Abstract: A method of producing a clathrate hydrate slurry, includes a step of heat-exchanging an aqueous solution of a guest compound for the clathrate hydrate or a slurry of the clathrate hydrate dispersed or suspended in an aqueous solution or water with a refrigerant thereby generating the clathrate hydrate in the aqueous solution or the slurry, in which a part of the clathrate hydrate deposited on the heat transfer surface in the process of heat exchange with the refrigerant is removed by adjustment of a temperature of the refrigerant and flow force of the aqueous solution or the slurry and the rest is kept remained as it covers the heat transfer surface.

Abstract: An apparatus produces hydrate slurry, which is a mixture of aqueous solution and hydrate, by cooling aqueous solution containing a guest compound, which generates the hydrate at temperature higher than 0° C., by using a cooling medium. The apparatus includes a first heat exchanger for supercooling the aqueous solution while holding the aqueous solution in a liquid state and in a second heat exchanger, which is provided on the downstream side of the first heat exchanger for cooling hydrate slurry.

Abstract: A thermal storage apparatus for using a hydrate thermal storage medium including: (a) a storage tank for storing a cooling medium liquid; (b) a refrigerating machine, connected with the storage tank via a pipe for cooling the cooling medium liquid, the cooling medium liquid circulating between the storage tank and the refrigerating machine; and (c) a thermal storage body immersed in the cooling medium liquid, wherein the thermal storage medium comprises a hermetically sealed container containing an aqueous solution which generates at least one hydrate selected from the group consisting of a primary hydrate and a secondary hydrate, wherein the primary hydrate has a smaller hydration number and a small heat capacity than the secondary hydrate, and wherein the secondary hydrate has a larger hydration number and a larger heat capacity than the primary hydrate.

Abstract: An apparatus produces hydrate slurry, which is a mixture of aqueous solution and hydrate, by cooling aqueous solution containing a guest compound, which generates the hydrate at temperature higher than 0° C., by using a cooling medium. The apparatus includes a first heat exchanger for supercooling the aqueous solution while holding the aqueous solution in a liquid state and in a second heat exchanger, which is provided on the downstream side of the first heat exchanger for cooling hydrate slurry.

Abstract: A thermal storage apparatus for using a hydrate thermal storage medium including: (a) a storage tank for storing a cooling medium liquid; (b) a refrigerating machine, connected with the storage tank via a pipe for cooling the cooling medium liquid, the cooling medium liquid circulating between the storage tank and the refrigerating machine; and (c) a thermal storage body immersed in the cooling medium liquid, wherein the thermal storage medium comprises a hermetically sealed container containing an aqueous solution which generates at least one hydrate selected from the group consisting of a primary hydrate and a secondary hydrate, wherein the primary hydrate has a smaller hydration number and a small heat capacity than the secondary hydrate, and wherein the secondary hydrate has a larger hydration number and a larger heat capacity than the primary hydrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a hydrate slurry, which involves the preparation of an aqueous solution of a guest compound for forming a clathrate hydrate, cooling the aqueous solution, and contacting the aqueous solution with nuclear particles. A thermal storage method, a thermal storage apparatus, and a thermal storage medium using an aqueous solution of a clathrate hydrate, in a concentration which provides a congruent melting point or lower. A refrigerating apparatus and an air conditioner using the thermal storage apparatus and the thermal storage medium.

Abstract: The best mode aims to provide a thermal storage medium that improves the efficiency of heat exchange between the thermal storage medium and the cooling medium liquid in the cooling medium body, and that prevents supercool of the aqueous solution which produces hydrate. A large thermal storage capacity is attained using the latent heat of hydrate in the cooling medium body. By forming slurry of hydrate, the fluidability of the hydrate increases the efficiency of the heat exchange with cooling medium liquid. By sealing fine particles in the cooling medium body, the super-cool of aqueous solution is prevented. By changing position of the cooling medium body or by other means, the aqueous solution is agitated to keep the fine particles disperse and float in the aqueous solution, thus preventing the degradation of effect to prevent supercooling.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for making a hydrate slurry, which prepare an aqueous solution of a guest compound for forming a clathrate hydrate, cool the aqueous solution, and contact a nuclear particles; furthermore, a thermal storage method, a thermal storage apparatus, and a thermal storage medium by using an aqueous solution of clathrate hydrate, whose concentration is a congruent melting point or lower; furthermore, an refrigerating apparatus and an air conditioner for using the thermal storage method, the thermal storage apparatus and the thermal storage medium.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for making a hydrate slurry, which prepare an aqueous solution of a guest compound for forming a clathrate hydrate, cool the aqueous solution, and contact a nuclear particles; furthermore, a thermal storage method, a thermal storage apparatus, and a thermal storage medium by using an aqueous solution of clathrate hydrate, whose concentration is a congruent melting point or lower; furthermore, an refrigerating apparatus and an air conditioner for using the thermal storage method, the thermal storage apparatus and the thermal storage medium.

Abstract: A method for transporting cold latent-heat which comprises contacting a source of cold latent-heat with a liquid-liquid clathrate capable of crystallization when an onium salt having a C4H9 group and an iso-C5H11 group is included as a guest into basket-like inclusion clathrate lattices including water molecules.