Abstract: A reversible aero-hydraulic generator capable of operating as a turbo-pump or as a motor-compressor, and a heat energy recovery installation including such a generator.The generator comprises a positive displacement pump (5) and an axial turbine (6) tandem connected and coupled by their respective shafts (23 and 11) so that one can drive the other directly and disposed within a single sleeve (1) having end connecting flanges (3 and 4), whereby the sleeve can be directly inserted within a conduit for a first fluid, in the gaseous or vapor phase state, so that the first fluid can pass axially through the sleeve (1), and inlet and outlet conduits (31 and 32) for a second fluid in the liquid or vapor phase, for the pump (5), the conduits (31, 32) passing through the sleeve (1). A heat recovery installation can comprise such a generator for the recovery of heat energy from a drier for printing ink with the pump output used to drive a hydraulic motor to assist in driving the rollers of a printing press.

Abstract: A storage element for use in the recovery of heat originating from the cooling of radioactive wastes including a first element for the storage of radioactive waste having a first closed shell including the wastes, and disposed within a second closed shell, both shells being of generally spherical shape, the second shell bristling with externally projecting radial points or spines, the value between the two shells being filled with a non-contaminatable fluid, promoting the transfer of heat originating from the cooling of the wastes from the first towards the second shell, of which the points or spines serve as radiators in relation to the external medium.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for control of the climatic environment of an underground enclosure having at least one source tending to emit a quantity of extraneous heat and associated with premises presenting a potential need for heating. Utilization is made directly of the regulating characteristics of the ground at a depth taking account of thermal inertia in order to enable the ground to operate as a heat source or thermal absorbent. For this purpose, apparatus is provided which is arranged entirely under the level of the ground at a mean depth which should not exceed 10 m, at latitudes in France, but this depth is variable according to the particular geological nature of the terrain. To take advantage of the thermal buffer the temperature of which is generally about 12.degree. C. in the Parisian region, the apparatus includes a wall structure with some of the walls formed of a material with a high coefficient of thermal exchange.

Abstract: A central heating plant having a principal heat source and a make-up heat source which can operate simultaneously. A series of principal heat diffusers are connected in parallel and arranged to be supplied with heat-carrying fluid from either or both of the heat sources, and a series of make-up heat diffusers are connected in parallel and arranged to be supplied from either one or both of the heat sources. The two series of diffusers are arranged to be supplied with heat at the same time, separately, or alternately.

Abstract: A heat pump device and method of controlling the heat pump device which includes a cold generating fluid circuit, a first heat exchanger associated with the circuit in order to draw calories from a heat containing fluid passing through a cooling circuit, and a second heat exchanger associated with the circuit in order to transmit calories to a fluid passing through a utilization circuit.The method comprises the steps of controlling the flow of heat-carrying fluid through the first heat exchanger in dependence upon the temperature of the fluid of the utilization circuit at the output of the second heat exchanger, and controlling the flow of fluid from the utilization circuit through the second heat exchanger in dependence upon the temperature or pressure of the cold generating fluid at the outlet of the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A pump installation has a first heat exchanger for heating a fluid, a compressor unit connected to the first exchanger and having static mechanical means for pre-compression and temperature increase of the fluid, a motor-driven compressor connected to the compressor unit, for compressing the fluid, and a second heat exchanger for passing heat from the fluid to a working circuit fluid. A first valve passes fluid from the outlet of the compressor to the second exchanger selectively directly or indirectly through the compressor unit, and a second valve passes fluid from the outlet of the second exchanger to an expansion means for feeding the fluid back to the first exchanger selectively directly or indirectly through the compressor unit.