Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal power station and a method for storing heat by means of a steam generator a water-steam cycle which is connected to the steam generator and to a thermal store. Said thermal store comprises a first container for a heat store medium when it is cold, a second container for the heat store medium when it is hot, and a heat exchanger which is connected to the two containers and which is connected to the heat-steam cycle via a water-steam feed line and a water-steam discharge line. The thermal store has an additional heat exchanger which is connected to the two containers, an air feed line and an air discharge line being provided, the air discharge line being connected to the combustion air feed line leading to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A heat storage system using sand as a solid heat storage medium has a fluidized bed heat exchanger (3) arranged between and separated from a storage tank (1) for cold sand and a storage tank (2) for hot sand by weirs (4, 5). The heat exchanger (3) is divided into a plurality of chambers (7) by weirs (6). The weirs (4, 5, 6) are arranged as a combination of overflow and underflow weirs. Fluidized sand is produced in the chambers (7) by a blower (14) positioned underneath the heat exchanger (3). Heat is transferred from a heat source to the sand fluidized and from the fluidized sand to a heat transport medium by transferring mechanisms (8, 9) in the chambers (7). The sand is redirected in a horizontal direction by horizontally acting blowers and/or installations (12) projecting into a respective chamber from a side.

Abstract: A floating platform is provided including the following: a covering element; at least three buoyant bodies, which are separated from each other, are fixedly mounted to the lower face of the covering element, are open toward the bottom, and are made of a gas-tight, pressure- and corrosion-resistant flexible material. The buoyant bodies enclose a closed hollow space when coming into contact with a liquid surface. At least one compressed-air generating device is also provided for generating an overpressure in the individual hollow spaces.

Abstract: An arrangement of floating platforms is provided, including (a) an anchored main platform and (b) one or more outer platforms, each of which being connected to the main platform by at least one connection element. One or more of the main and/or outer platforms are rotatable about a vertical axis by drive units which are fixed thereon. Marine engines having a propeller propulsion system are provided as drive units on the main platform and/or the outer platforms.

Abstract: A floating platform is provided including the following: a covering element; at least three buoyant bodies, which are separated from each other, are fixedly mounted to the lower face of the covering element, are open toward the bottom, and are made of a gas-tight, pressure- and corrosion-resistant flexible material. The buoyant bodies enclose a closed hollow space when coming into contact with a liquid surface. At least one compressed-air generating device is also provided for generating an overpressure in the individual hollow spaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photochemical cell (1) and to a method for the solar-driven decomposition of a starting material, in particular water or carbon dioxide, into a product gas bound therein, in particular hydrogen or carbon monoxide, comprising a supply line (7) for the starting material, a discharge line (9) for the obtained product gas, a first electrode (2) made of a photoelectrically active material and exposed to solar radiation (3?, 3?) during operation, and a second electrode (5), wherein the electrodes (2, 5) are connected to each other in a closed circuit by means of an electron conductor (4) for transporting electrons excited by the solar radiation (3?, 3?) in the first electrode (2) and an ion conductor (6) for transporting ions produced in the decomposition of the starting material, wherein an electrolyte made of a heat-resistant solid material and arranged between the electrodes (2, 5) is provided as the ion conductor (6).

Abstract: An arrangement of floating platforms is provided, including (a) an anchored main platform and (b) one or more outer platforms, each of which being connected to the main platform by at least one connection element. One or more of the main and/or outer platforms are rotatable about a vertical axis by drive units which are fixed thereon. Marine engines having a propeller propulsion system are provided as drive units on the main platform and/or the outer platforms.

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.