Abstract: Solid-state thermoclines with internal baffle structures are in used in place of heat exchangers in a closed thermodynamic cycle power generation or energy storage system, such as a closed Brayton cycle system. The baffles limit the conductive and/or radiative transfer of heat between a solid thermal medium within different zones defined by the baffle structures.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for extracting heat energy from geothermal briny fluid. A briny fluid can be extracted from a geothermal production well and delivered to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can receive the briny fluid and transfer heat energy from the briny fluid to a molten salt. The molten salt can be pumped to a molten salt storage tank that can serve as energy storage. The briny fluid can be returned to a geothermal source via the production well. The briny fluid can remain in a closed-loop system, apart from the molten salt, from extraction through return to the geothermal production well.

Abstract: A heat exchange system with at least one heat exchange chamber is provided. The heat exchange chamber includes heat exchange chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber. The heat exchange chamber boundaries include at least one first opening for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one second opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior. At least one heat storage material is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior such that a heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material and the heat transfer fluid.

Abstract: A system for receiving, transferring, and storing solar thermal energy. The system includes a concentrating solar energy collector, a transfer conduit, a thermal storage material, and an insulated container. The insulated container contains the thermal storage material, and the transfer conduit is configured to transfer solar energy collected by the solar energy collector to the thermal storage material through a wall of the insulated container.

Abstract: The invention provides a panel comprising at least the following components: a) at least one hollow container; b) an inlet; c) an outlet; and wherein the inlet is connected to the end of the at least one hollow container; and the outlet is connected to an opposite end of the at least one hollow container; and wherein the at least one hollow container comprises at least one component formed from a composition comprising the following components: A) an ethylene-based polymer; B) a compound selected from Formula 1, as described herein; and C) a compound selected from Formula 2, as described herein; and wherein the weight ratio of Component C to Component B (C/B) is greater than, or equal to, 1.

Abstract: An air temperature regulating assembly is provided having a packed rock bed through which air may flow between outer and inner spaces by way of interstices between rock units in order to transfer heat to or from the rock bed, in use. Dampers control the flow of air between the outer space, the inner space, an enclosed air space the temperature of which is to be regulated by raising or lowering it and the surrounding atmosphere. A fan moves air within the assembly. The rock bed is in the form of a pile of rocks having an upper surface that is inclined and directed in the general direction of the sun to directly absorb solar energy. The outer space is defined between the upper inclined surface of the rock bed and a transparent cover spaced upwardly from the surface of the rock bed.

Abstract: A cooling medium circulating apparatus includes first and second flow paths configured to circulate a cooling medium, and a flow path switchover unit for connecting or disconnecting between the first and second flow paths. A method for controlling a cooling medium circulating apparatus includes detecting temperatures of the cooling medium flowing through the flow paths. The method further includes calculating a temperature difference between temperatures of the cooling medium flowing through the first and second flow paths. In the cooling medium circulating apparatus and method, a prescribed cycle is set, and connecting and disconnecting periods are set. The connecting and disconnecting periods are periods for connecting and disconnecting, respectively, between the flow paths in the prescribed cycle. The flow path switchover unit is controlled based on the connecting and disconnecting periods. The prescribed cycle becomes shorter as the temperature difference becomes larger.

Abstract: A geo-energy production method for extracting thermal energy from a reservoir formation. A production well extracts brine from the reservoir formation. A plurality of working fluid injection (“WFI”) wells may be arranged proximate to the production well to at least partially circumscribe the production well. A plurality of brine production (“BP”) wells may be arranged in a vicinity of the WFI wells to at least partially circumscribe the WFI wells. A working fluid is injected into the WFI wells to help drive a flow of the brine up through the production and BP wells, together with at least a portion of the injected working fluid. Parasitic-load time-shifting and to storing of excess solar thermal energy may also be performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing load-following power using low to medium temperature heat source fluid comprising the steps of: reducing the power level produced by a Rankine cycle power plant producing load-following power operating on a low to medium temperature heat source fluid during one period of time; storing heat not used during the first period of time; and using the heat stored for producing power during a second period of time.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a device and a method to manage ceilings with stains caused by water condensation. The device is a pad having an insulation layer saturated with antimicrobial compound and a water proof membrane glued under the insulation layer. The pad can be cut to any size. The pad is laying freely on top of a drop ceiling panel and it may be replaced easily when needed.

Abstract: A solar panel of the present invention, above which a pointer mounted on a pointer shaft inserted in a through hole in a center portion of the solar panel moves, includes a plurality of solar cells arranged in a substantially circular shape, and these solar cells have been divisionally formed into a substantially spiral shape so that the pointer is positioned over two of the plurality of solar cells. Accordingly, the pointer can always be positioned over two of the plurality of solar cells, and therefore a decrease of light-receiving area due to the pointer can be distributed between the two solar cells. As a result, a decrease in the output current of the plurality of solar cells over which the pointer is positioned can be suppressed, and the output current of the entire plurality of solar cells can be improved.

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: Heat storage tank comprising an envelope (2) with a longitudinal axis (X) filled with a heat transfer liquid and solid heat storage elements, a first longitudinal end provided with first means (10) for collecting and supplying a liquid at a first temperature and a second longitudinal end provided with second means (12) for collecting and supplying a liquid at a second temperature, in which said solid heat storage elements are distributed across three beds (TH1, TH2 and TH3) superposed along the longitudinal axis (X), separated by a layer of liquid (L1, L2 and L3), the heat transfer liquid being capable of flowing from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end.

Abstract: Solar heat collector, especially an evacuated-tube solar heat collector, filled with first solid heat storage and conducting material transfers the solar heat to an electric power heat insulated utensil through second heat conducting/transferring material for cooking foods and making coffee/tea. A set of solar cooking appliance having a solar heat collector filed with a first solid heat storage and conducting material and a solar cooking range filled with third solid heat storage and conducting material. The solar cooking range having a heat insulated enclosed compartment and also having a cooktop. The cooking range having a set of cooking chambers which are in thermal contact with the first and second heat storage and conducting material for cooking food therein. The cooking appliance also has a group of removable parts that cover the cooking chambers separately. An electric power heater provides a backup energy source and electric heat storage.

Abstract: A device for storage and conveyance of thermal energy for an energy production system apt to receive solar radiation and based on the use of a modular fluidizable granular bed and a heat exchanger associated thereto is described.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a mining system which comprises ore, waste, and a reservoir which comprises a portion of said waste through which air can flow with low resistance for storing thermal energy from a tempered air source and supplying it to a tempered air consumer, and connections for tempered air flow between said tempered air source and said reservoir and between said tempered air consumer and said reservoir. Note: As used herein, “tempered air” means air of a temperature sufficiently high to heat, or low to cool, an object to a desired temperature. For example, in a house, the furnace is a source of tempered air for heating in winter, the air conditioner a source of tempered air for cooling in summer, and the house is a consumer of tempered air.

Abstract: An active solar air heat storage system slowly transfers heat into water, providing heat while keeping mold and dust out of a building. A series of bidirectional air ducts separated by periodic wind gaps reduces an overhead collector array's uplift in high winds. Splitting a rock bed's airflow into multiple air channels slows air velocity and reduces air friction in the rock bed. A circular rock bed made partly of concrete blocks is held together by bands around the circle's outside. Solar heat may be gathered under driveways and walkways. A standard set of driveway bricks will allow gentle curves in the driveway while retaining a closed airflow under the driveway. Radiant heat may be trapped inside a collector.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage system includes fluid conduits disposed in a loose solid material. The loose solid material may be disposed inside a waterproof barrier, and the fluid conduits may be configured to define a plurality of zones having different temperatures in operation. The system may include a solar collector or other source of heated oil or other fluid that is routed to the thermal energy storage unit and/or an energy-consuming facility.

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: 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: An apparatus for water reclamation includes an inlet head for admitting warm humid ambient air, a buried pipe coupled at a first end to the inlet head and sloping downward in the ground from the first end. Water condenses as the air is cooled in the buried pipe and collects in a cistern coupled at a second end of the buried pipe. A tube coupled at a lower end near the second end of the buried pipe includes a heated element extending at least partially into the tube from an upper end of the tube. Cooled air is heated by the heated element and is expelled at the top of the tube. A heater is coupled to an upper end of the heated element. The heater may be a solar collector with a Bernoulli aperture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat storage system using sand as a solid heat storage medium, characterized in that it comprises the following components: a storage tank (1) for cold sand; a storage tank (2) for hot sand; a fluidized bed heat exchanger (3) arranged therebetween, which is separated from the storage tanks (1, 2) by weirs (4, 5) and divided into a plurality of chambers (7) by weirs (6), wherein the weirs (4, 5, 6) are arranged as a combination of overflow and underflow weirs; wherein means (8) for transferring heat from a heat source to the sand fluidized therein as well as means (9) for transferring heat from the sand fluidized therein to a heat transport medium are provided in the chambers (7) of the heat exchanger (3); and at least one blower (14) positioned underneath the heat exchanger (3) for fluidizing the sand.

Abstract: Techniques for subsurface thermal energy storage of heat generated by concentrating solar power enable smoothing of available energy with respect to daily and/or seasonal variation. Solar thermal collectors produce saturated steam that is injected into a producing or wholly/partially depleted oil reservoir that operates as a heat storage reservoir. Some of the saturated steam generated by the collectors is optionally used to generate electricity. Heat is withdrawn from the reservoir as saturated steam and is used to operate an active thermal recovery project (such as a producing thermally enhanced oil reservoir) and/or to generate electricity. Withdrawn heat is optionally augmented by heat produced by firing natural gas. The reservoir is optionally one that has been used for thermally enhanced oil recovery and thus is already warm, minimizing heat losses.

Abstract: A heat storage device is revealed. The heat storage device mainly includes a heat storage tank and a heat conduction unit. A part of the heat conduction unit is arranged in a receiving space of the heat storage tank. The receiving space is filled with heat storage material. The heat storage material can be sand and crushed stone, brick clay, cement, cinder, shell, etc. The heat storage material can also use material or waste easily got from local sources. The heat storage tank is a vacant container. Thus the cost of manufacturing and transportation is reduced. Moreover, the recycling of the material and waste reduces pollutants and improves the environment.

Abstract: Apparatus to collect solar radiation using a series of lenses or mirrors that concentrate the solar energy onto targets. A gaseous working fluid flowing through the targets is heated and optionally supplied to a heat store having an internal walled labyrinth of a suitable material to store heat energy. A heat exchanger, turbine and electricity generator are coupled to the collection and storage apparatus so as to provide a power plant for the conversion of solar energy to electricity.

Abstract: A liquid-heating system has a solar energy collector exposed to solar radiation, a geothermal heat exchanger buried in the ground at a depth between 0.5 m and 5 m, a heater through which a liquid to be heated passes, and a heat pump having a sink side connected to the heater and a source side connected to the geothermal heat exchanger or to the solar energy collector. A first controller or valve setup connected to the heat collector can in one position connect the solar energy collector to the water heater such that heat collected by the solar energy collector is applied to the water heater. In another position it can connect the solar energy collector to the geothermal heat exchanger such that heat collected by the solar energy collector is applied to the ground surrounding the geothermal heat exchanger.

Abstract: A solar collector system includes sheets that are disposed to cover portions of channels within a terrain to thereby form air flow passageways bounded by at least the sheet and the sides and bottom of the respective channels. The sheet enables transmission of solar radiation into the channels to heat portions of the sides and bottoms of the channels so that air in the passageways can be heated by absorbing heat from the heated portions of the sides and bottoms of the channels. A heat accumulation system is coupled to the passageways for accumulating heat from the heated air. A stream of heated air is drawn from the solar collector and/or the heat accumulation system by an upwardly sloping tunnel through a turbine of an electrical energy producing system. The air stream rotates the turbine to cause electrical energy to be generated.

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: This invention relates to the collection of sunlight for heat which is used for heating and for the conversion of heat to electricity. Where a large area of land is prepared then covered with a solar collecting film of plastic or glass. The air or water under the film being heated is then circulated around the inside of the collector over a heat exchanger. The solar collector is insulated from the ground it is constructed on and uses stone or water to retain the heat. The retained heat can extended the working time of the collector beyond the time when the sun sets. This heat exchanger carries a working fluid such as Freon that is used to perform work such as spinning an electric generator.

Abstract: A method and Apparatus for solar energy storage system uses gas for thermal transport for central tower solar thermal electric power plant to provide high quality, low cost, and continuously electric power generation. The storage contains a number of storage modules that each module can store energy for a given period of time. The thermal energy from central tower charges the modules one by one during the sunny time, while the thermal electric power plant discharge the modules one by one as long as it works. A control and a connection valve system control and connect the charge and discharge modules with the central tower and the power plant according to pre-arranged sequences. Fans at the cool side of the storage system push the circulation gas into the central tower or the thermal storage modules. In the discharge system, the hot gas from storage system is send to the heat exchange system, and to generate steam and to super heat steam for the power plant.

Abstract: A method to enhance oil shale, oil sand, asphaltic crude oil, or other high viscosity crude oil production by using a solar blackbody waveguide to heat these formations in situ. A parabolic mirror collects and directs the solar flux into a vertical shaft of a well drilled into the formation. This vertical shaft is lined with a reflective sleeve that reflects nearly all of the sunlight down into the well bore. The reflective sleeve ends at the top of the formation so that below this point, the solar flux is permitted to make successive reflections with the interior of the metal well casing or solar blackbody waveguide coil. The coil absorbs the solar flux, converting it to heat. Heat from the coil is transferred by conduction into the formation and allowing the formation to be produced by traditional methods.

Abstract: A method of air-conditioning a building with low heat loss, having the following steps: providing a fresh-air/outgoing-air system for feeding fresh air through a heat accumulator being located beneath said building and extracting said outgoing air through the heat accumulator; routing the fresh-air and the outgoing air in first and second tubes, where the first tubes are nested in the second tubes so as to recover heat energy present in the outgoing air.

Abstract: A solar energy power system is provided that is effective to use an underlying supporting medium as a heat storage medium. A plurality of lengths of solar energy collector panels are arranged in abutting relationship on the ground and in thermal transfer contact with the supporting medium. Each one of the solar energy collector panels includes a length of flexible uninsulated base layer for unrolling along the supporting medium to form the plurality of abutting solar collectors. Heat within a flowing liquid in the panels is transmitted through the uninsulated base layer to and from the supporting medium. A power plant is connected to receive the heated liquid and convert the energy in the heated liquid to output electrical energy.

Abstract: A solar energy collection system harvests solar energy from large open areas. A length of flexible solar collector is provided for unrolling along a supporting surface. A first layer of the solar collector is an uninsulated base panel for directly contacting the ground or other supporting structure. A plurality of parallel conduits are sealed along the length of the flexible base panel and have a high light absorption and a low infrared emission for containing a flowing liquid to be heated by solar energy from the sun. A length of a covering material is placed parallel to the base panel and between the parallel conduits and the sun and sealed to the base panel for containing a low pressure fluid to reduce heat loss from the flowing liquid and to inflate the structure formed by the ground cover and covering material. Heated fluid from the parallel conduits is collected in a header for delivery to a power generating system.

Abstract: An energy system for buildings uses solar absorbers, heat exchangers and heat accumulators, and has the following features to improve the thermal balance of the building: the solar absorber has tubes or pipes laid to form meanders between the roofing and an insulating layer arranged thereunder; the solar absorber is subdivided into at least two zones each with its own liquid circulation system; there is arranged below the building a solid heat-accumulator to which heat can be supplied or removed using embedded tubes or pipes; the heat accumulator is subdivided into at least two zones, i.e.

Abstract: A system for heating and ventilating a building which includes a generally peripheral foundation element which supports the external walls of the building. Room air is heated and circulated below the floor and up through floor openings at the external wall. A barrier is connected to the foundation wall so as to span the area enclosed by the foundation wall at a level beneath the floor. Exhaust air is conducted to a region beneath the barrier for surface-enlarged contact with the underside of the barrier. The foundation element and/or the base that supports the foundation element is permeable to air along essentially its full length beneath where the foundation element connects with the barrier and exhaust air flows out through the foundation element or its supporting material while effecting an exchange of heat therewith.

Abstract: Low-cost off-peak electric energy or electric energy from natural energy sources is used for heating of cooling of system air, which is moved in a closed circuit to heat or cool the energy storage medium of permeable concrete and sized gravel in the exterior walls of the structures. The heated or cooled system air is pressurized by a blower, and is moved horizontally outward through the energy storage medium, to store energy therein, as heat or cold. When stored heat or cold is required inside the structure, system air is moved horizontally, inward, through the energy storage medium, and is heated or cooled thereby, thus moving heat or cold to the material forming the interior surfaces of the exterior walls. Those surfaces then provide radiant heat transfer and convection heat transfer, with materials of the interiors of the structure, and with contents and occupants thereof. The energy storage walls are constructed of large energy storage blocks, lapped for added strength.

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.