An arrangement for storing thermal energy, which has a three-dimensionally configured heat accumulator is provided. The latter contains a solid natural material for heat storage. The heat-storage material is enclosed by a fluid-impermeable, flexible layer such that the heat-storage material is insulated at least in a pressure-tight manner with regard to the environment of the heat accumulator. A flexible cover layer is provided, which is coupled to the fluid-impermeable flexible layer such that the flexible cover layer applies a surface force to the fluid-impermeable flexible layer. As a result, the fluid-impermeable flexible layer is pressed areally onto the heat-storage material. The flexible cover layer (i) has the form of a mesh or (ii) is configured in the form of sheet-metal plates overlapping one another in an imbricated manner.

An energy storage device and method based on carbon dioxide gas-liquid phase change. The energy storage device based on carbon dioxide gas-liquid phase change comprises: a gas storage (100); a liquid storage tank (200); an energy storage assembly (300), the energy storage assembly (300) being arranged between the gas storage (100) and the liquid storage tank (200), and carbon dioxide being changed from a gas state to a liquid state through the energy storage assembly (300); an energy release assembly (400), the energy release assembly (400) being arranged between the gas storage (100) and the liquid storage tank (200), and the carbon dioxide being changed from the liquid state to the gas state through the energy release assembly (400); a heat exchange assembly (500), the energy storage assembly (300) and the energy release assembly (400) being both connected to the heat exchange assembly (500), and the heat exchange assembly (500) being capable of transferring some of the energy generated in the energy storage assembly (300) to the energy release assembly (400); and a heat recovery assembly, at least one of energy released when the carbon dioxide is changed from the gas state to the liquid state, energy released when the carbon dioxide is cooled before entering the gas storage (100), and energy released when a heat exchange medium is cooled being recovered by the heat recovery assembly and used for evaporation of the carbon dioxide. The device can reduce energy waste in storage and release processes and improve the energy utilization rate.

A thermal transfer blanket includes a flexible container comprising a thermally insulating material. A thermal energy storage media is disposed within the flexible container.

A heat exchanger includes at least one conduit configured to carry a working fluid. The heat exchanger also includes a plurality of chambers in proximity to the at least one conduit, each chamber configured to contain a phase change material (PCM) that expands upon freezing. The at least one conduit and the plurality of chambers are thermally coupled for transfer of thermal energy between the working fluid and the PCM in each chamber. One wall of each chamber is formed of a compliant layer configured to deform to increase a volume of the chamber as the PCM expands upon freezing.

A system and method for providing hot water to a point of use such as a shower. Waste warm water from said point of use passes through a heat exchanger, where it initially warms incoming mains water, typically to about 34 C. The initially warmed water is heated to its final temperature, typically about 42 C., in a smart boiler. The smart boiler, which typically has a volume of about 40 liters, comprises two chambers with a flexible barrier therebetween. Each chamber is separately heated as needed. Hot water is drawn from one of the two chambers; simultaneously, the other chamber fills with initially warmed water and is heated to its final temperature. When the volume of water in the chamber from which water is being drawn reaches a minimum, the system begins to fill that chamber and to draw water from the other one.

The invention relates to a device for storing heat, comprising a heat storage medium which absorbs heat in order to store heat and releases heat in order to use the stored heat, and a container for holding the heat storage medium, the container being closed by a gastight cover, and the device comprising volume compensation means in order to compensate for a volume increase of the heat storage medium (3) due to a temperature rise and a volume decrease due to a temperature reduction. The invention furthermore relates to a method for storing heat, in which heat is transferred to a heat storage medium in order to store heat or heat is discharged from the heat storage medium to the heat carrier in order to use the heat, the heat storage medium being held in a container which is closed by a gastight cover, wherein a volume expansion of the heat storage medium (3) is compensated for by a volume increase of the container (1) or by heat storage medium (3) flowing out of the container (1) into a buffer container (21; 63, 65), and a volume decrease of the heat storage medium (3) is compensated for by a volume decrease of the container (1) or by heat storage medium (3) flowing out of the buffer container (21; 63, 65) into the container (1).

A heat exchanger includes at least one conduit configured to carry a working fluid. The heat exchanger also includes a plurality of chambers in proximity to the at least one conduit, each chamber configured to contain a phase change material (PCM) that expands upon freezing. The at least one conduit and the plurality of chambers are thermally coupled for transfer of thermal energy between the working fluid and the PCM in each chamber. One wall of each chamber is formed of a compliant layer configured to deform to increase a volume of the chamber as the PCM expands upon freezing.

Thermocline storage tanks for solar power systems are disclosed. A thermocline region is provided between hot and cold storage regions of a fluid within the storage tank cavity. One example storage tank includes spaced apart baffles fixed relative to the tank and arranged within the thermocline region to substantially physically separate the cavity into hot and cold storage regions. In another example, a flexible baffle separated the hot and cold storage regions and deflects as the thermocline region shifts to accommodate changing hot and cold volumes. In yet another example, a controller is configured to move a baffle within the thermocline region in response to flow rates from hot and cold pumps, which are used to pump the fluid.