Abstract: AMP (2-Amino-2-Methyl-1, 3-Propanediol) does not release the absorbed heat during temperature drop but releases it during temperature rise. Also, AMP keeps a solid state upon the heat release. The heat storage material which is the aggregate of AMP is arranged to exchange heat with the subject for warm-up. In the warm-up acceleration control, it is judged whether or not there is a request for warm-up to the subject for warm-up (step S10). If it is judged that there is the request for warm-up, it is judged whether or not the radiation condition of the heat storage material is satisfied (step S12). If it is judged that the radiation condition is satisfied, the heater is started to operate (step S14). By operating the heater, the heat storage material is directly or indirectly heated.

Abstract: Solar receivers including a plurality of multi-scale solar absorbing surfaces arranged such that light or heat reflected from or emitted from one or more of the plurality of solar absorbing surfaces impinges one or more other solar absorbing surfaces of the solar receiver. The disclosed receivers increase the amount of absorbed energy from a concentrated light source, such as a heliostat field, and reduce radiative and convective heat losses.

Abstract: During a normal operation, a refrigeration cycle device is switched to a refrigerant circuit in which heat contained in a high-pressure refrigerant flowing out of an interior radiator is stored in a heat storage member. When frost is formed on an evaporator, the refrigeration cycle device is switched to another refrigerant circuit in which the exterior heat exchanger is heated and defrosted using heat stored in the heat storage member as a heat source. The heat storage member uses a material formed by adding W (tungsten) as an additive to VO2 (vanadium dioxide) which is a transition metal oxide having a property of a phase transition between a metal and an insulator. The heat storage member effectively stores or dissipates heat depending on a temperature zone of the refrigerant, thereby suppressing an increase in energy consumption of a compressor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a building envelope for a building wall, floor, or roof of a building, the building envelope comprising at least two shells spaced apart from one another which enclose a single intermediate space sealed against the interior and the exterior of the building and being filled with structural weight-bearing and building-technology components, and at least in sections with a porous, open-celled 3D-pattern material. A plurality of heat pipes, formed by associated first and second pipes in the exterior and interior facing shell, respectively, are connected to a heat collector element on the exterior and interior facing shell, respectively protrude from the building envelope, and are configured to increase, hold or decrease heat transition through the building envelope or to affect heat transport into or out of the building envelope.

Abstract: Aliphatic materials and their use in passive heating and cooling applications are generally disclosed. In some embodiments, dibasic acids and esters (diesters) thereof and their use in passive heating and cooling applications are disclosed. In some embodiments, C18 dibasic acids and esters thereof are disclosed, including their use in passive heating and cooling applications. In some embodiments, various olefins, including alkenes and olefinic acids and esters, are disclosed, including their use in passive heating and cooling applications.

Abstract: A gas storage/supply system includes a gas storage material capable of reversibly absorbing and desorbing a gas, a gas storage tank having the gas storage material sealed therein, a chemical heat storage material capable of making a forward reaction and a reverse reaction with an operation medium, a chemical heat storage tank having the chemical heat storage material sealed therein, a heat exchange mechanism for transferring heat between the gas storage tank and the chemical heat storage tank, and a control mechanism for controlling the gas storage/supply system such that gas absorption heat released upon absorption of the gas to the gas storage material is stored in the chemical heat storage tank and gas desorption heat which is necessary for desorption of the gas from the gas storage material is supplied from the chemical heat storage tank.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal vector system for solar concentration plants, in particular for parabolic trough solar concentration plants, both for industrial and domestic use, comprising a solid state thermal vector. A preferred solar concentration plant comprises one or more solar collectors (1), an heat exchanger (3-5), a heat accumulator (2) and a connecting pipe circuit, in which a solid state thermal vector is pushed through said circuit by mechanical means (6).

Abstract: The embodiments herein provide an improved method for storing thermal energy from the sun in a CSP plant. The heat storage system used for storing the thermal energy has a spherical shell filled with a salt, and several insulated storage towers. The method for storing thermal energy comprises adopting a plurality of spherical shells and filling the spherical shells with the salt. The salt is a mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate. The spherical shells filled with the salt are packed inside the insulated storage tower. During the day time, a HTF is passed through the tower to melt the salt and store thermal energy. After sunset, the HTF is passed through the storage tower to absorb heat from the salt in the spherical shells. The HTF is then passed through the boiler for producing steam and driving, the turbine.

Abstract: A system for converting solar energy to chemical energy, and, subsequently, to thermal energy includes a light-harvesting station, a storage station, and a thermal energy release station. The system may include additional stations for converting the released thermal energy to other energy forms, e.g., to electrical energy and mechanical work. At the light-harvesting station, a photochemically active first organometallic compound, e.g., a fulvalenyl diruthenium complex, is exposed to light and is photochemically converted to a second, higher-energy organometallic compound, which is then transported to a storage station. At the storage station, the high-energy organometallic compound is stored for a desired time and/or is transported to a desired location for thermal energy release.

Abstract: A device for collection, concentrating and storing solar energy comprises an optical concentrator in operative connection with a transmission means which is also operatively connected to an energy recovery device. Concentrated solar energy is transmitted from the optical concentrator to the energy recovery device where it is stored until it is deployed as an energy source for generating electricity.

Abstract: An apparatus intended for generating process heat for a packaging arrangement and can be operated using an energy source which can only be regulated to a limited extent, if at all. For this purpose, the apparatus contains a heat-transfer medium and a heat accumulator.

Abstract: A steam or vapour condensing system (10) for use with radiant solar energy collecting apparatus (17) of the type having solar energy concentrators (20) and in which steam or vapour is generated for supply to a load such as to a steam turbine, the system (10) using the solar energy concentrators (20) to directly or indirectly radiate heat energy of exhaust steam or vapour from the load. The collecting apparatus (17) may float on a body of liquid (19) and heat energy of the exhaust steam or vapour is transferred to the body of liquid for example by being passed through a duct (23) in the body of liquid (19) and heat energy transferred to the body of liquid (19) is radiated by the concentrators (20).

Abstract: Invented is a solar smelter that also manufactures hot air or hot fluids. A curved parabolic-half-shell and curved-overhang focuses the sun's rays, sunlight, unto a crucible, which is buried into a thermal-mass, or the ground. Using a planar-reflector, or heliostat, the sunlight is reflected horizontally unto an interior reflective wall of the curved parabolic-half-shell and curved-overhang. Surrounding the crucible is a thermal-mass with embedded pipes, that manufacture hot and compress air, or heat a gas or fluid. On top of the thermal-mass is a clear transparent-and-insulating floor that captures any stray solar rays, sunlight, adding heat to the thermal-mass. At the foci of the parabolic-half-shell and curved-overhang is a crucible for melting rocks, sand, glass or metals, or processing chemicals.

Abstract: A system for heating and supplying electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial buildings using renewable energy that is stored, at little or no incremental cost, in a large mass of warm or hot water. The large thermal mass is sized based on the building. Thermal energy from a number of sources, including, but not limited to renewable energy panels, waste heat, and flue gas, are used to provide heat to the large thermal mass.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a closed loop circuit that has a concentrated solar receiver and a particulate thermal transfer media moveable through the closed loop circuit. The particulate thermal transfer media has a melting temperature of greater than 600° C./1112° F. A heat exchanger is in communication with the particulate thermal transfer media.

Abstract: A solar receiver is disclosed. The solar receiver is modular, has multiple tube panels in a rectangular/square/polygonal/circular configuration, and is designed for use with molten salt or another heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid flows in a vertical serpentine path through the sides (facets) of the solar receiver. The solar receiver can be shop assembled and can be used with a support tower to form a solar power system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a zero-emission renewable heating system utilizing a thermal energy capacitor system using solar power as its source of heat, and more particularly, to a solar thermal capacitor system using an solar concentrators and a molten salt cell with thermal storage capability.

Abstract: A solar heating block, designed for use in assembling solar heating panels in the walls of buildings, has a first compartment and a second compartment within its interior volume. The first compartment contains a translucent insulating material, such as an aerogel. The second compartment, which is inward of the solar heating block from the first compartment, contains a heat-absorbing material. The translucent insulating material allows light to be transmitted through the solar heating block, but reduces heat loss to the exterior of the building from the heat-absorbing material.

Abstract: Integral, thermal storage and receiver system. The system includes a heat storage medium and a receiver for capturing incoming radiation, the receiver being in thermal contact with the heat storage medium and forming an integral part of it. In a preferred embodiment, the storage medium is a molten salt and the receiver is a black body cavity formed of polyhedral structures and immersed within the molten salt.

Abstract: Receivers for use in solar energy collector systems and solar-powered electrical energy generating plants are provided. The receivers comprise a solar radiation absorbing core that converts absorbed solar radiation to thermal energy. The core comprises a refractory material to allow the receivers to operate continuously at high temperatures reached by absorbing concentrated solar radiation. The thermal energy so generated in the core may be stored in the receiver for a transitory period, or for a more extended period. Receivers may comprise one or more fluid channels in and/or around the core for conveying a working fluid to facilitate extraction of stored thermal energy from the core.

Abstract: A solar thermal fuel can include a plurality of photoswitchable moieties associated with a nanomaterial. The plurality of photoswitchable moieties can be densely arranged on the nanomaterial, such that adjacent photoswitchable moieties interact with one another. The solar thermal fuel can provide high volumetric energy density.

Abstract: A solar collector is formed as a compound arrangement of a multiple number of tapered, pyramidal-type structures. This forms an N-stage solar collector, each stage providing a degree of concentration and thus forming an arrangement that is smaller than a single stage collector (while achieving the same amplification factor). The stages are arranged in tandem along a common optical axis, with the output of the first stage becoming the input for the second stage, and so on. It was found that a reduced number of reflections is required, reducing the loss of the overall system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar thermal collector for heating a fluid to be heated (600), comprising:—a thermally insulating body (1);—a light transparent barrier (2);—a heat accumulator (3) comprising a thermal accumulating material (30), and—a heat exchanger (5) designed for transmit thermal energy from the thermal accumulating material to the fluid to be heated (600), wherein heat exchanger (5) is formed by a pileup of die-forged metal sheets and wherein the thermal accumulating material consists of a phase transfer material comprising a salt solutions based hydrogel and gelling agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar absorptive material for a solar selective surface of an absorber of solar radiation. The solar absorptive material comprises a dispersed metallic material and a receiving boundary through which the solar radiation is received. Further, the solar absorptive material comprises a first region and a second region. The first region being located at a position closer to the receiving boundary than the second region and the first region has an average volume fraction of the dispersed metallic material that is larger than that of the second region.

Abstract: A solar heating block, designed for use in assembling solar heating panels in the walls of buildings, has a first compartment and a second compartment within its interior volume. The first compartment contains a translucent insulating material, such as an aerogel. The second compartment, which is inward of the solar heating block from the first compartment, contains a heat-absorbing material. The translucent insulating material allows light to be transmitted through the solar heating block, but reduces heat loss to the exterior of the building from the heat-absorbing material.

Abstract: A solar light (heat) absorption material is provided which has an excellent solar light (heat) absorbing ability and a simple structure, and may be usable as a low-cost and high-performance heat absorption/accumulation material, the inventive material being usable also as a solar light (heat) absorption/control building component that allows easy change of its solar light (heat) absorption/control ability. The material comprises particles dispersed into a liquid medium having a specific heat ranging from 0.4 to 1.4 cal/g/° C. and a melting point of 5° C. or lower. The dispersed particles have L*value of 30 or less as determined by the CIE-Lab color system (light source D65).

Abstract: A solar heating block, designed for use in assembling solar heating panels in the walls of buildings, has a first compartment and a second compartment within its interior volume. The first compartment contains a translucent insulating material, such as an aerogel. The second compartment, which is inward of the solar heating block from the first compartment, contains a heat-absorbing material. The translucent insulating material allows light to be transmitted through the solar heating block, but reduces heat loss to the exterior of the building from the heat-absorbing material.

Abstract: A system for converting solar energy to chemical energy, and, subsequently, to thermal energy includes a light-harvesting station, a storage station, and a thermal energy release station. The system may include additional stations for converting the released thermal energy to other energy forms, e.g., to electrical energy and mechanical work. At the light-harvesting station, a photochemically active first organometallic compound, e.g., a fulvalenyl diruthenium complex, is exposed to light and is photochemically converted to a second, higher-energy organometallic compound, which is then transported to a storage station. At the storage station, the high-energy organometallic compound is stored for a desired time and/or is transported to a desired location for thermal energy release.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for storing heat, comprising a heat storage medium which absorbs heat in order to store heat and releases heat in order to use the stored heat, and a container for holding the heat storage medium, the container being closed by a gastight cover, and the device comprising volume compensation means in order to compensate for a volume increase of the heat storage medium (3) due to a temperature rise and a volume decrease due to a temperature reduction.

Abstract: A solar heating cell includes a core substantially in the form of a parallelepiped having two open sides. O-rings are disposed within channels running about the edges of the two open sides and glass plates are clamped with compression clips to the two open sides forming air and watertight seals with the O-rings. The solar heating cell is filled with a liquid mixture, primarily water. A solar heating panel is made by mounting a number of the solar heating cells on a support apparatus in an opening through an external wall of a building.

Abstract: A solar energy collection and storage system and a method of collecting and storing solar energy. The system includes a device for focusing solar energy onto a reaction chamber for the conversion of metal hydride to liquid metal and hydrogen, a metal/metal hydride chamber containing a metal/metal hydride mixture, a hydrogen storage system using hydrides and a thermo-cline for recovering the thermal energy from the hydrogen when it is cooled from 2000 F to ambient conditions for storage.

Abstract: A solar power generation system includes a fluid housing, a solar collector, and a heating system. The fluid housing contains a heat transfer medium. The solar collector concentrates solar energy onto the heat transfer medium. The heating system includes at least one gas tank containing a gas and fluidically connected to a first catalyst. The first catalyst is configured to catalyze gas from the gas tank to create hot gas. The heating system also includes a first hot gas pipe fluidically connected to the first catalyst and positioned with respect to the fluid housing such that hot gas flowing through the first hot gas pipe comes into thermal contact with the heat transfer medium within the fluid housing.

Abstract: A solar heating block, designed for use in assembling solar heating panels in the walls of buildings, has a first compartment and a second compartment within its interior volume. The first compartment contains a translucent insulating material, such as an aerogel. The second compartment, which is inward of the solar heating block from the first compartment, contains a heat-absorbing material. The translucent insulating material allows light to be transmitted through the solar heating block, but reduces heat loss to the exterior of the building from the heat-absorbing material.

Abstract: A concentrating solar power device may include a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, and a thermal storage device. The primary mirror may reflect solar rays from the sun towards the secondary mirror. The secondary mirror may reflect the solar rays reflected from the primary mirror towards the thermal storage device. The thermal storage device, which may comprise a thermal medium such as salt, may collect/absorb energy from the solar rays which may be used to run multiple Stirling engines, and/or an energy storing or energy expending device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing, transporting, and releasing high grade, thermodynamically useful energy for a wide variety of uses. Solar energy is collected and reflected onto a heat storage container using a three-mirror reflecting system. This invention involves a method of heating the heat storage container using a primary, secondary, and tertiary system, which has a core that is partially comprised of an aluminum alloy and a metallic shell with a higher melting point than the aluminum alloy contained within. Once heated, the storage containers can then be transported to different storage areas in order to heat secondary storage containers or can be used in processes such as cooking, powering heat engines, water heating, absorption refrigeration, or drying garbage, waste, or biomass.

Abstract: Inner (32) and outer (34) juxtaposed glazed panes are separated from each other by an interlayer containing a gas, and the gap between the panes is closed by a seal (48) near the perimeter of the panes. A thermally conductive, hermetically sealed receptacle (36) is positioned between the panes. The receptacle contains a phase change material (38) that reversibly absorbs, stores, and releases heat in response to temperature changes at least at one of the glazed panes.

Abstract: A family of organic compounds with chemical properties that make them suitable for use as phase change materials (PCMs), comprising, esters of dibasic acids are disclosed. These materials have high latent heats of fusion, low flammability, low miscibility with water, low cost, availability and a range of melting temperatures. The PCMs of the invention may be enclosed in a single, non-compartmentalized container with immiscible phase change material substances to moderate the temperature of a body between that of the melting temperatures of the PCMs.

Abstract: A building product having thermal energy storage properties in the form of a cementitious hollow core building block having a hollow core or cores and having within the hollow core(s) a composite containing a phase change material. The composite may be a cementitious plug sized to fit the hollow core(s) and having a phase change material imbibed into the pores and matrix thereof or having polyolefin pellets containing a phase change material or silica particles containing a phase change material incorporated at the wet mix stage of formation of the cementitious plug. The composite may also be a polyolefin plug sized to fit hollow core(s) and having a phase change material contained within the matrix thereof. Finally the composite may be polyolefin pellets containing a phase change material or silica particles containing a phase change material packed in a container sized to fit the hollow core(s).

Abstract: A process for moderating the thermal energy content of a body with a container enclosing a phase change material (PCM) is detailed. The phase change material comprises a high molecular weight dibasic organic acid and mixtures thereof. Miscible aliphatic and aryl monobasic acids are also suitable as PCM constituents. The PCM is capable of absorbing thermal energy from a variety of bodies including air, heat transfer fluids, combustion reactions, radiation sources and the like. In the course of absorbing thermal energy the PCM undergoes a reversible melt. Upon the PCM being exposed to a temperature below its melting temperature, the PCM releases the stored latent heat of fusion energy absorbed upon melting and undergoes a reversible freeze.

Abstract: The invention relates to a latent store with a photosensitive storage medium and a regenerating agent. To this end, an organic storage substance with at least two stable stereoisomeric configurations is used, the first of which is photosensitive and can be converted into the second configuration by photoisomerisation with the release of energy, while the second configuration can be reconverted into the first by contact with a solar radiation absorbing, stereoselective regenerating agent with energy absorption.

Abstract: A thermal barrier for controlling heat transfer across through buildings, appliances and textile products is disclosed. The thermal barrier includes opposing, spaced apart sheets which define at least one chamber therebetween. A temperature stabilizing material is disposed in the chamber. The temperature stabilizing material is preferably a phase change material such as a paraffinic hydrocarbon, hydrated salt, plastic crystal or glycol. In one embodiment, an interconnecting structure is disposed between opposing sheets to create a plurality of cells of the chamber into which the temperature stabilizing material is uniformly disposed. A method of manufacturing the thermal barrier is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of energy load management for the heating and cooling of a building. The method involves utilizing a wallboard as a portion of the building, the wallboard containing about 5 to about 30 wt. % a phase change material such that melting of the phase change material occurs during a rise in temperature within the building to remove heat from the air, and a solidification of the phase change material occurs during a lowering of the temperature to dispense heat into the air. At the beginning of either of these cooling or heating cycles, the phase change material is preferably "fully charged". In preferred installations one type of wallboard is used on the interior surfaces of exterior walls, and another type as the surface on interior walls. The particular PCM is chosen for the desired wall and room temperature of these locations.