This relates to a unit for storing and releasing thermal energy including a plurality of blocks (3) each having a body (330) the lateral walls of which delimit a chamber (7) suited to receiving storage and release elements (13) of PCM type, to be placed in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerating or heat-transfer fluid (9) circulating between the chambers via passages; and elements (19) for the thermal management of the chambers arranged around said chambers and at least some of which include a thermally insulating material and others a PCM.

A vapor chamber that emits a non-uniform radiative heat flux. The vapor chamber may have a convection cavity that contains a working fluid and outer surfaces that have two or more emissivity regions to dissipate heat from the working fluid at non-uniform levels of radiative heat flux. The non-uniform levels of radiative heat flux may result from exposure to emissivity decreasing surface treatments and/or emissivity increasing surface treatments. The vapor chamber may be utilized in thermal management systems to protect heat-sensitive components from thermal radiation that results from heat being dissipated from a heat source. For example, the vapor chamber may be oriented with respect to a heat-sensitive component so that thermal radiation is emitted at a higher radiative heat flux away from the heat-sensitive component than towards the heat-sensitive component.

A heat storage apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a heat storage material and a member. The heat storage material forms a clathrate hydrate by cooling. The member has a surface with a plurality of holes. In the case that the lattice constant of the clathrate hydrate is denoted by L and the outside diameter of a cage included in the clathrate hydrate is denoted by D, the plurality of holes are spaced at intervals of 1L to 10L, and each of the plurality of holes has a hole diameter of 1D to 20D.

A heat absorption and radiation system uses a heat medium containing a rubidium-manganese-iron cyano complex, and is configured to release heat from the heat medium by applying a pressure to the heat medium and causing phase transition of the rubidium-manganese-iron cyano complex from a high-temperature phase to a low-temperature phase, absorb heat into the heat medium by releasing the pressure applied to the heat medium and causing phase transition of the rubidium-manganese-iron cyano complex from the low-temperature phase to the high-temperature phase, and repeat application of the pressure to and release of the pressure from the heat medium. Thus, it is possible to efficiently absorb and release heat through effective utilization of the characteristics of the rubidium-manganese-iron cyano complex.

A thermal battery includes a heat sink material that remains solid across an operating temperature range (i.e., for all operating modes) of the battery, and a heat conductive material in direct heat transfer relationship with the solid heat sink material. The heat conductive material has a melting point below that of the heat sink material so that in use the heat conductive material is a fluid, for example molten when the heat conductive material is a metal, in the operating temperature range of the battery.

A temperature modulating blanket utilizing a reflective surface to block radiation away from a phase change material during daylight and in thermal conductivity with the material to allow heat conduction out of the material at night at a faster rate than it is absorbed during the daylight. The blanket may be well suited for modulating temperatures of storage and other facilities. Additionally, the facilities may be uniquely configured to promote an attic circulation that further facilitates freezing and recharge of the phase change material of the blanket during night hours. For example, a secondary blanket utilizing a phase change material of a higher melting point may be placed at an elevated vent of a roof defining the attic to encourage such circulating and blanket recharge.

Thermal energy storage systems and methods are provided including a bed, a blend of aggregates packed in the bed, and a high-density heat transfer fluid flowing through the blend of aggregates. The blend of aggregates includes rock materials and may also include non-rock materials. The heat transfer fluid flows through the blend of aggregates such that heat is transferred between the heat transfer fluid and the blend of aggregates. The porosity of the aggregates increases heat transfer and the high density of the heat transfer fluid reduces the pressure gradient of the heat transfer fluid. In exemplary embodiments, the heat transfer fluid is a liquid comprised of carbon-based molecules. Methods of safely storing and releasing energy are provided in which axial thermal conductivity of the bed is minimized and inadvertent pressure release failures are mitigated.

A heat storage system including a heat storage device that stores heat and transfers heat to engine coolant passing through the heat storage device. A coolant flow control system directs coolant through the heat storage system. A control module configures the coolant flow control system to direct coolant to bypass the heat storage device such that the heat storage device does not heat the coolant when temperature of the engine is above the predetermined temperature.

To provide heat exchanger elements which allow the creation of Enthalpy exchangers whereby the efficiency of sensible energy exchange and latent energy exchange can he varied and controlled and especially improved, a method for the production of heat exchanger elements is provided including a) producing a plate element with defined outer dimensions and corrugations in the area within a border, b) perforating the plate in predefined areas and in predefined dimensions, c) filling the perforations with a polymer with latent energy recovery capability and d) curing the polymer.

A thermal energy storage apparatus, including: a block of a heat-absorbing material, and a plurality of heat storage elements, the heat storage elements including a phase change material stored in a containment vessel; wherein each heat storage element is in thermal contact with the block of heat-absorbing material.