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.

The invention concerns a liquid metal-cooled fast-neutron nuclear reactor (1), comprising a system (2) for removing at least part of both the nominal power and the residual power of the reactor, which ensures, at the same time: removal of the residual power in a totally passive manner from the initial instant of the accident; removal of the heat through the primary vessel; implementation of a final cold source (container with PCM) other than the sodium/air or NaK/air heat exchangers used in the prior art.

The present application pertains to processes and systems for enhanced heat transfer. In some embodiments a process is described for removing a portion of a chemical from a heat transfer loop comprising a heat transfer fluid. The process may comprise adding a solvent to the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer loop; removing at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid from the heat transfer loop; separating said removed heat transfer fluid into a permeate and a retentate using a membrane; and adding at least a portion of the permeate to the heat transfer fluid in the heat transfer loop.

The present disclosure relates to wood template-supported phase change material (PCM) composites having thermal energy storage applications. A wood template-supported PCM composite may include a wood template that has had at least a portion of its xylan and/or lignin removed and saturated with a PCM. The PCM may be stabilized with a cross linkable network for improved infiltration into the wood template. The wood template-supported PCM composite may be formed by extracting xylan and/or lignin from the wood to create a wood template, densifying at least a portion of the wood template, and inserting a PCM into the wood template.

Disclosed is a composition including controlled release particles, wherein each of the controlled release particles includes: (a) a core including at least one hydrophobic active ingredient; and (b) a wall at least partially surrounding the core and including the reaction products of: (i) an organofunctional silane; (ii) an epoxy; (iii) an amine; (iv) an isocyanate; (v) an epoxide curing agent; wherein the controlled release particles are effective to retain the at least one hydrophobic active ingredient upon exposure to water and effective to release the at least one hydrophobic active ingredient in response to friction. A method for preparing the composition is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a thermal battery (1) comprising an enclosure comprising a fluid inlet and outlet and comprising within it an encapsulated phase-change material in the form of at least one tube (3), at least one tube (3) being wound in a spiral within the enclosure.

The present invention relates to microparticles having a polymeric shell, and also to aqueous dispersions comprising these microparticles. The microparticles having a polymeric shell comprise: a) at least one acrylic copolymer of HASE type; b) at least one solid/liquid phase change material having a phase transition temperature Tf.sub.1 of greater than or equal to 20° C.; c) at least one solid/liquid phase change material having a phase transition temperature Tf.sub.2 of less than or equal to 30° C., provided that Tf.sub.2 is less than Tf.sub.1; d) optionally at least one active agent.

This invention provides a heat reservoir exhibiting improved thermostability at abnormally high temperatures. The heat reservoir 1 of the invention comprises: a plate-shaped porous substrate 10 having 2 main surfaces 11 and 12; a heat storage material composition impregnating into the porous substrate 10; and a coat layer 20 covering at least one of the 2 main surfaces 11 and 12 of the porous substrate 10, wherein the heat storage material composition comprises a latent heat storage material and a thermoplastic elastomer and the coat layer 20 is thermostable and radiant heat reflective.

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.

Disclosed are: (a) controlled release matrix particles containing 10-70 wt. % of a hydrophobic active ingredient, 21-72 wt. % of a polysaccharide, 3.80-12 wt. % of a crosslinking agent, 1.00-6 wt. % of a catalyst and 0.10-5 wt. % of a silica flow aid; (b) controlled release core/shell particles containing 10-70 wt. % of a hydrophobic active ingredient, 1.0-3.2 wt. % of an epoxidized oil, 21-64 wt. % of a polysaccharide, 7.6-23% of an amine-functionality containing material, and 0.10-5 wt. % of a silica flow aid; and (c) hybrid particles wherein the core/shell particles are contained in a matrix. Also disclosed are methods for making the particles and compositions containing the particles.