Abstract: A heat pipe system including a heat pipe having a first end and a second end for transferring working fluid from the first to the second end, a first reservoir in fluid communication with the first end for holding working fluid in liquid form, a first heat exchanger for transmitting thermal energy from a heat source to working fluid in the first reservoir to vaporize the fluid, a second heat exchanger for transmitting thermal energy from vaporized working fluid to a heat sink thereby condensing the fluid, a return conduit and a pump for pumping the condensed working fluid along the return conduit, where the heat pipe, the return conduit and the first reservoir form a hermetically sealed circuit. A method of transferring thermal energy using a heat pipe system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Existing approaches to refuse handling are all based on historical approaches which rely on a network of refuse collection vehicles collecting waste from individual households and delivering this to a centralised landfill or MBI location. This is highly undesirable and wasteful. An alternative process is disclosed, relying on the thermal treatment of waste and like products produced or brought in to the residential property and processed within the domestic curtilage to produce fuel or other forms of energy. Thus, domestic waste will be thermally treated at the home instead of being collected by local authorities and disposed of. The waste input put material will be loaded into a domestically engineered thermal conversion unit either directly or after a pre-process such as shredding. The feedstock will be converted into fuels by a thermal treatment, such as pyrolysis.

Abstract: Described herein is a system for thermal management of a component, such as a battery for an electric vehicle. The system comprises an electrical component and one or more panels thermally coupled to the electrical component. Each panel comprises a plurality of passages for conveying a working fluid around the panel. The one or more panels are arranged to form a hermetically sealed system such that the working fluid is configured to communicate heat energy around the sealed system. The system further comprises a heat exchanger mechanism in thermal communication with at least one of the plurality of panels so as to communicate heat energy to and/or from the electrical component via the plurality of panels.

Abstract: Thermal treatment techniques for recycling are generally very clean but their byproducts include a fine ash that may become entrained in the exhaust air plume as smoke. We therefore disclose a materials recycling apparatus comprising a heat treatment chamber for processing the material at an elevated temperature, the chamber having a vent leading via a heat exchanger to a scrubber comprising a disrupted flow path, at least one spray nozzle directed towards the disrupted flow path, and a supply of liquid (ideally water with a little detergent) to the or each spray nozzle. In this way, the entrained ash can be efficiently removed from the air flow, allowing it to be vented, and the captured ash disposed of via a waste water outlet together with the ash washed from the chamber. The flow path can be disrupted by at least one baffle plate, ideally with the spray nozzle located ahead of the baffle plate(s).

Abstract: A heat pipe system including a heat pipe having a first end and a second end for transferring working fluid from the first to the second end, a first reservoir in fluid communication with the first end for holding working fluid in liquid form, a first heat exchanger for transmitting thermal energy from a heat source to working fluid in the first reservoir to vaporize the fluid, a second heat exchanger for transmitting thermal energy from vaporized working fluid to a heat sink thereby condensing the fluid, a return conduit and a pump for pumping the condensed working fluid along the return conduit, where the heat pipe, the return conduit and the first reservoir form a hermetically sealed circuit. A method of transferring thermal energy using a heat pipe system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Refrigerative shelving arrangement comprising a heat-absorbing shelf (10) formed from a panel having first and second main faces containing plural passages (50) for conveying a working fluid in both liquid and gaseous states around an interior portion of the shelf (10); and a condenser (35) in fluid communication with the heat-absorbing shelf (10), wherein the heat-absorbing shelf (10) and the condenser (35) form a hermetically sealed system configured to allow the working fluid to circulate between the heat-absorbing shelf (10) and the condenser (35) without a compressor.

Abstract: Materials recycling processes that include a combustion stage can operate very efficiently, but can produce exhaust gases that are high in carbon monoxide and the like. We describe a treatment unit which comprises a chamber for receiving the material, a heat source for (preferably) heat-treating the material and for initiating combustion, and a gas outlet from the chamber, which allows the gas that is exhausted via the outlet to be supplied to the air inlet of an associated boiler unit, with the air inlet and a separate fuel inlet feeding a burner for combusting fuel from the fuel inlet in air from the air inlet in order to heat a transfer fluid. In this way, the unburnt elements of the gas expelled from the chamber are included in the combustion process of the boiler unit and fully combusted. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus comprises: a panel (100) having first and second main faces (101, 102); and a sealed system internal within the panel and comprising plural passages (103) each extending from a first manifold cavity (107) at a first end of the panel to a second manifold cavity (107) at a second end of the panel and containing a fluid in both gas and liquid states, wherein each of the passages includes one or more protruding features (122, 123, 124) on a side of the passages that is closer to the first main face.

Abstract: Refrigerative shelving arrangement comprising a heat-absorbing shelf (10) formed from a panel having first and second main faces containing plural passages (50) for conveying a working fluid in both liquid and gaseous states around an interior portion of the shelf (10); and a condenser (35) in fluid communication with the heat-absorbing shelf (10), wherein the heat-absorbing shelf (10) and the condenser (35) form a hermetically sealed system configured to allow the working fluid to circulate between the heat-absorbing shelf (10) and the condenser (35) without a compressor.

Abstract: Apparatus comprises: a panel (100) having first and second main faces (101, 102); and a sealed system internal within the panel and comprising plural passages (103) each extending from a first manifold cavity (107) at a first end of the panel to a second manifold cavity (107) at a second end of the panel and containing a fluid in both gas and liquid states, wherein each of the passages includes one or more protruding features (122, 123, 124) on a side of the passages that is closer to the first main face.

Abstract: Existing approaches to refuse handling are all based on historical approaches which rely on a network of refuse collection vehicles collecting waste from individual households and delivering this to a centralised landfill or MBI location. This is highly undesirable and wasteful. An alternative process is disclosed, relying on the thermal treatment of waste and like products produced or brought in to the residential property and processed within the domestic curtilage to produce fuel or other forms of energy. Thus, domestic waste will be thermally treated at the home instead of being collected by local authorities and disposed of. The waste input put material will be loaded into a domestically engineered thermal conversion unit either directly or after a pre-process such as shredding. The feedstock will be converted into fuels by a thermal treatment, such as pyrolysis.

Abstract: A method for constructing a heat pipe, comprising the steps of providing a tube having an open end and a opposite closed end; filling a tube with a predetermined volume of working fluid; connecting a vapor trap to the open end of the pipe; evacuating the tube for a predetermined period of time to remove non-condensable gases from the tube; and sealing the tube wherein the step of evacuating the tube includes the steps of applying a vacuum to the open end of the pipe.

Abstract: A method for constructing a heat pipe, comprising the steps of providing a tube having an open end and a opposite closed end; filling a tube with a predetermined volume of working fluid; connecting a vapour trap to the open end of the pipe; evacuating the tube for a predetermined period of time to remove non-condensable gases from the tube; and sealing the tube wherein the step of evacuating the tube includes the steps of applying a vacuum to the open end of the pipe.