Abstract: A heat storage device comprises a heat storage tank 2 charged with a heat storage material 1 for storing the heat supplied from the outside, and a heat exchanger 3 for executing an injection and an extraction of heat between the inside of the storage tank 2 and the outside by the heat exchange between the heat storage material and a heat transfer medium. The heat exchanger 3 is disposed so as to execute a heat exchange between the central portion 2a in the heat storage tank 2 and the outside, and suppresses the natural convection of the heat storage material 1 of the outer portion 2b by, for example, dispersing a liquid-absorbent material 5 in the outer portion 2b surrounding the central portion in the heat storage tank 2, whereby reduces the influence of external environment on the central portion 2a in the heat storage tank, thereby suppressing the heat loss toward the outside.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the utilization of solar energy with collecting units that are located in geostatic orbits. The collecting units include collecting mirrors coupled to navigation units, protecting mirrors and concentrating mirrors. Mirror arrays are provided in the collecting units, the separate members of the arrays being computer controlled to concentrate solar energy toward the earth. The solar energy thus concentrated can be directed toward atmospheric disturbances to disperse them, or it can be used for the production of steam and/or electrical energy.

Abstract: An insulation system (10, 180) is placed in ceilings or walls of buildings which are typically exposed on one side thereof to relatively large temperature changes and on the other side to relatively small temperature changes. The insulation system (10, 180) includes a first inner layer of insulative material (18, 184) and a second outer layer of insulative material (19, 186), with an intermediate layer of phase change material (20, 182) sandwiched therebetween. The phase change material undergoes a change of phase between solid state and liquid state during the course of a typical day due to the outside temperature ranging higher and lower than the phase change temperature. When undergoing a change of phase, the phase change material maintains a constant phase change temperature, thereby moderating the temperature gradient across the inner layer of insulative material (18, 184).

Abstract: A building product having thermal energy storage properties in the form of a cementitious hollow core building block having a hollow core or cores and having within the hollow core(s) a composite containing a phase change material. The composite may be a cementitious plug sized to fit the hollow core(s) and having a phase change material imbibed into the pores and matrix thereof or having polyolefin pellets containing a phase change material or silica particles containing a phase change material incorporated at the wet mix stage of formation of the cementitious plug. The composite may also be a polyolefin plug sized to fit hollow core(s) and having a phase change material contained within the matrix thereof. Finally the composite may be polyolefin pellets containing a phase change material or silica particles containing a phase change material packed in a container sized to fit the hollow core(s).

Abstract: A two layer system for heat energy capture and storage with an upper or lower layer for heat extracting and the other layer for heat transfer. Either layer can function as a phase change material. Heat stored is conducted externally of the system and can be used directly in a converting system, i.e., heat to mechanical or electrical energy or transferred as heat for further applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a latent store with a photosensitive storage medium and a regenerating agent. To this end, an organic storage substance with at least two stable stereoisomeric configurations is used, the first of which is photosensitive and can be converted into the second configuration by photoisomerisation with the release of energy, while the second configuration can be reconverted into the first by contact with a solar radiation absorbing, stereoselective regenerating agent with energy absorption.

Abstract: An insulation system (10) is placed in ceilings or walls of buildings which are typically exposed on one side thereof to relatively large temperature changes and on the other side to relatively small temperature changes. The insulation system (10) includes a first thicker layer of insulative material (18) and a second thinner layer of insulative material (19), with an intermediate layer of phase change material (20) sandwiched therebetween. The phase change material undergoes a change of phase between solid state and liquid state during the course of a typical day due to the outside temperature ranging higher and lower than the phase change temperature. When undergoing a change of phase, the phase change material maintains a constant phase change temperature and therefore avoids exposure of the interior space (22) from the much higher or much lower temperatures of the exterior surface (21), thereby reducing the power requirements to maintain the desired temperature within the interior space (22).

Abstract: A thermal barrier for controlling heat transfer across through buildings, appliances and textile products is disclosed. The thermal barrier includes opposing, spaced apart sheets which define at least one chamber therebetween. A temperature stabilizing material is disposed in the chamber. The temperature stabilizing material is preferably a phase change material such as a paraffinic hydrocarbon, hydrated salt, plastic crystal or glycol. In one embodiment, an interconnecting structure is disposed between opposing sheets to create a plurality of cells of the chamber into which the temperature stabilizing material is uniformly disposed. A method of manufacturing the thermal barrier is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of energy load management for the heating and cooling of a building. The method involves utilizing a wallboard as a portion of the building, the wallboard containing about 5 to about 30 wt. % a phase change material such that melting of the phase change material occurs during a rise in temperature within the building to remove heat from the air, and a solidification of the phase change material occurs during a lowering of the temperature to dispense heat into the air. At the beginning of either of these cooling or heating cycles, the phase change material is preferably "fully charged". In preferred installations one type of wallboard is used on the interior surfaces of exterior walls, and another type as the surface on interior walls. The particular PCM is chosen for the desired wall and room temperature of these locations.

Abstract: In order to improve a heat storage system, comprising a heat source, a heat storage device and a heat sink, between which heat is transferred by means of a heat transporting medium, such that a steam-powered engine which is to be operated with overcritical steam of the heat transporting medium can be operated with an inexpensive and simple construction of the heat storage system, it is suggested that the heat sink comprise a steam-powered engine to be operated with overcritical steam of the heat transporting medium, that the heat storage device comprise a Ruths storage device storing the heat transporting medium condensed in the form of a liquid bath and having a storage temperature below the critical temperature of the heat transfer medium and a superheat storage device connected with the Ruths storage device and having a storage temperature above the critical temperature of the heat transporting medium, that the heat storage system be operable during discharge such that in the Ruths storage device steam res