An apparatus for heating a product includes a storage compartment for a product to be heated and a heater module physically and thermally coupled to the storage compartment. The heater module has a housing that defines a reaction chamber. A rigid barrier is inside the reaction chamber and defines first and second portions thereof. A first reactant is inside the reaction chamber, and a flexible bag (with a second reactant) is in the first portion of the first chemical reactant. The first and second reactants react exothermically upon contact. A piercing element can pierce the flexible bag. After piercing, the a fluid path and one or more fluid channels carry the second reactant to a section of the first portion of the reaction chamber away from where the flexible bag is located.

An apparatus for heating a product includes a storage compartment for a product to be heated and a heater module physically and thermally coupled to the storage compartment. The heater module has a housing that defines a reaction chamber. A rigid barrier is inside the reaction chamber and defines first and second portions thereof. A first reactant is inside the reaction chamber, and a flexible bag (with a second reactant) is in the first portion of the first chemical reactant. The first and second reactants react exothermically upon contact. A piercing element can pierce the flexible bag. After piercing, the a fluid path and one or more fluid channels carry the second reactant to a section of the first portion of the reaction chamber away from where the flexible bag is located.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a chemical heat storage material which may be molded into an article having high strength and high heat conductivity; and a composition for forming a chemical heat storage material, whereby it becomes possible to mold the chemical heat storage material in a desired shape. A chemical heat storage material comprising a Group-2 element compound, a boron compound and a silicone polymer; and a composition for forming a chemical heat storage material, said composition comprising a Group-2 element compound, a boron-containing compound, at least one component selected from the group consisting of an alkoxysilane, a hydrolysate of the alkoxysilane and a condensation product of the alkoxysilane, and a resin.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a chemical heat storage material which may be molded into an article having high strength and high heat conductivity; and a composition for forming a chemical heat storage material, whereby it becomes possible to mold the chemical heat storage material in a desired shape. A chemical heat storage material comprising a Group-2 element compound, a boron compound and a silicone polymer; and a composition for forming a chemical heat storage material, said composition comprising a Group-2 element compound, a boron-containing compound, at least one component selected from the group consisting of an alkoxysilane, a hydrolysate of the alkoxysilane and a condensation product of the alkoxysilane, and a resin.

A climate control system includes an electrochemical device in fluid communication with at least one fluid conduit that also includes a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a pump, but may be free of any condensers. A working fluid is circulated in the fluid conduit that has a composition that undergoes a reversible hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reaction when it passes through the electrochemical device when a potential is applied thereto. The climate control system includes a heat rejection system in the form of a recirculation loop having a second heat exchanger configured to cool a portion of the working fluid exiting the electrochemical device and a recirculation pump that circulates the portion of the working fluid exiting the electrochemical device through the second heat exchanger and back to an inlet of the electrochemical device. Methods for rejecting heat from an electrochemical climate control system are also provided.

A climate control system includes an electrochemical device in fluid communication with at least one fluid conduit that also includes a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a pump, but may be free of any condensers. A working fluid is circulated in the fluid conduit that has a composition that undergoes a reversible hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reaction when it passes through the electrochemical device when a potential is applied thereto. The climate control system includes a heat rejection system in the form of a recirculation loop having a second heat exchanger configured to cool a portion of the working fluid exiting the electrochemical device and a recirculation pump that circulates the portion of the working fluid exiting the electrochemical device through the second heat exchanger and back to an inlet of the electrochemical device. Methods for rejecting heat from an electrochemical climate control system are also provided.

A method of electrochemical redox refrigeration includes inducing a flow of an electrochemical refrigerant that is in contact with a first electrode to a second electrode; applying an electrical potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electrochemical refrigerant is oxidized at one of the first electrode and second electrode and reduced at another of the first electrode and second electrode; wherein the first electrode is at least partially thermally isolated from Joule heating in the electrochemical refrigerant and from activation losses in the second electrode by an action of the flow of the electrochemical refrigerant.

A method of electrochemical redox refrigeration includes inducing a flow of an electrochemical refrigerant that is in contact with a first electrode to a second electrode; applying an electrical potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electrochemical refrigerant is oxidized at one of the first electrode and second electrode and reduced at another of the first electrode and second electrode; wherein the first electrode is at least partially thermally isolated from Joule heating in the electrochemical refrigerant and from activation losses in the second electrode by an action of the flow of the electrochemical refrigerant.

Thermochemical storage materials having the general formula A.sub.xA.sub.1-xB.sub.yB.sub.1-yO.sub.3-, where A=La, Sr, K, Ca, Ba, Y and B=Mn, Fe, Co, Ti, Ni, Cu, Zr, Al, Y, Cr, V, Nb, Mo, are disclosed. These materials have improved thermal storage energy density and reaction kinetics compared to previous materials. Concentrating solar power thermochemical systems and methods capable of storing heat energy by using these thermochemical storage materials are also disclosed.

Thermochemical storage materials having the general formula A.sub.xA.sub.1-xB.sub.yB.sub.1-yO.sub.3-, where A=La, Sr, K, Ca, Ba, Y and B=Mn, Fe, Co, Ti, Ni, Cu, Zr, Al, Y, Cr, V, Nb, Mo, are disclosed. These materials have improved thermal storage energy density and reaction kinetics compared to previous materials. Concentrating solar power thermochemical systems and methods capable of storing heat energy by using these thermochemical storage materials are also disclosed.