Provided are methods and systems for converting a passive cooling system into an active hydronic ground cooling system. In an aspect, an existing passive cooling device can be first discharged of working fluid. An existing pipe of the passive cooling system can then be cut to a predetermined height. A top portion of the existing pipe can be threaded and fitted with a cap base. Tubing can then be installed within the existing pipe. A cap can be attached to the cap base. The tubing can be attached to a chiller system and filled with coolant. Similar procedure can be applied to convert a thermopile or traditional pipe pile to into an active cooling system.

A method to form a phase change material (PCM). The method includes preparing a polymer solution by mixing an amount of a polymer in a solvent and mixing the polymer solution with an UiO-66 metal-organic framework (MOF) to form a composite. The polymer is a polyethylene glycol (PEG). The method further includes subjecting the composite to ultrasonic agitation and evaporating the solvent from the composite to form the PCM. After the evaporation of the solvent, particles of the PCM exhibit rounded octahedral structures.

A system or method for thermal storage includes a recess or containment unit having a first storage layer and a second storage layer comprising a permeable filler material. An intermediate layer is disposed between the storage layers. A primary well traverses the layer in the recess. The primary well is in thermal communication with the first permeable filler material and the second permeable filler material. A heat source is provided for heating an inlet fluid. An input pump is in fluid communication with the primary well and the heat source. The primary well receives heated inlet fluid from the inlet pump and injects the fluid into the second layers. The heated inlet fluid transfers heat to the respective permeable filler material radially from the primary well toward an outer periphery of the thermocline recess.

A pallet cover suitable for use in covering at least a portion of a payload on a pallet and a kit for use in making the pallet cover. In one embodiment, the pallet cover includes a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall, wherein the walls are detachably joined to one another. Each of the top wall, the front wall, the rear wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall includes a first fabric sheet and a second fabric sheet, the first and second fabric sheets being joined together to form a plurality of pockets. Each pocket may removably receive a temperature-control member containing a phase-change material. At least one of the top wall, the front wall, the rear wall, the left side wall and the right side wall may include a plurality of detachably joined portions.

Cooler composed by an outer tank, within which a cooling tank and a useful tank are housed, among which there is an array of thermal energy accumulators, and within the tank useful there are temperature compensation chambers.

High temperature thermal energy storage, distinctive in that the storage comprises: a thermally insulated foundation, at least one self-supported cassette arranged on said foundation, which cassette is a self-supporting frame or structure containing a number of concrete thermal energy storage elements, some or all of said elements comprising embedded heat exchangers, a pipe system, the pipe system comprising an inlet and an outlet for thermal input to and output from the storage, respectively, and connections to said heat exchangers for circulating fluid through said heat exchangers for thermal energy input to or output from said thermal energy storage elements, and thermal insulation around and on top of the at least one self-supported cassette with concrete thermal storage elements. The invention also provides a method of building and methods of operating the storage.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems and method for cooling a refrigerant flow of a refrigerant circuit with a cool water flow from a cool water storage to generate a warm water flow and to cool the refrigerant flow by a subcooling temperature difference, flowing the warm water flow to the cool water storage, and thermally isolating the warm water flow from the cool water flow in the cool water storage.

The present invention relates to an encapsulated phase-change material (1) comprising a phase-change material (3) contained within a tube (5), said tube (5) being made of plastic and that it has a sealing weld (9) at least at one of its ends.

A water heating assembly, related kit, use and method make use of a temperature control near a point of use of water, so as to reduce a time response for hot water at this point of use are provided. The water heating assembly includes a tank for containing water, an inlet temperature sensor for sensing an inlet temperature of the water upstream of the tank, and a valve located upstream of the tank. The valve is actuated when the sensed inlet temperature reaches a given temperature set-point such that the water is bypassed from the tank and directly sent to the point of use. The water heating assembly is configured such that the point of use can be fed with water at the desired temperature in a reduced time, the water coming directly from the hot water source and/or the water heating assembly, thereby saving water, energy and time.

A system for air compression, storage and expansion may include a low-pressure and a high-pressure compressor, a motor, a heat storage, an air storage volume, a high-pressure and a low-pressure turbine, and a generator. The system may further include a first air path connecting sequentially the low-pressure compressor, the heat storage, the high-pressure compressor, and the air storage volume. The system may further include a second air path connecting sequentially the air storage volume, the high-pressure turbine, the heat storage, and the low-pressure turbine.