, augment the information, and transmit the augmented information a central monitoring system.

Apparatus related to thermal storage and exchange systems for use in buildings to selectively cool and/or heat a heat storage medium and cause said medium to reversibly pass between a liquid phase and a solid phase without requiring a complete discharge of a thermal reservoir between phase changes. In one embodiment, a cube filled with water and a gas or liquid within the horizontal tubing is used to charge the system, thereby freezing the water. The vertical tubing is then used to recover the energy by melting the ice, which is used for air conditioning. In one embodiment, copper tubing and fins are used to efficiently charge and discharge the system.

An element for an easily scalable thermal energy storage, distinctive in that the element includes an outer shell being a combined casting form and reinforcement, a solid thermal storage medium in the form of hardened concrete, which concrete has been cast and hardened into said outer shell. A method for building and use of the element is also disclosed.

A climate-control system may include a first working fluid circuit, a second working fluid circuit and a storage tank. The first working fluid circuit includes a first compressor and a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first compressor. The second working fluid circuit includes a second compressor and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second compressor. The storage tank contains a phase-change material. The first working fluid circuit and the second working fluid circuit are thermally coupled with the phase-change material contained in the storage tank.

Heat energy storage systems described in this disclosure can be used for long-term storage of large amounts of thermal energy. In some cases, such systems receive electrical energy from renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines. Using novel techniques, the heat energy storage systems covert the electrical energy to thermal energy that is stored in hot materials such as molten silicon, molten salts, or any other material that can store large amounts of heat. The heat energy storage systems incorporate extremely good thermal insulation of the thermal energy storage tank that contains the hot materials. The systems are also configured to release thermal energy in an efficient manner to an electricity-producing steam turbine using novel heat exchanger systems and techniques that are described. The energy storage systems described herein have a higher overall real-world efficiency than energy storage systems currently available.

The invention provides a method for storing heat and continuously generating electricity, the method comprising a phase change material; first fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material wherein the first conduit is adapted to receive a first fluid; a second fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material, wherein the second conduit is adapted to receive a second fluid; and a turbine in thermal communication with the second fluid. Also provided is a method for continuously charging the energy power block portion of a combined thermal energy storage and heat exchanger unit with heated fluid generated by concentrated solar power, the method comprising intermittently storing heat in a phase change material; and continually directing the heat from the phase change material to a turbine such that the phase change material buffers the turbine against inconsistent solar heat inputs.

A mobile phase-change heat and cold storage device include heat transfer plates, a bracket, a casing, a main tube, a storage tank, and a phase-change working medium. Heat is stored and released by the phase-change working medium, and the main tube and casing provide an interface between the heat and cold storage device and the outside world. In the process of heat storage, vapor flows through the heat transfer plates via the main tube; heat is transferred to the phase-change working medium via the heat transfer plates, and is transported in a box body to a designated position; cold water flows through the heat transfer plates via the casing; heat is transferred from the phase-change working medium to the cold water via the heat transfer plates to obtain hot water; the phase-change working medium can release heat by exothermic solidification. The process of cold storage is similar thereto.

In one aspect, compositions are described herein which include a first phase change material (PCM) component comprising an organic PCM, a second PCM component comprising an inorganic PCM, and a crosslinker linking the first PCM component to the second PCM component. In another aspect, a thermal energy storage system is described herein which comprises a container, a heat exchanger disposed within the container, and a composition described herein disposed within the container. The heat exchanger and the composition of such thermal energy storage systems are in thermal contact with one another.