A thermal-storage container used in thermal systems to exchange heat by fluid flow though phase-changing material disposed inside the thermal-storage container, including a thermal-storage container housing, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and one or more capsules containing the phase-change material, and defining a plurality of passages configured to direct the flow of the fluid at different portions inside the housing, wherein an actual fluid flow length from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet is longer than a direct length measured between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet through all sections through which the fluid flows. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

The invention relates to a method and to a corresponding system for controlling energy streams in order to connect operations of an electricity distribution network (1) and a heat distribution network (2) by means of an intermediate energy storage unit (3). According to the invention, the power balance and quality of current and voltage of the electricity distribution network (1) are adjusted by supplying the losses provided by adjustment of the electricity distribution network to the energy storage unit (3) in the form of heat, and from the energy storage unit the heat is extracted to the heat distribution network (2) according to the heat requirement of the heat distribution network.

There is provided a thermal energy storage system suitable for use with systems adapted to transfer heat from at least one heat source to at least one heat sink (heat transfer system), comprising at least one thermal energy storage unit. There is additionally provided a thermal energy storage system for use with a heat pump, or vapour compression refrigeration systems, a method of defrosting evaporators without affecting the energy delivered in the condenser before the defrosting cycle, and system architecture for defrosting evaporators in heat pumps or in vapour compression refrigeration systems.

A body of heat transfer fluid circulates in a first loop through an indirect screw-type thermal processor, a rundown tank, a pump, a heater and a fill tank, continuously heating the processor. With the pump operating, a first vertical distance between the fill tank bottom and the processor under the influence of gravity sets a minimum fluid pressure at the processor; a stem pipe opening in the fill tank at a second vertical distance above the processor sets a maximum pressure. With the pump inactive, the entire body of fluid passively drains to the rundown tank. Supplying the fluid may entail melting a salt, hydrating a salt, or both; such may be done in the rundown tank before circulation through the processor begins. A hydrated salt may be circulated, then heated and dehydrated, to gradually warm the processor. A dehydrated salt may be rehydrated and then stored; this may be done in the rundown tank after ceasing circulation through the processor. Also described: misting hydration and variable-speed-pump pressure regulation.

A system for selectively heating and cooling including a three-way heat exchange apparatus, a source apparatus for selectively heating and cooling a source fluid, a phase change material for selectively storing heating and cooling potential, and a distribution apparatus for selectively distributing heating and cooling a distribution fluid, wherein the three-way heat exchange apparatus is connected to the phase change material by an interface between the heat exchange apparatus and the phase change material.

An assembly for storing thermal energy comprising a phase change material, PCM, storage vessel and at least one heat transfer fluid, HTF, receptacle, the PCM storage vessel being defined by a thermally conductive wall 108, the PCM storage vessel 100 comprising an inverted tapered portion, the inverted tapered portion having a tip portion and a base portion, the tip portion having a diameter less than the diameter of the base portion, the tip portion being arranged relatively beneath the base portion, the at least one HTF receptacle being provided adjacent to and in thermal communication with at least a portion of the PCM storage vessel, thermal communication between the PCM storage vessel and the at least one HTF receptacle occurring via the thermally conductive wall, and wherein the HTF receptacle comprises a portion for receiving thermal energy from an external thermal energy source, the said the portion being adjacent the tip portion of the inverted tapered portion.

A supercooling release device releases a supercooled state of a heat storage material. The supercooling release device includes a first member having a concave portion on a surface and a second member facing the surface and covering the concave portion. The second member can be for example brought into close contact with the first member. The supercooling release device for example applies a load to at least one of the first member and the second member to bring the first member and the second member into close contact with each other.

A heat exchange system is arranged between a chiller device and a temperature control member, and is provided with: supply line for supplying a refrigerant from the chiller device to the temperature control member; a return line for returning the refrigerant from the temperature control member to the chiller device; a bypass line for bypassing the supply line and the return line; a latent heat storage member arranged closer to the chiller device relative to a first connection point connecting the return line and the bypass line; and a flow distribution unit that is arranged at a second connection point connecting the outgoing line and the bypass line, and that is for adjusting a ratio for distributing refrigerant to the temperature control member and the bypass line.

An energy storage device includes a phase-change energy storage tank, a first liquid inlet pipe, a first liquid outlet pipe, a second liquid inlet pipe, a second liquid outlet pipe, and a pipeline. The phase-change energy storage tank includes a first housing and a second housing disposed in the first housing. The second housing includes a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a feeding hole, and a discharge hole. The first housing includes a thermal insulation material. The second housing includes a phase change material. The liquid inlet and the liquid outlet are disposed on two ends of the second housing, respectively. The phase change material is introduced to and discharged out of the second housing via the feeding hole and the discharge hole, respectively. The first liquid inlet pipe, the phase-change energy storage tank, and the first liquid outlet pipe are connected sequentially to form an energy storage unit.

A thermal-storage container used in a thermal-storage system to exchange heat by fluid flow though phase-changing material disposed inside the thermal-storage container, including a thermal-storage container housing, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and one or more capsules containing the phase-change material, wherein the housing is shaped as an elongate container, a ratio of length to width of the housing is between 2 and 20. Related apparatus and methods are also described.