A system for selectively heating and cooling including a three-way heat exchange apparatus, a source apparatus for selectively heating and cooling a source fluid, a phase change material for selectively storing heating and cooling potential, and a distribution apparatus for selectively distributing heating and cooling a distribution fluid, wherein the three-way heat exchange apparatus is connected to the phase change material by an interface between the heat exchange apparatus and the phase change material.

A system including a heat exchanger with two or more channels is provided. The system includes means for one or more source channels and one or more load channels. The source channels and load channels are enclosed for containing and channeling a heat-bearing fluid through the heat exchanger. The source channels and load channels are integrated as components of complete source circuits and load circuits with the purpose of conveying the heat-bearing fluids between heat/cold loads and the heat exchanger. The system also includes means for providing thermal storage that may be used for sensible heat storage, latent heat storage, or a combination of sensible heat storage and latent heat storage. Within the system there are means for putting the source channels, load channels and thermal storage means in intimate thermal communication with one another for the purpose of exchanging heat in all flow-directions.

A system including a heat exchanger with two or more channels is provided. The system includes means for one or more source channels and one or more load channels. The source channels and load channels are enclosed for containing and channeling a heat-bearing fluid through the heat exchanger. The source channels and load channels are integrated as components of complete source circuits and load circuits with the purpose of conveying the heat-bearing fluids between heat/cold loads and the heat exchanger. The system also includes means for providing thermal storage that may be used for sensible heat storage, latent heat storage, or a combination of sensible heat storage and latent heat storage. Within the system there are means for putting the source channels, load channels and thermal storage means in intimate thermal communication with one another for the purpose of exchanging heat in all flow-directions.

A method and system that allows thermal energy to be supplied at different temperature levels to consumers, where each consumer is provided with its desired temperature whenever that is necessary. The method or a system for supplying consumers with heat energy or with cooling energy includes a set of three or more conduits for carrying a heat transfer fluid, each conduit carrying fluid at one of three or more different temperatures or temperature ranges, a plurality of heating and/or cooling consumer appliances distributed along the length of the conduits, each consumer appliance being linked to one of a plurality of pairs of conduits such that either: a consumer appliance is linked on a high temperature side, or a consumer appliance is linked on a low temperature side; a number of heat or cold generators, each pair of conduits being connected to at least one of the generators.

A system for selectively heating and cooling including a three-way heat exchange apparatus, a source apparatus for selectively heating and cooling a source fluid, a phase change material for selectively storing heating and cooling potential, and a distribution apparatus for selectively distributing heating and cooling a distribution fluid, wherein the three-way heat exchange apparatus is connected to the phase change material by an interface between the heat exchange apparatus and the phase change material.

A heating system comprises a source of rotational motion, at least one pump, a primary heat storage system, and one or more loops of piping connected to the primary heat storage system. The source of rotational motion, which may be a wind turbine, is configured to drive the at least one pump. The at least one pump is configured to pump liquid to repeatedly circulate around the one or more loops of piping, resulting in frictional heating of the pumped liquid and transfer of heat to the primary heat storage system. The system may comprise a secondary heat storage system, the pump may have an efficiency of less than 20%, the wind turbine may have drag-style blades, and/or the system may comprise a flow valve to regulate a flow rate of the pumped liquid.

A method and system that allows thermal energy to be supplied at different temperature levels to consumers, where each consumer is provided with its desired temperature whenever that is necessary. The method or a system for supplying consumers with heat energy or with cooling energy includes a set of three or more conduits for carrying a heat transfer fluid, each conduit carrying fluid at one of three or more different temperatures or temperature ranges, a plurality of heating and/or cooling consumer appliances distributed along the length of the conduits, each consumer appliance being linked to one of a plurality of pairs of conduits such that either: a consumer appliance is linked on a high temperature side, or a consumer appliance is linked on a low temperature side; a number of heat or cold generators, each pair of conduits being connected to at least one of the generators.

A heat accumulator for storing and providing heat energy accruing when power is generated, includes a tank for a fluid, including an expansion line, which exits from the tank and which extends above the tank in order to increase the static pressure in the tank, the expansion line having an open end opposite the tank-side end for establishing a connection between the tank interior and the atmosphere, wherein the expansion line extends into the tank. A method for storing and providing heat energy accruing when power is generated wherein the fluid is used in a district heating grid and is stored in a tank.

There is described an infrastructure generally having a reservoir having a base having a first periphery, a wall having a first wall portion hermetically mounted to the first periphery of the base, the first wall portion upwardly protruding to a second wall portion defining a second periphery, and a top surface hermetically mounted to the second periphery of the wall, inner surfaces of the base, the wall and the top surface collectively forming a closed cavity for receiving liquid, the top surface having a depression forming an open cavity for receiving liquid. There is described a method of operating the infrastructure by at least one of heating and maintaining liquid confined within the closed cavity to a first temperature; and the liquid confined within the closed cavity at least one of heating and maintaining liquid received within the open cavity to a second temperature lower than the first temperature.