A thermal energy storage heat exchanger can include a core defining a plurality of airflow passages to receive an airstream therethrough. The core can be made of a composite of a phase change material shape-stabilized by a polymer. The phase change material can be structurally supported by the polymer and the phase change material can be configured to change phases to store energy from and deliver stored energy to the airstream when the airflow passes through the core.

A Cold Storage System includes a chiller (B), a cold storage (C), a compressor (A), and a bypass control valve (K; L). The chiller (B) is for cooling the heat transfer fluid (HTF) to low or ultra-low temperature. The cold storage (C) is for storing coldness. The compressor (A) enables the circulation of the HTF. The bypass control valve (K; L) is applied in between an exit of chiller (B) and an exit of the cold storage (C) and is adapted to keep a temperature at an inlet of the compressor (A) at a predefined setpoint temperature.

Packaging with a safety opening, for containing products with restricted access. The packaging comprises an outer casing (4) with an outer body (5) equipped with a front portion with a front opening (6), a container (1) with a container body (3) with a front portion and which is intended to contain a product (2), the container (1) being slidable within the housing (4) through the opening (6) and at least one elongated protrusion (7) protruding from the container body (3) in the front portion of the container body (3). The casing (4) comprises, in correspondence with each protrusion (7), a recess (8) in the front portion of the outer body (5) in order to house the corresponding protrusion (7). In the closed position, each protrusion (7) does not protrude from the recess (8) thereof or from the outer body (5).

A system and method for estimating the state of charge, i.e., the amount of cooling remaining, in a latent heat thermal storage module of a local environmental control system. The local environmental control system stores cooling energy at night by freezing a latent heat phase change material (PCM), and then releasing the stored cooling energy by removing heat from room air flowing through the PCM during the day. Differential temperature sensors are used measure the air temperature drop across the latent thermals storage unit and the fan voltage, which is directly related to fan air flow rate, is sampled. A controller is programmed to determine the charging state from these measurements.

An ice storage amount adjusting system is disclosed. The ice storage amount adjusting system includes a chiller, an air-condition scheduler for outputting a scheduling parameter of an air-conditioner during a first time, an indoor-temperature setting module for outputting indoor-temperature setting condition during the first time, a building exterior-load collecting module for outputting exterior loading factors of a building during the first time, a weather forecasting data collecting module for outputting weather forecasting data during an upcoming second time, and an air-condition loading predictor. The air-condition loading predictor predicts an air-condition loading of the air-conditioner at the second time based on the scheduling parameter, the indoor-temperature setting condition, the exterior loading factors and the weather forecasting data. The chiller adjusts its ice storage amount to reach a target storage demand based on the predicted air-condition loading.

A refrigeration device has a condenser coil that has periodic access to outside air. A time-activated thermostat controls the operation of an evaporator coil that is in thermal contact with a reservoir containing phase change material. A thermally conductive pipe containing antifreeze fluid is connected to a pump that circulates the antifreeze fluid inside the pipe. A first portion of the pipe is inside the reservoir in thermal contact with the phase change material and a second portion of the pipe is near an air fan or connected to a fan coil unit to exchange heat through the pipe between the reservoir and the air blown by the fan or the fan coil unit. The evaporator coil produces a phase change in the phase-changing material in the reservoir at night when outdoor temperature is colder than during day and the phase-change material is used during day to cool air blown by the air fan or the fan coil unit. The air fan and a portion of the pipe can be outside of the refrigeration device and be detached.

An ice storage amount adjusting system is disclosed. The ice storage amount adjusting system includes a chiller, an air-condition scheduler for outputting a scheduling parameter of an air-conditioner during a first time, an indoor-temperature setting module for outputting indoor-temperature setting condition during the first time, a shell-feature collecting module for outputting shell-loading factors of a building during the first time, a weather forecasting data collecting module for outputting weather forecasting data during an upcoming second time, and an air-condition loading predictor. The air-condition loading predictor predicts an air-condition loading of the air-conditioner at the second time based on the scheduling parameter, the indoor-temperature setting condition, the shell-loading factors and the weather forecasting data. The chiller adjusts its ice storage amount to reach a target storage demand based on the predicted air-condition loading.

A system and method for estimating the state of charge, i.e., the amount of cooling remaining, in a latent heat thermal storage module of a local environmental control system. The local environmental control system stores cooling energy at night by freezing a latent heat phase change material (PCM), and then releasing the stored cooling energy by removing heat from room air flowing through the PCM during the day. Differential temperature sensors are used measure the air temperature drop across the latent thermals storage unit and the fan voltage, which is directly related to fan air flow rate, is sampled. A controller is programmed to determine the charging state from these measurements.

A method for controlling an ice storage air-conditioning system includes: adjusting parameters of the ice storage air-conditioning system in a current cooling mode or when switching a cooling mode based on an outlet temperature of a plate heat exchanger of the ice storage air-conditioning system; and controlling the ice storage air-conditioning system to perform a cooling operation based on the parameters of the ice storage air-conditioning system.

A refrigeration device has a condenser coil that has periodic access to outside air. A time-activated thermostat controls the operation of an evaporator coil that is in thermal contact with a reservoir containing phase change material. A thermally conductive pipe containing antifreeze fluid is connected to a pump that circulates the antifreeze fluid inside the pipe. A first portion of the pipe is inside the reservoir in thermal contact with the phase change material and a second portion of the pipe is near an air fan or connected to a fan coil unit to exchange heat through the pipe between the reservoir and the air blown by the fan or the fan coil unit. The evaporator coil produces a phase change in the phase-changing material in the reservoir at night when outdoor temperature is colder than during day and the phase-change material is used during day to cool air blown by the air fan or the fan coil unit. The air fan and a portion of the pipe can be outside of the refrigeration device and be detached.