The efficiency of solar power collection is increased by adding a thermal energy storage stage to a sunlight concentrator and thermodynamic power generator system. The thermal energy storage includes tubes or capsules made of a phase change material that stores thermal energy in different temperature stages through a working fluid. The stored thermal energy is directed to the thermodynamic generator during off-sun periods.

A thermal energy storage and retrieval device includes at least one working fluid and a plurality of thermodynamic circuits. Each thermodynamic circuit has a first process exchanging heat with a first material in a first temperature range common for all of the thermodynamic circuits. Each thermodynamic circuit also has a second process exchanging heat with a second material in a second temperature range. The second material comprises a heat storage material or a working fluid in another circuit or another device. Each thermodynamic circuit includes a gas pressure changing device and a liquid pressure changing device.

An electrothermal energy storage and discharge system is provided including a charging cycle and a discharging cycle. The charging cycle includes a refrigeration unit and a thermal unit, and the discharging cycle includes a power unit. The refrigeration unit is driven by an excess electric power and is configured to generate a cold energy storage having a solid carbon dioxide. The thermal unit is driven by a thermal energy and is configured to generate a hot energy storage and/or provide a hot source. The power unit operates between the cold energy storage and at least one of the hot energy storage and hot source so as to retrieve the energy by producing a high pressure carbon dioxide and a hot supercritical carbon dioxide, and generating an electric energy using the hot supercritical carbon dioxide.

The efficiency of solar power collection is increased by adding a thermal energy storage stage to a sunlight concentrator and thermodynamic power generator system. The thermal energy storage includes tubes or capsules made of a phase change material that stores thermal energy in different temperature stages through a working fluid. The stored thermal energy is directed to the thermodynamic generator during off-sun periods.

Systems and methods for collecting, storing, and conveying aqueous thermal energy are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a floating film retains solar energy in a volume of water located under the film. A series of curtains hanging from a bottom surface of the film define a passage between a periphery of the film and a center of the film to direct the heated water at the center of the film. The heated water is circulated to deliver the heat to a dissociation reactor and/or donor substance. The donor is conveyed to the reactor and dissociated.

A method of operating a solar energy plant and a solar plant are disclosed. Thermal energy produced in the plant is used to heat a first volume of water and charge a hot store in the plant. Electricity produced in the plant operates a heat engine or other device, such as a refrigeration unit, to extract heat and consequently cool a second volume of water and charge a cold store. As desired, energy is transferred from the hot store to a heat engine and energy is transferred from the heat engine to the cold store to operate the heat engine to produce power in the plant.

The present invention relates to a solar power plant that utilizes a working fluid to run a turbine assembly, which in turn is connected to a heating assembly and a cooling assembly to form a closed loop. The temperature and pressure gradient is achieved by employing specially designed heating and cooling units which are appropriately positioned with respect to the turbine assembly and each other such that the heated up vapours of working fluid are made to travel and strike the turbine with a pressure sufficient enough to rotate the turbine and generate power. Once the vapours pass through the turbine, they are made to travel back to the heating unit via cooling unit where they are cooled down to a liquid form which can be reutilized for another cycle. The power plant of the present invention is functional even with the ambient heat of the atmosphere and does not require any fuel consumption during its working.

The invention provides a plant for production of energy, comprising any type of heat or energy source including but not limited to solar power sources, nuclear reactors, fossil fuel plants, wind power plants, tidal power plants, waste heat power plants and geothermal sources, operatively arranged at an input side of the plant, and heat delivery or energy production means such as turbine-electric generator sets, operatively arranged at a delivery side of the plant. The plant is distinctive in that it further comprises a thermal energy storage with integrated heat exchanger, comprising a solid state thermal storage material, a heat transfer fluid and means for energy input and output, wherein: the storage comprises at least one heat transfer container, solid state thermal storage material is arranged around the heat transfer container, the heat transfer container contains the heat transfer fluid and the means for energy input and output, so that all heat transferring convection and conduction by the heat transfer fluid takes place within the respective heat transfer container, the thermal energy storage with heat exchanger has been arranged inside thermal insulation, and the solid state thermal energy storage with heat exchanger, has been arranged between the input side and delivery side of the plant for storage and heat exchange of thermal energy, the storage is coupled directly or via an additional heat exchanger to the source and the storage is coupled directly or via an additional heat exchanger to the delivery side of the plant.

The various embodiments described herein include devices and systems for thermal energy storage. A single-temperature-thermal-energy storage (SITTES) system for desalinating seawater and/or producing electrical power is described. The SITTES system includes insulated tanks, a molten eutectic salt media arranged within the insulated tanks, heat exchangers arranged within the insulated tanks, and an outlet. In the SITTES system the heat exchangers are coupled to one another and configured to transfer heat between the salt media and a seawater media, and the outlet is configured to output a steam portion of the seawater media, thereby providing desalination of the portion of the seawater media and steam for electrical power generation.