Abstract: Thermal Energy Storage A thermal energy storage module comprising a composite phase change material, wherein the composite phase change material comprises: a phase change material having a composition which absorbs or releases heat isothermally, or substantially isothermally, by transitioning, in a respective transition direction, between a first phase state and a second phase state at a predetermined transition temperature, wherein the composite phase change material comprises at least 40 wt % of the phase change material, based on the total weight of the composite phase change material, the phase change material being in the form of a continuous phase, a discrete phase, or a mixture of continuous and discrete phases distributed within the composite phase change material; a structural material for structurally shape-stabilising the phase change material, the structural material comprising particles which are solid in a predetermined working temperature range including the predetermined transition temperature

Abstract: A method for constructing a structural semantic map under an underground weak-light and low-texture environment is provided. The method includes: fusing traditional methods with a parameter line detection and verification model of structural semantics of a Transformer; and establishing a geometric primitive half-plane search method guided by the direction of structural information. The method also includes establishing a neighborhood greedy expansion algorithm based on a geometric primitive model; and optimizing geometric primitive poses and boundaries one by one. The method further includes fusing a point cloud map with structural information, and establishing a semantic map with geometric structure primitives.

Abstract: A plurality of electric heater elements are positioned within a core of an electric heater for heating the core to charge the core with stored thermal energy. A first air path extends through the core between an air input opening and an air output opening in a housing. An air supply conduit connects to a supply of an external air flow; an outlet end of an air output conduit is connected to a heated air outlet conduit, for outputting heated air from the electric heater. A bypass conduit connects first and second junctions and defines a second air path external of the core. A temperature sensor senses temperature of heated air. An air flow control valve mechanism variably controls a flow rate of air flow along a conduit based on a temperature of the heated air measured by the temperature sensor, thereby controlling a flow rate along the air paths.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle charging station (1) comprising a first reservoir (5) arranged to contain a first charging fluid and a charging fluid delivery system (3) arranged to deliver at least part of the first charging fluid (5) into a heat exchange relationship with a vehicle thermal energy storage material (108) of a vehicle (100) selectively connected to the vehicle charging station (1), thereby charging the vehicle thermal energy storage material (108) by changing its temperature and/or phase and/or chemistry.

Abstract: A phase change material includes a salt-water solution having a first salt, a second salt and water; a gelling agent; a thermal conductivity enhancer; and a nucleation agent. The phase change material is suitable for use as a cold storage material, in particular, for maintaining an environment at a temperature of from ?15 to ?40° C. The phase change material may be used in a cold storage pack.

Abstract: A method of formulating a ternary salt-water solution having a target phase change temperature—the ternary salt-water solution having a first salt, a second salt and water—includes: identifying at three or more temperatures, a maximum total concentration of the first and second salts in a saturated solution thereof, and the respective concentration of each salt therein, correlating the respective concentration of each salt therein with temperature, predicting a concentration for each of the salts at the target phase change temperature using the correlations, and formulating a ternary salt-water solution with a concentration of the first and second salts based on the predicted concentrations at the target phase change temperature. The method is suitable for phase change material screening, and in particular identifying and optimising phase change materials which can be used as cold storage materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle charging station (1) comprising a first reservoir (5) arranged to contain a first charging fluid and a charging fluid delivery system (3) arranged to deliver at least part of the first charging fluid (5) into a heat exchange relationship with a vehicle thermal energy storage material (108) of a vehicle (100) selectively connected to the vehicle charging station (1), thereby charging the vehicle thermal energy storage material (108) by changing its temperature and/or phase and/or chemistry.

Abstract: The present invention concerns systems for storing energy and using the stored energy to generate electrical energy or drive a propeller (505). In particular, the present invention provides a method of storing energy comprising: providing a gaseous input, producing a cryogen from the gaseous input; storing the cryogen; expanding the cryogen; using the expanded cryogen to drive a turbine (320) and recovering cold energy from the expansion of the cryogen. The present invention also provides a cryogenic energy storage system comprising: a source of cryogen; a cryogen storage facility (370); means for expanding the cryogen; a turbine (320) capable of being driven by the expanding cryogen; and means (340, 350) for recovering cold energy released during expansion of the cryogen.

Abstract: Slush gas, i.e. a gas or a mixture of gases cooled so that it is partially solid and partially liquid is employed as a drive fluid in a cryogenic engine. A cryogenic engine has a working chamber (50) connected to an energy source comprising a body of slush gas (47) via injection apparatus having a housing (36) which acts as a heat exchanger for causing part of the slush gas entering the injector to boil, so as to enable the gas to be driven under pressure into the working chamber (15).

Abstract: The present invention concerns systems for storing energy and using the stored energy to generate electrical energy or drive a propeller (505). In particular, the present invention provides a method of storing energy comprising: providing a gaseous input, producing a cryogen from the gaseous input; storing the cryogen; expanding the cryogen; using the expanded cryogen to drive a turbine (320) and recovering cold energy from the expansion of the cryogen. The present invention also provides a cryogenic energy storage system comprising: a source of cryogen; a cryogen storage facility (370); means for expanding the cryogen; a turbine (320) capable of being driven by the expanding cryogen; and means (340, 350) for recovering cold energy released during expansion of the cryogen.

Abstract: Methods of removing cooked-, baked-, or burnt-on food soil from cookware and tableware comprising washing the cookware/tableware in an automatic dishwashing machine in the presence of a wash liquor comprising nanoparticles is disclosed herein.