A filled trench is disclosed. The filled trench comprises: a pair of conduits (3a, 3b) for delivering fluid with a different temperature in each of the conduits (3a, 3b), the pair of conduits (3a, 3b) being surrounded by filling material; a first section (5a) filled with a filling material of a first type (4a), wherein the first filled section (5a) of the filled trench occupies a space in between the pair of conduits (3a, 3b); and a second section (5b) filled with a filling material of a second type (4b). The filling material of the first type (4a) has a first thermal conduction coefficient and the filling material of a second type (4b) has a higher second thermal conduction coefficient. Further, a method for filling such a filled trench is disclosed.

The thermoelectric module includes a flexible base, a first current collector located on the flexible base, a first thermoelectric element located on the first current collector, the first thermoelectric element including a first thermoelectric conversion layer and a first electrolyte layer stacked in order along a stacked direction of the flexible base and the first current collector, and a second current collector located on the first thermoelectric element.

The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for integration of renewable and conventional energy to enhance electric reliability and reduce fuel consumption and emissions via thermal energy storage.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods useful for power production. In particular, a power production cycle utilizing CO.sub.2 as a working fluid may be configured for simultaneous hydrogen production. Beneficially, substantially all carbon arising from combustion in power production and hydrogen production is captured in the form of carbon dioxide. Further, produced hydrogen (optionally mixed with nitrogen received from an air separation unit) can be input as fuel in a gas turbine combined cycle unit for additional power production therein without any atmospheric CO.sub.2 discharge.

A power plant including a compressor, a combustion chamber and a turbine, and a compressor air line, which connects the compressor to the combustion chamber, a first heat exchanger connected into the compressor air line and into an exhaust line branching off the turbine. A first expander is arranged between the first heat exchanger and the combustion chamber in the compressor air line, and the first expander and the compressor are arranged on a common shaft.

There is provided a generator system for generating power and heat. The system comprises an engine, an electrical power generator driven by the engine, a radiator for cooling engine coolant, a heater powered by the electrical power generator, and an airflow generation device driven by the engine. The heater has an airflow outlet and an airflow inlet. The airflow generation device has an air intake inlet and an air exhaust outlet. The system further comprises a first conduit directing airflow through the radiator into the air intake inlet of the airflow generation device. The system also includes a second conduit directing airflow from the air exhaust outlet of the airflow generation device to the airflow inlet of the heater. The airflow generation device may be a centrifugal fan that draws air through the radiator and pushes the air through the heater.

A combined cooling, heating and power system is formed by integrating a CO.sub.2 cycle subsystem, an ORC cycle subsystem, and an LNG cold energy utilization subsystem based on an SOFC/GT hybrid power generation subsystem. The combined system can achieve efficient and cascade utilization of energy and low carbon dioxide emission. An SOFC/GT hybrid system is used as a prime mover. High-, medium-, and low-temperature waste heat of the system are recovered through CO.sub.2 and ORC cycles, respectively. Cold energy (for air conditioning and refrigeration), heat, power, natural gas, ice, and dry ice can be provided by using LNG as a cold source of the CO.sub.2 and ORC cycles. Low CO.sub.2 emission is achieved by condensation and separation of CO.sub.2 from flue gas, so energy loss of the system can be reduced, and efficient and cascade utilization of energy can be achieved, thereby realizing energy conservation and emission reduction.

A method for identifying a deviation in a thermal energy circuit is presented. The method comprising: receiving (302) a first hot fluid flow measurement (f1) from a first hot fluid flow sensor (208) arranged in a hot fluid conduit (102); receiving (304) a first cold fluid flow measurement (r1) from a first cold fluid flow sensor (204) arranged in a cold fluid conduit (104); receiving (306) a second hot fluid flow measurement (f2) from a second hot fluid flow sensor (210) arranged in the hot fluid conduit (102) upstream the first hot fluid flow meter (208); receiving (308) a second cold fluid flow measurement (r2) from a second cold fluid flow sensor (206) arranged in the cold fluid conduit (104) downstream the first cold fluid flow sensor (204); receiving (310) a thermal device flow measurement (g) from a thermal device flow sensor (202) configured to measure a thermal device flow of a thermal device (106a) connected to the hot fluid conduit (102) downstream the first hot fluid flow sensor (208) and upstream the second hot fluid flow sensor (210), and to the cold fluid conduit (104) upstream the first cold fluid flow sensor (204) and downstream the second cold fluid flow sensor (206). The method further comprising upon (312) the first hot fluid flow measurement (f1) is different from the second hot fluid flow measurement (f2) and the thermal device flow measurement (g) in combination, generating (314) a first deviation signal indicating a deviation in the hot fluid conduit (102), or upon (316) the first cold fluid flow measurement (r1) is different from the second cold fluid flow measurement (r2) and the thermal device flow measurement (g) in combination, generating (318) a second deviation signal indicating a deviation in the cold fluid conduit (104).

Provided is an electric work vehicle having a simple configuration, yet allowing a hydraulic cylinder to function appropriately even in a low-temperature environment. An electric work vehicle includes a first hydraulic cylinder, a second hydraulic cylinder and a third hydraulic cylinder and includes also a hydraulic system for feeding work oil to these hydraulic cylinders and a traveling motor. The hydraulic system includes an oil heating circuit for heating the work oil using heat generated from the traveling motor.

A system including: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium; (ii) an electric heater in thermal contact with the hot HTS medium, wherein the electric heater is operable to heat the hot HTS medium above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium in a thermodynamic cycle.