A thermal storage system includes a container, a thermal exchange device, a first thermal storage material, and a second thermal storage material. The first thermal exchange device is disposed in the container. The first thermal storage material is disposed in the container and is spaced apart from the thermal exchange device. The second thermal storage material is also disposed in the container in contact with the thermal exchange device. The first and second thermal storage materials are immiscible. The second thermal storage material is less reactive with the construction material of the thermal exchange device as compared to the first thermal storage material. Optionally, a second thermal exchange device can be submerged in the second thermal storage material. The first thermal exchange device is configured to supply heat to the second thermal storage material and the second thermal exchange device facilitates extraction of heat from the second thermal storage material.

A thermal energy storage system, including an ice brick having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for a heat transfer fluid, and multiple capsules having a phase change medium therein, where the capsules are arranged inside the ice brick, where an average length of an actual flow path of the heat transfer fluid from a front end of the ice brick to a back end of the ice brick is larger than a length of the ice brick, and where the ice brick is shaped as a tube with a rectangular cross section having a ratio of the length of the ice brick to the width of the ice brick is in a range of 4 to 50 and/or a ratio of a width of the ice brick to the height of the ice brick is in a range of 0.5 to 4.

A heat storage device includes a ceramic part having a closed space therein, a latent heat storage provided inside the closed space, an electric heater provided inside the ceramic part and configured to heat the latent heat storage, a heat insulating member covering the ceramic part, and a power supply part configured to supply electric power to the electric heater.

A heat exchanger has (i) a first passage in which a first fluid flows, (ii) a heat storage body that is thermally connected to the first passage and stores a warm heat or a cold heat, and (iii) a second passage that is thermally connected to both of the first passage and the heat storage body, the second passage in which a second fluid flows. The heat storage body changes to a first phase in a solid state when a temperature of the heat storage body is lower than or equal to a phase transition temperature, and changes to a second phase in a solid state when the temperature of the heat storage body exceeds the phase transition temperature. The heat storage body stores or dissipates heat depending on a phase transition between the first phase and the second phase.

A method and a device for charging a stratified thermal energy store are disclosed. According to the method, a working fluid of a heat pump is introduced in the gaseous phase into a liquid heat transfer medium of the stratified thermal energy store at at least one introduction point and is brought into direct physical contact with the heat transfer medium, the pressure in the stratified thermal energy store at the introduction point being greater than or equal to the condensation pressure of the working fluid.

A thermal energy storage system having a thermal storage tank configured to hold a thermal storage media and a working fluid, an inlet in fluid communication with a liquid distributor disposed at the bottom of the thermal storage tank configured to introduce the working fluid into the thermal storage tank, a skimmer configured to direct the working fluid accumulated at the top of the thermal storage tank toward an outlet, a charging/discharging section fluidly connected to the thermal storage tank via the inlet and the outlet.

Systems and methods for storing and releasing thermal energy for heating in a process of a chemical plant. Some such systems may include a contained volume of phase change material (PCM); and a heat-exchange system configured to communicate thermal energy from the PCM to one or more of a chemical reactant, the chemical intermediate, or the chemical product; where the PCM is configured to transition from an first state to a higher-enthalpy second state at a transition temperature that is equal to or above a process temperature for the relevant chemical reactant, chemical intermediate or chemical product; and where the PCM requires at least 2 MWh to transition from the first state to the second state.

A thermal management apparatus and method of use, such as in a battery pack or electronic device. A thermally responsive material is disposed between two surfaces, wherein the thermally responsive material changes upon heating, to increase a thermal conductance between the two surfaces. The thermally responsive material is offset from one of the surfaces and expands upon heating to connect the two surfaces. The thermally responsive material is a phase change composite including a phase change material selected from a paraffin wax, a hydrated salt, and combinations thereof.

A thermal storage system includes a container, a thermal exchange device, a first thermal storage material, and a second thermal storage material. The first thermal exchange device is disposed in the container. The first thermal storage material is disposed in the container and is spaced apart from the thermal exchange device. The second thermal storage material is also disposed in the container in contact with the thermal exchange device. The first and second thermal storage materials are immiscible. The second thermal storage material is less reactive with the construction material of the thermal exchange device as compared to the first thermal storage material. Optionally, a second thermal exchange device can be submerged in the second thermal storage material. The first thermal exchange device is configured to supply heat to the second thermal storage material and the second thermal exchange device facilitates extraction of heat from the second thermal storage material.

A thermal energy storage (TES) system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 900 C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. The TES system is configured to include control system components that reduce thermal losses associated with component inefficiency.