A system and method for storing thermal energy in a heated liquid in a pressurized vessel employs an inner and outer vessel. The inner vessel contains water or specific liquids for storage and potential use of thermal energy contained therein. An outer vessel encapsulates an inner vessel, with a vacuum formed there between. The inner vessel comprises an upper portion containing an unheated liquid and a lower portion containing a heated liquid. A sliding insulated barrier segregates liquids. The pressure generated by the heated liquid, and incompressibility of unheated liquid equalizes static pressure within the inner vessel, which helps prevent the heated liquid in the lower portion from forming a vapor phase. Heated liquid egresses the lower portion of inner vessel to pass through a vapor producing apparatus to become vapor, then an expander to become condensate, and finally to a heat source for reintroduction into the inner vessel.

Apparatus for heat storage, comprises a working fluid chamber for storing working fluid; a pressure support chamber coupled to the working fluid chamber and including pressure support material, said pressure support chamber for increasing pressure in said working fluid chamber responsive to compression of said pressure support chamber; a fluid pump for pumping working fluid into the working fluid chamber, wherein pumping fluid into the working fluid chamber increases pressure of said working fluid in the working fluid chamber; the pressure elevation of the working fluid in the fluid chamber is responsive to pumping the fluid back into the fluid chamber to compress the pressure support chamber; a working fluid chamber heat exchanger for varying temperature in said working fluid chamber; an output conduit for transferring working fluid from said fluid chamber to a utilization destination; and an input conduit for transferring said working fluid received from said utilization destination to said working fluid into the fluid chamber.

A device (100) for storing heat/cold, by transfer from a charge fluid, for re-use by transfer to a discharge fluid, comprising: an external rigid container (102) and a storage assembly (118) inside an internal rigid container (116) for calorie/frigorie storage; a cold external interface (104.sub.1) on a wall (106) of the external container (102), communicating with a cold internal interface (110.sub.1) on the storage module (108), for passage of cold fluids between the cold external interface (104.sub.1) and the storage module (108); and a hot external interface (104.sub.2) on a wall (106) of the external container (102), communicating with a hot internal interface (110.sub.2) arranged on the storage module (108), for passage of hot fluids between the hot external interface (104.sub.2) and the storage module (108), the cold and hot external interfaces (104.sub.1, 104.sub.2) being on a single wall (106.sub.1) or on adjacent walls (106) of the external container (102).

A nuclear facility has a fuel pool containing a liquid and an associated cooling circuit for a circulating cooling agent. The cooling circuit contains a cooling module with a first heat exchanger which immerges into the liquid, a second heat exchanger which is located outside the fuel pool, and connecting lines between the first exchanger and the second heat exchanger. In order to provide for reliable cooling even if a filling level drops, the cooling module contains a lifting body and floats in the liquid such that its altitude varies with the filling level of the liquid in the fuel pool.

An energy storage device for temporarily storing thermal energy includes a closed storage circuit, to which heat can be supplied by a heat source and from which heat can be withdrawn by a heat consumer. A fluid container is divided into a first fluid storage chamber for colder fluid and a second fluid storage chamber for warmer fluid by a displaceable separating element. The closed storage circuit includes at least one pump for conveying fluid from the first fluid storage chamber into the second fluid storage chamber, and/or vice versa. The energy storage device may be incorporated into a power plant.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems and method for cooling a refrigerant flow of a refrigerant circuit with a cool water flow from a cool water storage to generate a warm water flow and to cool the refrigerant flow by a subcooling temperature difference, flowing the warm water flow to the cool water storage, and thermally isolating the warm water flow from the cool water flow in the cool water storage.

A heat storage and transfer system that incorporates a primary heat storage chamber or body that is thermally insulated and which in use contains a heat storing liquid or solid; and a secondary chamber external to and adjacent the primary heat storage chamber or body through which a liquid, heat transfer fluid or steam to be heated is passed in use, the system having a heat transfer mechanism to selectively transfer thermal energy from the heat storing liquid or solid of the primary heating chamber or body to the liquid or steam to be heated in the secondary chamber. The heat transfer mechanism has a drive that moves the secondary chamber from a first position that is thermally separated from the primary chamber into a second position that is substantially inserted in a void or recess within the primary chamber or body.

An arrangement may comprise a first and second heat tank, a thermochemical reactor that is thermally and fluidically connected to the heat tank, a heat transfer fluid circuit containing a heat transfer fluid for transporting heat between the two heat tanks and the thermochemical reactor, a temporary heat store arranged in the heat transfer fluid circuit for the temporary storage of the heat transfer fluid. The temporary heat store may be designed to receive the heat transfer fluid at two different temperature levels. The temporary heat store may include a first partial store with variable storage space and a second partial store with variable storage space.

An arrangement may comprise a first and a second heat tank, a thermochemical reactor which is thermally and fluidically connected to the heat tank, a heat transfer fluid circuit containing a heat transfer fluid for transporting heat between the two heat tanks and the thermochemical reactor, a temporary heat store arranged in the heat transfer fluid circuit for temporarily storing the heat transfer fluid. The temporary heat store may be for receiving the heat transfer fluid has two different temperature levels. The temporary heat store may comprise a first partial store with a variable storage volume and a second partial store with a variable storage volume. The variable storage volume may be thermally and fluidically separate from the first. A valve system may be located in the heat transfer fluid circuit. The heat transfer fluid circuit may comprise at least one movable valve device, by which the heat transport between the two heat tanks, the thermochemical reactor and the temporary heat store can be controlled by the heat transfer fluid.

An assembly may comprise a first heat reservoir acting as a heat source, a second heat reservoir acting as a heat sink, a thermochemical reactor including an adsorption refrigerator or an adsorption heat pump that can be connected or is connected thermally and fluidically to the heat reservoirs, a heat transfer fluid circuit in which a heat transfer fluid is provided for transporting heat between the two heat reservoirs and the thermochemical reactor, and a temporary heat store that is provided in the heat transfer fluid circuit for temporarily storing the heat transfer fluid. The temporary heat store may be designed to receive the heat transfer fluid at two different temperature levels. The temporary heat store may include a first sub-store with a variable store volume and that is thermally and fluidically separate from a second sub-store with a variable store volume. A valve system may be present in the heat transfer fluid circuit.