Abstract: A heat storage unit includes: a heat storage material that contains water and high polymers that exhibit hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity depending on a temperature; a heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to be performed between a heating fluid and the heat storage material to heat the heat storage material and store heat in the heat storage material, and causes heat exchange to be performed between a heat utilization fluid and the heat storage material to receive heat from the heat storage material and cause heat to be transferred from the heat storage material; and a container that is filled with the heat storage material and houses the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat storage apparatus includes: a container sealed, with a heat storage material encased in the container, the above material including a thermosensitive polymer gel including a thermosensitive polymer and a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, organic solvents, and compounds of water or organic solvents; and a heat exchanger that is housed in the container to transfer heat between the above material and a heating/cooling fluid to heat or cool the material, and store heating energy or cooling energy in the material, and that transfers heat between the material and a heat utilization fluid to receive heat from the material and to transfer heat from the material. The material makes a reversible hydrophilic-hydrophobic transition at a lower critical solution temperature, and the solvent included in the thermosensitive polymer gel is kept in a liquid state in hydrophilic-hydrophobic transition.

Abstract: Provided herein are a heat exchange apparatus intended to achieve compatibility between installation flexibility and durability and a method of manufacturing the heat exchange apparatus. The heat exchange apparatus is a heat exchange apparatus that exchanges heat between a heat storage material and a fluid. The heat exchange apparatus includes a first heat storage module and a second heat storage module, each having the heat storage material and a box-like shape, and a housing containing the first heat storage module and the second heat storage module. The first heat storage module is disposed in the same orientation as that of the second heat storage module.

Abstract: A heat storage unit includes: a heat storage material that contains water and high polymers that exhibit hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity depending on a temperature; a heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to be performed between a heating fluid and the heat storage material to heat the heat storage material and store heat in the heat storage material, and causes heat exchange to be performed between a heat utilization fluid and the heat storage material to receive heat from the heat storage material and cause heat to be transferred from the heat storage material; and a container that is filled with the heat storage material and houses the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes a use-side heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to be performed between a heat medium flowing from a heat-storage heat exchanger and a heat usage medium, and a flow-passage switching device that switches a flow passage for the heat medium to a first flow passage that circulates through a heat-reception-side heat exchanger and the heat-storage heat exchanger without extends through the use-side heat exchanger or a second flow passage that circulates through the heat-reception-side heat exchanger and the heat-storage heat exchanger via the use-side heat exchanger. Even when the temperature of the heat storage medium rises, heat received from a heat source can be stored in the heat storage medium by a heat pump, while a decrease of the efficiency of the heat pump can be reduced.

Abstract: A regenerative heat exchange apparatus includes a heat storage tank, a heat storage material disposed inside the heat storage tank and having a heat storage capability and a heat rejection capability, a liquid passage covered by the heat storage material inside the heat storage tank, the liquid passage having a first straight pipe portion through which a liquid flows horizontally, a heat medium passage covered by the heat storage material inside the heat storage tank, the heat medium passage being adjacent to and in a set with the liquid passage, the heat medium passage having a second straight pipe portion through which a heat medium flows horizontally, the heat medium being at a temperature higher than the liquid. The first straight pipe portion is located vertically lower than the second straight pipe portion.

Abstract: A heat pump apparatus includes a use-side heat exchanger that cause heat exchange to be performed between a heat medium flowing from a heat-storage heat exchanger and a heat usage medium, and a flow-passage switching device that switches a flow passage for the heat medium to a first flow passage that circulates through a heat-reception-side heat exchanger and the heat-storage heat exchanger without extends through the use-side heat exchanger or a second flow passage that circulates through the heat-reception-side heat exchanger and the heat-storage heat exchanger via the use-side heat exchanger. Even when the temperature of the heat storage medium rises, heat received from a heat source can be stored in the heat storage medium by a heat pump, while a decrease of the efficiency of the heat pump can be reduced.