An electric stove comprising a first body made of thermally conductive material and defining a hermetically sealed first chamber; a second body made of thermally conductive material and defining a hermetically sealed second chamber, inside which is contained the first body to make, between the first and the second body, at least one interspace containing at least one working fluid to be heated; a heating device/element/component/unit or the like (or heater), arranged dipped in the working fluid and electrically operable to heat the latter.

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.

A heat storage and transfer system incorporates a primary heat storage chamber that is thermally insulated and which in use, contains a heat storing liquid or solid and a thermal energy to electrical energy converter in or thermally coupled to at least one of: i) a secondary chamber external to and adjacent the primary heat storage chamber through which a liquid or steam to be heated is passed in use; and ii) a thermal conduction plate/surface external to the thermally insulated primary heat storage chamber or body. The system has a heat transfer feature to selectively transfer thermal energy from the heat storing liquid or solid of the primary heating chamber to the thermal conduction plate or the liquid or steam to be heated in the secondary chamber for the thermal energy to thence be converted to electrical energy by the thermal energy to electrical energy converter.

A thermal storage system includes a container, a thermal exchange device, a first thermal storage material, and a second thermal storage material. The first thermal exchange device is disposed in the container. The first thermal storage material is disposed in the container and is spaced apart from the thermal exchange device. The second thermal storage material is also disposed in the container in contact with the thermal exchange device. The first and second thermal storage materials are immiscible. The second thermal storage material is less reactive with the construction material of the thermal exchange device as compared to the first thermal storage material. Optionally, a second thermal exchange device can be submerged in the second thermal storage material. The first thermal exchange device is configured to supply heat to the second thermal storage material and the second thermal exchange device facilitates extraction of heat from the second thermal storage material.

A thermal storage system includes a container, a thermal exchange device, a first thermal storage material, and a second thermal storage material. The first thermal exchange device is disposed in the container. The first thermal storage material is disposed in the container and is spaced apart from the thermal exchange device. The second thermal storage material is also disposed in the container in contact with the thermal exchange device. The first and second thermal storage materials are immiscible. The second thermal storage material is less reactive with the construction material of the thermal exchange device as compared to the first thermal storage material. Optionally, a second thermal exchange device can be submerged in the second thermal storage material. The first thermal exchange device is configured to supply heat to the second thermal storage material and the second thermal exchange device facilitates extraction of heat from the second thermal storage material.

A heat emitting radiator for use in a fluid circuit containing coolant therein, and which can generate substantial amounts of heat to heat larger spaces, such as in a home or business, while utilizing minimal power to run, and which can be utilized in various implementations and configurations. The radiator can be selectively activated or de-activated by, for example, a cell phone or the like whereby the fluid circuit in the radiator can be monitored for time of use, temperature and cost of use.

A thermal energy storage (TES) component includes a shell having first and second ports, and at least a first set of thermally conductive sealed containers that contain a TES media for storing thermal energy. A first set of sealed tubes containing a first TES media are in a first section of the shell, and a second set of sealed tubes containing a different TES media are in a second section of the shell. Electric heating elements are immersed in at least some of the tubes, and may extend only from one end of the tube. In some embodiments more than one heating element is immersed in the TES media and positioned to enhance convective flow. In some embodiments electric heating elements are disposed externally on the sealed tubes. Some tubes are tapered or frustoconical, with heating elements provided in a larger-diameter portion of the tubes.

The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of modulating energy consumption by a water provision system installed in a building, the water provision system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from outside the building to a thermal energy storage medium inside the building and a control module configured to control operation of the water provision system, the water provision system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to one or more water outlets and further configured to supply heated water to a central heating system configured to raise an indoor temperature of the building, the method being performed by the control module and comprising: determining a level of energy demands of a geographical region comprising the building; and upon determining that the level of energy demands is low, operating the heat pump to store thermal energy in the thermal energy storage medium, and operating the water provision system to supply heated water to the central heating system using thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage medium.

The present invention provides an energy storage apparatus. The energy storage apparatus comprises a storage tank (100, 220) for receiving thermal energy storage fluid (103, 203) therein, a first energy transfer component (107, 205) and a second energy transfer component (106, 206). The storage tank has a first portion and a second portion, each portion having a first end vertically spaced from a second end. The first portion is in fluid communication with the second portion at the respective first ends and at the respective second ends. The first energy transfer component is configured to transfer thermal energy into thermal energy storage fluid in the first portion of the storage tank. The second energy transfer component is configured to transfer thermal energy from thermal energy storage fluid in the second portion of the storage tank. The energy storage apparatus is configured such that operation of at least one of the first energy transfer component and the second energy transfer component causes convective fluid flow of the thermal energy storage fluid from the first energy transfer component towards the second energy transfer component and from the second energy transfer component towards the first energy transfer component.

A modular HVAC-SHW/DHW system that provides comfort conditioning, sanitary hot water, and ventilation in the buildings is disclosed. The system includes HVAC units, SHW/DHW units, and one or more air-to-water heat pump (AWHP) units fluidically connected to the HVAC units and the SHW/DHW units through at least one water-to-water heat pump (WWHPs). The AWHP units are configured to enable the exchange of heat between the environment and the WWHPs, and the WWHP is configured to enable the exchange of rejected heat between any of the AWHP units, the HVAC units, and the SHW/DHW units. The system is designed in a packaged form factor or modular design, where the components/units of the system are configured within a housing that is easily installable at the desired locations in the building.