A thermal energy storage system includes one or more containment vessel comprising an internal cavity containing a bed of phase change material (PCM) operable to store thermal energy, an array of heaters embedded in the molten phase change material, and a tube bundle. The heaters are electrically coupled to an electric power source and operable to heat and melt the PCM to a molten state. The tube bundle comprises heat exchanger tubes embedded in the molten PCM and configured to convey a working fluid (e.g., water or other) through a tube-side of the tubes. The tubes may be arranged in plural individual tube cartridge each insertable and removable from the vessel. In operation, the working fluid is heated by absorbing stored thermal energy from the molten phase change material. The PCM may be heated by power extracted from the power grid during off-peak demand periods.

The invention relates to a sensible heat storage apparatus that comprises a core material that can be heated to a high temperature while it has been placed in a heat transfer fluid that absorbs essentially all the heat that is lost by any heat leakages from the core material. Accordingly, there is a very low, or almost absent overall heat loss, even though the sensible heat storage apparatus can store heat at a very high temperature. The gist of the invention is further that the high amount of heat can gradually be transferred to the HTF, which heat can in turn be put to use for domestic applications (e.g. domestic hot water and/or space heating) or for steam generation.

A heating and/or cooling temperature adjusting apparatus disposed proximate a point of use comprising a heat exchange structure, at least one thermal mass unit comprised of a material which changes phase at a predetermined temperature, and a housing which at least partially encloses the heat exchange structure and thermal mass unit. Additionally, a plurality of thermal mass units can be employed, each with equivalent, or differing, temperature threshold points for conversion between solid, liquid or gaseous phases. The presence of the thermal mass unit at the point of use allows for the heating/cooling system to rapidly adjust the temperature of the room while simultaneously decreasing the duty cycle of the heating/cooling generator (e.g. boiler).

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a domestic hot water (DHW) preheater operable to supply domestic hot water to a structure and/or to preheat a cold return of a space heating system.

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a domestic hot water (DHW) preheater operable to supply domestic hot water to a structure and/or to preheat a cold return of a space heating system.

A device to store energy includes a phase change material (PCM), with a phase change temperature Tc, contained in a sealed container and constituting a storage core. A source to exchange heat with the PCM, at a temperature TA, to cause a phase change of the PCM. A recuperator to exchange heat with the PCM, at a temperature TB, to cause a phase change of the PCM in the opposite direction to the phase change produced by the source. A controller to control the heat flows between the PCM, the source and the recuperator. An apertured support in contact with the PCM in the sealed container and in thermal contact with the source and the recuperator.

A system for warming a power generation system including a boiler and a mixer fluidly coupled to the boiler, a turbine first section operable to receive steam from the boiler at a first temperature. The turbine supplies steam at a second temperature to a first heat exchanger operably connected to receive the heated steam at the second temperature from the output of at least the first section of the turbine and transfer heat to at least one of water and steam in the boiler or the mixer, feedwater for the boiler, and a thermal energy storage system. The system further includes a control unit configured to receive the monitored operating characteristic and control the amount of steam directed through the turbine.

A system for warming a power generation system including a boiler and a mixer fluidly coupled to the boiler, a turbine first section operable to receive steam from the boiler at a first temperature. The turbine supplies steam at a second temperature to a first heat exchanger operably connected to receive the heated steam at the second temperature from the output of at least the first section of the turbine and transfer heat to at least one of water and steam in the boiler or the mixer, feedwater for the boiler, and a thermal energy storage system. The system further includes a control unit configured to receive the monitored operating characteristic and control the amount of steam directed through the turbine.

A latent heat storage window includes a plurality of cells, an operation mechanism, and a magnetic material. The plurality of cells are formed by encapsulating a latent heat storage material including two or more components. The operation mechanism can be operated by a user. The magnetic material causes a specific component of the two or more components included in the latent heat storage material to be unevenly distributed when the operation mechanism is operated.

A heating and/or cooling temperature adjusting apparatus disposed proximate a point of use comprising a heat exchange structure, at least one thermal mass unit comprised of a material which changes phase at a predetermined temperature, and a housing which at least partially encloses the heat exchange structure and thermal mass unit. Additionally, a plurality of thermal mass units can be employed, each with equivalent, or differing, temperature threshold points for conversion between solid, liquid or gaseous phases. The presence of the thermal mass unit at the point of use allows for the heating/cooling system to rapidly adjust the temperature of the room while simultaneously decreasing the duty cycle of the heating/cooling generator (e.g. boiler).