A thermal battery system may be provided comprising: a vessel comprising a phase change material and a gas; a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat to and/or from the phase change material; a temperature sensor configured to detect an indication of a temperature of the gas; a pressure sensor configured to detect an indication of a pressure of the gas; and a processor configured to determine a state of charge of the thermal battery system from the indication of the pressure and the indication of the temperature of the gas.

An energy conversion, storage and retrieval device and method, comprising: a susceptor crucible encased in a thermal housing, the susceptor crucible having a bottom wall and one or more side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, therein defining a crucible interior which contains a thermal energy storage material; a heat generator powered by an electrical energy source and positioned in close proximity to an outside of the side wall of the crucible so as to be able to heat the energy storage material; a regulated fluid flow circuit in the housing that circulates fluid from a fluid circuit inlet, that is heated and circulated to a fluid circuit outlet as heated fluid; wherein when heated, the energy storage material stores thermal energy, and wherein the thermal energy can be retrieved by conduction through the crucible side wall and into the fluid flow circuit thereby heating the fluid therein.

A dynamic temperature regulating device is for use in association with a temperature-controlled container. The dynamic temperature regulating device includes at least one heat source, at least one heat sink, a heat transfer medium and a control system. At least one of the heat source and the heat sink is a PCM (phase change material). The heat transfer medium is in thermal communication with and operably connected to the at least one heat source and the at least one heat sink. The control system is for controlling the selective thermal communication with the at least one heat source and with the at least one heat sink to regulate the temperature of the temperature-controlled container. A detachable PCM contained volumes includes a sealed housing, a phase change material and a heat transfer medium and functions as a PCM thermal energy storage volume.

A heat exchange system including an icephobic heat exchanger (IHEX) tank, a phase change material (PCM) held in the IHEX tank, an immiscible liquid layer held in the IHEX tank, a heat exchanger located within the immiscible liquid layer, and a distributor located above the heat exchanger configured to introduce a plurality of liquid PCM droplets into the immiscible liquid layer. The system further includes a transfer mechanism configured to remove PCM from the IHEX tank, and an external storage tank configured to receive the removed PCM. The immiscible liquid layer has a density lower than a density of both the solid and liquid PCM, and the PCM and the immiscible liquid layer meeting at a PCM-immiscible liquid interface.

A device for mass and/or heat transfer includes a mass and/or heat transfer (MHX) plate having a thickness in a range from 0.5 mm to 5 mm and including a supporting matrix that is thermally conductive, and a functional material in the supporting matrix, wherein a volume fraction of the functional material in the MHX plate is in a range from 0.2 to 0.8, and a heat exchange tube configured to transport a thermal fluid and disposed on the MHX plate so that heat is transferred between the thermal fluid and the MHX plate, wherein a surface of the MHX plate includes a process flow channel of hydraulic diameter in a range from 0.3 mm to 3 mm and a process fluid in the process flow channel exchanges mass and/or heat with the MHX plate.

The heat sinks with vibration enhanced heat transfer are heat sinks formed from a first body of high thermal conductivity material. The first body of high thermal conductivity material is received within a thermally conductive housing such that at least one contact face of the first body of high thermal conductivity material is exposed, forming a direct contact interface with a heat source requiring cooling. The heat source requiring cooling may be a liquid heat source, including but not limited to water. The thermally conductive housing is disposed such that at least one contact face of the thermally conductive housing is in direct contact with the vibrating base. The vibrating base applies oscillating waves to the heat sink, thereby increasing heat transfer between the heat source and the heat sink.

In one aspect, thermal energy storage systems are described herein. In some embodiments, such a system comprises a container, a heat exchanger disposed within the container, and a phase change material (PCM) disposed within the container. The heat exchanger comprises an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe; and a number n of plates in fluid communication with the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, wherein n is at least 2. The inlet pipe, outlet pipe, and plates are arranged and connected such that a fluid flowing from the inlet pipe and to the outlet pipe flows through the plates in between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe. The PCM disposed within the container is also in thermal contact with the plates.

A heat pack using supercooled aqueous salt solution that resists premature activation at low temperatures is disclosed. The heat pack comprises two sheets that are bonded together to form a laminated sheet. The heat pack has a first and second compartment. A frangible seal separates the two compartments. One of the compartments contains a supercooled aqueous salt solution. The salt solution contains 15 to 25 percent glycerin by mass.

Disclosed are systems and methods of flexibly cooling thermal loads by providing a thermal energy storage cooling system for burst mode cooling and a vapor compression system for additional and ancillary cooling to efficiently maintain and cool a thermal load such as from a directed energy weapon system.

The present invention relates to a heat storage system (2) comprising a storage space (20), a heat storage medium in the storage space (20), and an extraction device (26) for extracting heat from the heat storage medium, the extraction device (26) comprising a first solid body arrangement (28) contacting the heat storage medium. The extraction device (26) further comprises a second solid body arrangement (30), wherein a solid body contact between the first solid body arrangement (28) and the second solid body arrangement (30) can be modified by increasing or decreasing a heat flow from the first solid body arrangement (28) to the second solid body arrangement (30). The present invention further relates to a method for storing and extracting heat.