The application pertains to, for example, novel processes and systems for heat transfer, refrigeration, energy storage, and various cooling and heating processes. Such processes may include cooling or mixing various liquid-liquid phase transition liquids to release and/or energy. Additionally or alternatively, such processes may include charging and/or discharging thermal storage reservoirs with layered liquids of various temperatures.

A thermal energy storage system comprising a working fluid to store and transfer thermal energy between a heat source and a thermal load and a vessel to store the working fluid. The vessel has an interior region and a floating separator piston in the interior region to separate a hot portion from a cold portion of the working fluid. There is a first manifold thermally coupled to an output of the heat source and to an input of the thermal load and fluidly coupled to the interior region of the vessel and a second manifold thermally coupled to an input of the heat source and an output of the thermal load and fluidly coupled to the interior region of the vessel. There is a controller configured to maintain the working fluid in a liquid state.

Devices, systems, and methods for a heat exchanger and operation of a heat exchanger are disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a chamber with a plurality of fluid inlets and a plurality of fluid outlets. The chamber comprises plates, the plates being parallel and defining fluid plenums between each of the plates. The fluid plenums define a fluid flow path, wherein each of the fluid plenums are aligned with one of the plurality of fluid inlets, one of the plurality of fluid outlets, a fluid path between at least two of the fluid plenums, or a combination thereof. The plates are mounted on guides perpendicular to a plane of the plates. The plates move along the guides due to changes in pressure in the fluid plenums, application of an external force to the one or more plates, or a combination thereof.

A thermal energy storage system comprising a working fluid to store and transfer thermal energy between a heat source and a thermal load and a vessel to store the working fluid. The vessel has an interior region and a floating separator piston in the interior region to separate a hot portion from a cold portion of the working fluid. There is a first manifold thermally coupled to an output of the heat source and to an input of the thermal load and fluidly coupled to the interior region of the vessel and a second manifold thermally coupled to an input of the heat source and an output of the thermal load and fluidly coupled to the interior region of the vessel. There is a controller configured to maintain the working fluid in a liquid state.

The disclosed technology includes a liquid storage tank having a heating element, an inlet for receiving unheated liquid, an outlet for outputting heated liquid, and a partition configured to divide the tank into a first portion and a second portion. The partition can have an aperture such that the first portion and the second portion are in fluid communication. The liquid storage tank can include an actuator in mechanical communication with the partition and configured to linearly move at least a portion of the partition based at least in part on the temperature of liquid within the tank.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems and method for cooling a refrigerant flow of a refrigerant circuit with a cold cooling fluid flow from a thermal storage unit to generate a warm cooling fluid flow, thermally isolating the cold cooling fluid flow and the warm cooling fluid flow in the thermal storage unit, and cooling the warm cooling fluid flow from the thermal storage unit in a chiller system to at least partially produce the cold cooling fluid flow.

A refrigerant flow through a refrigerant circuit may be cooled with a cold cooling fluid flow from a thermal storage unit to generate a warm cooling fluid flow. The cold cooling fluid flow and the warm cooling fluid flow may be thermally isolated in the thermal storage unit, and a chiller system may cool the warm cooling fluid flow from the thermal storage unit to at least partially produce the cold cooling fluid flow.

The invention relates to a container for storing a liquid, which tends to decompose into gaseous decomposition components in the case of the conditions prevailing in the container (1) and in the case of which a chemical reaction equilibrium results between gaseous decomposition components and liquid, wherein a floating roof (29) is accommodated in the container (1) and the floating roof (29) comprises floats (33), using which the floating roof (29) floats on the liquid, and wherein the floating roof (29) is guided using a sliding seal (45) in the container (1).

The invention furthermore relates to a device for storing heat, comprising a first container (57) for storing a colder liquid and a second container (59) for storing a hotter liquid and a use of the container and the device for storing heat.

The present invention describes a method for enhancing the exergy level of a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) single-tank unit to a level that is nearly equal to that of a two-tank (hot and cold tank) TES system. The present method applies to single-tank TES and may be used in domestic hot-water cylinders, solar water heaters, buffer tanks for hot or chilled fluid storage or in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants. It can be applied at the manufacturing stage of the TES or, while in operation.

The present invention relates to HVAC-systems operating under new ZERO-MIXING (ZM) water flow condition as innovative way to promote consistent highly energy efficient performance on SOURCE-heating/cooling thermal production and BUILDING's system distribution (FIG. 1). ZM technology is applicable; but not limited, to large-residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities. Current state on HVAC technology, for system hydronics loop-flow, do not provide flows temperature segregation mechanisms between heating/chiller-plants hot/cold water supply and warmer water system returns. The result, a system that continuously operates at WATER MIXING conditions that impair equipment efficiency and output, and therefore, overall system energy performance.