Heat energy storage systems described in this disclosure can be used for long-term storage of large amounts of thermal energy. In some cases, such systems receive electrical energy from renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines. Using novel techniques, the heat energy storage systems covert the electrical energy to thermal energy that is stored in hot materials such as molten silicon, molten salts, or any other material that can store large amounts of heat. The heat energy storage systems incorporate extremely good thermal insulation of the thermal energy storage tank that contains the hot materials. The systems are also configured to release thermal energy in an efficient manner to an electricity-producing steam turbine using novel heat exchanger systems and techniques that are described. The energy storage systems described herein have a higher overall real-world efficiency than energy storage systems currently available.

Heat energy storage systems described in this disclosure can be used for long-term storage of large amounts of thermal energy. In some cases, such systems receive electrical energy from renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines. Using novel techniques, the heat energy storage systems covert the electrical energy to thermal energy that is stored in hot materials such as molten silicon, molten salts, or any other material that can store large amounts of heat. The heat energy storage systems incorporate extremely good thermal insulation of the thermal energy storage tank that contains the hot materials. The systems are also configured to release thermal energy in an efficient manner to an electricity-producing steam turbine using novel heat exchanger systems and techniques that are described. The energy storage systems described herein have a higher overall real-world efficiency than energy storage systems currently available.

Despite otherwise uncomfortable conditions in a surrounding environment, a customizable microenvironment can be created around a user to maintain a comfortable temperature and/or humidity level using a comfort unit. For example, the environment may be an office building where conditions are out of the comfortable range to save on energy or for other reasons, a factory/shop environment that is poorly conditioned, or an outdoor location with little to no conditioning. A sensing unit can monitor biometric and environmental data and can determine a comfort level of the user. The comfort unit can then dynamically respond to the determined comfort level and adjust the microenvironment to improve the user's comfort level. The comfort unit can follow the user as the user moves within the macro-environment, or can otherwise move within the macro-environment to achieve certain functions, such as recharging or spatial shifting of thermal load within the overall macro-environment.

Despite otherwise uncomfortable conditions in a surrounding environment, a customizable microenvironment can be created around a user to maintain a comfortable temperature and/or humidity level using a comfort unit. For example, the environment may be an office building where conditions are out of the comfortable range to save on energy or for other reasons, a factory/shop environment that is poorly conditioned, or an outdoor location with little to no conditioning. A sensing unit can monitor biometric and environmental data and can determine a comfort level of the user. The comfort unit can then dynamically respond to the determined comfort level and adjust the microenvironment to improve the user's comfort level. The comfort unit can follow the user as the user moves within the macro-environment, or can otherwise move within the macro-environment to achieve certain functions, such as recharging or spatial shifting of thermal load within the overall macro-environment.

Heat energy storage systems described in this disclosure can be used for long-term storage of large amounts of thermal energy. In some cases, such systems receive electrical energy from renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines. Using novel techniques, the heat energy storage systems covert the electrical energy to thermal energy that is stored in hot materials such as molten silicon, molten salts, or any other material that can store large amounts of heat. The heat energy storage systems incorporate extremely good thermal insulation of the thermal energy storage tank that contains the hot materials. The systems are also configured to release thermal energy in an efficient manner to an electricity-producing steam turbine using novel heat exchanger systems and techniques that are described. The energy storage systems described herein have a higher overall real-world efficiency than energy storage systems currently available.

Provided is a method for adaptively controlling the charging time of a storage heater, comprising: determining a stored energy requirement of the heater; determining a background heat requirement of the heater; determining a daily energy requirement (DER) based on the stored energy requirement and the background heat requirement; and determining a daily run time (DRT) at a predetermined time to calculate the charging time for a following period of time based on the daily energy requirement (DER).

Despite otherwise uncomfortable conditions in a surrounding environment, a customizable microenvironment can be created around a user to maintain a comfortable temperature and/or humidity level using a comfort unit. For example, the environment may be an office building where conditions are out of the comfortable range to save on energy or for other reasons, a factory/shop environment that is poorly conditioned, or an outdoor location with little to no conditioning. A sensing unit can monitor biometric and environmental data and can determine a comfort level of the user. The comfort unit can then dynamically respond to the determined comfort level and adjust the microenvironment to improve the user's comfort level. The comfort unit can follow the user as the user moves within the macro-environment, or can otherwise move within the macro-environment to achieve certain functions, such as recharging or spatial shifting of thermal load within the overall macro-environment.

Provided is a method for adaptively controlling the charging time of a storage heater, comprising: determining a stored energy requirement of the heater; determining a background heat requirement of the heater; determining a daily energy requirement (DER) based on the stored energy requirement and the background heat requirement; and determining a daily run time (DRT) at a predetermined time to calculate the charging time for a following period of time based on the daily energy requirement (DER).