Abstract: In one aspect, thermal energy storage systems are described herein. In some embodiments, a thermal energy storage system comprises a thermal energy storage system comprising a container and a heat exchange apparatus disposed within the container. The heat exchange apparatus comprises a tank, a manifold at least partially disposed within the tank, and a phase change material disposed within the tank and in thermal contact with the manifold.

Abstract: A firing mechanism (25) for activation of a pneumatic stored energy system having a motor (50) connected to a vessel (20) by a tether, the vessel (20) containing a pressurized fluid. Activation of the motor (50) causes the tether to wind, applying a linear force to an attachment region of the vessel, fracturing the vessel (20) to release the pressurized fluid thereby activating the pneumatic stored energy system.

Abstract: Connection pads for coupling fluid-instillation and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) apparatuses to wound dressing, and methods and wound dressings for breaching a drape after coupling a wound dressing to a fluid-instillation and/or NPWT apparatus.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage system includes a container and a heat exchange apparatus disposed within the container. The heat exchange apparatus includes a tank, a manifold at least partially disposed within the tank, and a phase change material disposed within the tank and in thermal contact with the manifold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of regulating the temperature of a heat regenerator (ST1, ST2) used in an installation (10) for storing energy by adiabatic compression of air. The regenerator is subjected to successive operating cycles, each cycle comprising a compression stage followed by an expansion stage. Between two successive cycles, the method consists in cooling a bottom compartment (26a) of the layer of refractory material (26) of the regenerator that is situated in the proximity of the bottom distribution box (24) in order to bring the air leaving the heat regenerator to a temperature that is compatible with the range of temperatures required during the compression stages. The invention also provides such a heat regenerator.

Abstract: A hybrid operating apparatus including an absolute humidity sensing unit configured to sense an absolute humidity of air supplied to a dehumidifying rotor; a dew point temperature sensing unit configured to sense a dew point temperature of air returned from a dry room; a regeneration exhaust temperature sensing unit configured to sense a temperature of exhaust air regenerated in the dehumidifying rotor; a control unit configured to operate the regenerative heater to a regeneration temperature corresponding to the sensed absolute humidity; and a memory unit configured to store the regeneration temperature of the regenerative heater.

Abstract: A regenerative heat exchanger for the heat exchange of gaseous media with a substantially cylindrical heat storage body including a radial seal for use in a regenerative heat exchanger and a method for separating gaseous media in a regenerative heat exchanger. The heat storage body of the regenerative heat exchanger may include a plurality of radially extending sector walls which subdivide the heat storage body into sectors. At least two heat storage chambers which are arranged behind one another in the radial direction are provided within a sector, which heat storage chambers are arranged for the through-flow of gaseous media.

Abstract: A phase change material (PCM) heat exchanger device comprising heat exchanger cells (1a, 1b) operating on the regenerative countercurrent principle, one or more phase change material (PCM) accumulators (2, 3) provided in the heat exchanger cells and one or more vortex tubes (6, 7, 8). When the directions of the air, gas and liquid flows are cyclically reversed in the apparatus, energy is recovered into the heat exchanger cell and the PCM accumulator, and during the subsequent cycle, the energy is released from the heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator. While one heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator is being charged, the other heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator is simultaneously discharged. Warm air exits a first outlet port while cold air exits a second outlet port of the one or more vortex tubes. The fluid flows heat or cool the heat exchanger cells and associated PCM accumulators.

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.

Abstract: A heat conveyance system particularly suitable for solar applications is described, based on the mechanical conveyance of heat-storage solid bodies containing a bulk that is capable of undergoing phase change. The invention covers the conveyance system itself, and means of inserting and extracting heat into and out of it.

Abstract: An apparatus for ventilation systems which include an element for the transfer of heat from warm exhaust air (taken from inside a building) to cooler exterior fresh air which is drawn into the building. During a defrost cycle, interior air may circulate through both of the fresh air and exhaust air paths for delivery back into the building, i.e. the warm interior air, used as defrost air, may be able to circulate from the interior of the building into the ventilation apparatus and back to the interior of the building. The apparatus can thus use interior air as defrost air while diminishing or avoiding the creation of a negative air pressure in the building.

Abstract: A heat exchanger in which a fluid and a surface transfer thermal energy effectively with a smaller pressure drop than is conventionally realized. In a preferred embodiment, gas at one end of a piston flows into a piston chamber and passes radially through a plurality of axial slots formed through the piston sidewall and into a gap between the piston sidewall and the surface of the housing in which the piston slidably mounts. Between each pair of through-slots, longer axial slots are formed that extend only partially through the sidewall radially, and almost the entire length of the piston. Thus, around the circumference of the piston the slots alternate in structure between through-slots and longer slots. Gas that enters the gap through the through-slots flows circumferentially through the gap and into the longer slots. The gas exits the longer slots at the opposite end of the piston from the first gas space.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a honeycomb rotor, a drive unit and a gas movement device. The honeycomb rotor has at least two heat exchange passages and at least two purge zones provided respectively between the at least two heat exchange passages. The drive unit rotates the honeycomb rotor. The gas movement device circulates a gas through the at least two purge zones. The gas movement device may include a blower, and the drive unit may include a motor. In this case rotation of the blower can be synchronized with rotation of the motor. A vehicle drive device includes a power source that emits exhaust gas. The power source has a fuel battery having an air intake. Heat may be exchanged between the exhaust gas and air supplied to the air intake.

Abstract: In order to regenerate the heat exchanger material located in the various segments of a housing section (2) of a regenerative post-combustion device (1), air is heated in the combustion chamber (8) of this post-combustion device (1) by a burner (9), is directly removed from the combustion chamber (8), is adjusted to the desired regeneration air temperature using fresh air, and is returned to the inlet (4) of the thermal post-combustion device (1). The outlet (10) of the thermal post-combustion device (1) remains closed during this operation. The rotary distributor (5) of the thermal post-combustion device (1) rotates during this process which is continued until all segments of the heat exchanger material are heated to a temperature at which the contaminants absorbed by the heat exchanger materials are released and combusted in the combustion chamber (8).

Abstract: A Stirling engine includes a heat exchanger having helical and axial fins forming an orthogonal grillage on either side of a pressure resisting wall, and an outer reinforcing sleeve about the helical fins. The sleeve improves the pressure resisting ability of a thin separating wall between a pressurized fluid and an outside working environment, resulting in a high-pressure and temperature heat exchanger with high heat transfer efficiency. In addition, the sleeve and helical fins together define fluid passages for the flow of heating fluid. The heat exchanger according to the invention has the ability to resist high pressures at high temperatures without excessive distortion, has improved heat transfer capability, better reliability, and lower production cost than prior art heat exchangers.

Abstract: A method for constructing a rotor of an air preheater having a plurality of diaphragm plates dividing the rotor into a number of wedge-shaped compartments. Each compartment includes compartment components such as a rotor shell plate, a hot end rotor angle, a cold end rotor angle, and one or more stay plates and means for locating at least a portion of each of the components within the compartment. The diaphragm plates are manufactured by marking at least one index location associated with each compartment component on each diaphragm plate blank utilizing a template identifying the index locations and forming an opening at each index location. Each compartment is assembled by positioning a first diaphragm plate adjacent to a second diaphragm plate and locating each compartment component between the adjacent diaphragm plates by engaging the locating means of the component in an associated opening in one of the diaphragm plates.

Abstract: An active fluid transport device (10, 40, 54, 60) that includes a layer (12) of polymeric material. The layer (12) has a structured surface (13) that includes a plurality of substantially discrete flow channels (16). The flow channels (16) have a minimum aspect ratio of about 10 to 1 and a hydraulic radius no greater than about 300 micrometers. The device may also include a connector (20, 55) that allows a potential source (14) external to the structured surface (13) to be placed in fluid communication with the discrete flow channels (16). The potential source (14) promotes fluid movement through the flow channels (16) from a first location to a second location.

Abstract: An energy conserving air conditioning system having a superior dehumidification capacity has been developed, by raising the processing temperature of regeneration air for regenerating a desiccant material in a desiccant-assisted air conditioning system. The air conditioning system comprises: a process air passage (A) for flowing process air; a regeneration air passage (B) for flowing regeneration air; a desiccant device (103) which can be selectively communicated with either the process air passage or the regeneration air passage; and a heat pump device for supplying a heating heat for regenerating the desiccant device (103) to the regeneration air. The heat pump device has a compressor (260) and is workable on process air as a low temperature heat source and regeneration air as a high temperature heat source. Superheated vapor of a compressed refrigerant flowing out from the compressor (260) is used to heat a portion of regeneration air in the regeneration air passage upstream of the desiccant device.

Abstract: A heat accumulator block for regenerative heat exchangers has a heat exchanger of a plurality of heat exchanger plates arranged substantially parallel to one another for formation of flow channels. A dirt collector is arranged upstream of a side of the heat exchanger exposed to an inflowing cold medium. The dirt collector consists of a plurality of protective plates which are arranged substantially parallel to the heat exchanger plates and have a plurality of spacers. The spacers are arranged between neighboring plates and connect the neighboring plates to one another. The spacers are positioned at a spacing to those edges of the protective plates which are exposed to an inflowing cold medium.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a gas casing formed with a gas chamber filled with a refrigerant gas, and a heat exchanging unit received in the gas chamber of the gas casing. The heat exchanging unit has a plurality of regenerative plates each made of a material having a thermal conductivity and a heat capacity. The regenerative plates are positioned in face-to-face and thermally insulated relationships to one another with the surfaces being in substantially perpendicular to the center axis of the heat exchanging unit to define spaces each between the neighboring two regenerative plates. Each of the regenerative plates may be shaped in the symmetrical outline form with respect to its central point and smaller in size than the cross-sections of the gas chamber of the gas casing. Each of the regenerative plates has a plurality of airy holes formed therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for reducing radial leaks in an air heater for thermal equipment, the heater being of the type including a rotor fitted with a plurality of heater elements supported by diaphragms, a stator constituted by a leakproof metal case, and radial sealing means including hinged sector plates positioned over the heater elements together with radial gaskets provided on the diaphragms.

Abstract: A heat recovery unit comprising a case (1), which encloses at least one regenerative heat accumulator (5), whereby the casing (1) has a supply air opening (10), an exhaust air opening (15), an exterior air opening (20) and a under-air opening (25), and whereby exhaust air and supply air alternately pass through the heat accumulator (5). The heat accumulator (5) has, via a rotational movement, a valve function which opens and respectively closes the openings (10-25) when the heat accumulator (5) rotates from a first position for exhaust air throughflow to a second position for exterior air throughflow.

Abstract: A rotary, regenerative heat exchanger includes an inner cylindrical hub (2) provided in a vertical position, a rotor (1) containing a heat exchange medium, first attachment members (30) for attaching the rotor to the hub, and a stationary casing (6) surrounding the rotor. A bearing (3) is provided to journal a lower end of the hub, and a slow moving hydraulic motor (4) is adapted to slowly turn the hub. The motor is provided with a housing enclosing a built-in radial bearing (26) and coaxially therewith a cylinder block and cam surface arrangement having a circular cylinder block (24) and a cam surface (21) surrounding the cylinder block and cooperating with a piston mechanism (22, 23) of the cylinder block such that reciprocation of the piston mechanism causes relative motion between the cylinder block and the cam surface. Second attachment members (5, 8, and 10) are provided to attach the motor to the stationary casing and to the hub, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning device wherein polluted effluents are passed into a cage (2) where a partitioned ring (1) of vertical axis, containing a charge (M) of a solid material exhibiting a large heat exchange surface and, against the inner wall thereof, a catalyst bed (9), rotates. An autothermal working point is reached by including in the catalyst bed heating means (resistors for example) that are temporarily connected to the power supply system, after which the cleaning operations with rotation of the ring and effluent circulation are launched. Heat control is thereafter provided by controlled injection into the effluents of either a fuel or sprayed water for example by means of injectors (15, 16). The device can be applied in the field of incineration of VOC for example in industrial effluents.

Abstract: A heat exchange element for an air preheater has first and second heat transfer elements arranged to form channels for the passage of a heat exchange media having a main flow direction. Each of the heat exchange plates has parallel straight ridges and flats between the ridges. The ridges alternate to extend transversely from opposite sides of each heat transfer plate. The ridges of the adjacent plates are oriented obliquely in opposite directions relative to the main flow direction and contact each other solely at points of intersection of the ridges.

Abstract: Modular heat exchange baskets for rotary regenerative air preheaters have radially extending tie bars which are positioned at each of the top and bottom side edges of the basket and which tie together the inboard and outboard end frames. These tie bars are located inside of the side edges of the heat exchange plates such that the plates extend out beyond the tie bars. This reduces the bypass gap between baskets.

Abstract: A process of cleaning a gas and a rotating catalytic gas cleaning device including a crown of vertical axis driven into rotation in a cage. The crown has an annular catalyst bed covering its inner wall and an annular thermal load, outside the catalytic bed, made of a material exhibiting a large heat exchange surface. A polluted gas is radially passed from a peripheral inlet to a central zone of the crown with crossing of an annular thermal load and a catalytic layer. The gas is radially passed gas from the central zone to a peripheral outlet, while again crossing the catalytic bed and thermal load with thermal exchange.

Abstract: An air preheater has heat transfer elements with a first series of corrugated elements having longitudinally oriented, mutually parallel corrugations formed generally continuously across the lateral direction. Positioned on either side of each of the corrugated elements of the first series are a series of notched plates each having mutually parallel spaced apart notches. Each notch is formed by parallel double ridges projecting transversely from opposite sides and the element has flat sections between the notches. The notches are oriented obliquely in mutually opposite directions relative to the corrugations of the adjacent elements whereby the notched elements are in contact with the corrugated elements solely at the points of intersection of the notches and corrugations. This produces an increased number of boundary layer breaks and improves heat transfer as well as providing straight line passages through the elements.

Abstract: A fouling sensing system monitors fouling of a rotary regenerative preheater having a housing and a rotor rotatably mounted therein. An emitter for emitting energy is positioned at one of the faces of the rotor and emits energy through the rotor. A sensor is positioned at the other face of the rotor for receiving the energy and generating an output signal indicative of the intensity of the energy.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a regenerative heat exchanger comprising a cylindrical core casing and a stack body core formed by a plurality of circular mesh plates each having fluid passage holes and stacked on one another to form fluid passageways. The stack body core is housed in the core casing to have a fluid cooling medium introduced into the fluid passageways to carry out heat exchange between the stack body core and the fluid cooling medium. Each of the mesh plates has on its outer periphery a reference mark portion positioned with respect to the fluid passage holes, and the mesh plates collectively form a row of reference mark portions indicative of the form of each of the fluid passageways. The row of reference mark portions enables to easily modify or adjust the shapes of the fluid passageways of the stack body core by relatively rotating the mesh plates with reference to the reference mark portions.

Abstract: The modular heat exchange baskets for a rotary regenerative air preheater which normally have a single stacked array of heat exchange plates, are constructed with heat exchange plate support bars intermediate the top and bottom surface. The basket then has two separate stacked arrays of heat exchange plates which permits the plate material or arrangement in the top of each basket to be different from the plate material or arrangement in the bottom. For side loaded air preheaters with basket support gratings, the arrangement of heat exchange plates can be changed without the need to move the gratings.

Abstract: The rotor of a rotary regenerative air preheater is constructed for the loading of the heat exchange basket modules into the sectors of the rotor in a radial direction through the periphery of the rotor. The heat exchange basket modules are arranged in a plurality of axially spaced layers with the lower baskets supporting the baskets located above. To provide the support and to facilitate the loading of the baskets, each basket includes an integral grating structure at the top surface thereof which extends partially above the uppermost surface of the basket frame. This provides a clear sliding surface as well as a support for the baskets in the layer above. The invention eliminates the support gratings which are a part of the rotor structure, except at the bottom of the rotor.

Abstract: A rotary regenerative air preheater has heat exchange baskets which contain the mass of heat absorbent material commonly comprised of stacked plate-like elements. The heat exchange basket comprises a frame which is open on each end and which is closed on the sides by basket cover assemblies. Each basket cover assembly includes a light gauge membrane which is welded to the interior surface of the basket cover. Shrinkage of the membrane due to the weld imposes a pre-tension on the membrane which resists deformation of the cover assembly by the heat exchange elements.

Abstract: A heat transfer device includes a ring having a vertical axis that can rotate inside a cage. The ring is inwardly provided with partitions. A permanent circulation of gaseous effluents is established on one hand between an effluent delivery pipe and a central zone via a first limited angular sector of the ring and on the other hand between the central zone and an effluent discharge pipe 6 via a second limited angular sector of the ring. The ring is charged with a mass of large heat exchange surface material and the device can be used for recovering positive or negative thermal energy. A thermal reactor of the catalytic bed type, for example, can be placed in the central zone for removing volatile organic compounds (VOC). The device may be used for catalytic or thermal oxidation of the organic compounds in gaseous effluents, for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device generating a hot air flow, including an air source generating an air flow at its outlet (17), a heating system (13) generating heat energy and heat-exchange elements (27) capable of storing heat energy generated by said heating system (13) and of yielding this heat energy to said air flow.According to the invention, said heating system (13) and said air source are mounted fixed, and said heat-exchange elements (27) are arranged on a mobile support (3) capable of continuously renewing the heat-exchange elements (27) arranged in said air flow and previously heated by said heating system (13).

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a gas generator having a compressor, a first turbine member, and a combustor member between the compressor and the first turbine member for increasing the temperature of the fluid medium to be worked upon by the engine. A second turbine is located adjacent to the gas generator and it extracts energy from the fluid medium to produce rotary power. A heat scavenging member is located adjacent to the gas generator for extracting heat from the fluid medium after flowing from said second turbine and for transferring the heat into the fluid medium exiting the compressor by passing the fluid medium at least two times through the scavenging member to heat the fluid medium before flowing into the combustor member.

Abstract: In an air preheater with a large lower cold end center section and a smaller, upper hot end center section, the connecting plate duct assemblies on both the hot and cold end are made the same height rather than to have cold end connecting plate duct assemblies which are larger and equal in height to the cold end center section. This minimizes the design and manufacturing costs and provides cold end connecting plate duct assemblies which are smaller, lighter and easier to handle. This then requires that the housing panels around the outside of the rotor be longer to reach between these connecting plate duct assemblies. At the ends of the hot and cold center sections are main support pedestal panels which support the hot end center section above the cold end center section. These main support pedestal panels together with the housing panels complete the rotor housing.

Abstract: An automatic test apparatus for use in a test method to determine antimicrobial drugs. The test apparatus comprises a first aluminum, electrically heatable block with holes for the insertion of test containers and a separate, second cooling aluminum block adapted to be placed periodically in contact with the heated aluminum block to cool rapidly the heated block. The test apparatus includes timed signals existing therein to alert the test user. The test apparatus is adapted to provide for the timed sequential solid heating and cooling of one or more test containers containing a test sample.

Abstract: The heat exchange baskets for a rotary regenerative air preheater are loaded radially into the rotor rather than axially from the duct end. The rotor is divided into sectors by diaphragms, and support gratings are provided in each rotor sector with the baskets being positioned and supported on the gratings. The angle of each rotor sector is smaller than the complimentary angle of each basket such that the outboard end of each basket can contact the diaphragms before the contact of the inboard end. The baskets thereby serve to stiffen the rotor structure while reducing bypass gaps.

Abstract: A high performance, low cost, regenerator/heat exchanger matrix or bed. The bed consists of numerous stretched elastomer sheets separated by spacers and stacked. The resulting matrix is of the parallel plate type with high porosity, and narrow, uniform, unobstructed channels. The bed is ideal for near room temperature regenerator applications. The bed may also be used to pump heat or refrigerate, when fitted with a mechanism which allows the stretch of the elastomer sheets to be rapidly increased and decreased periodically.

Abstract: The arrangement has a device for cooling the impression cylinder (2) with a plurality of continuous metal belts (6) which run over two drums (4, 5) which partially wrap the impression cylinder (2) and are carried along by the latter during its rotation. These metal belts discharge the heat arising at the surface of the impression cylinder during the printing operation and are themselves cooled by the fact that one of the two drums (4) is constructed as a hollow cooling drum through which a cooling means flows. The drums (4, 5) are mounted in an adjustable frame (7) and, when the printing machine is switched off, can be removed from the impression cylinder (2) to the extent that the latter is not contacted by the metal belts (6).

Abstract: A heat transfer system comprising a pair of zones positioned at respective locations of differing temperatures between which heat is transferred. Each zone has a solid surface which slidably engages the surface of a solid cylindrical element. The cylindrical element is rotated to transfer heat between the pair of zones.

Abstract: A rolled belt heat exchanger utilizes the increased heat transfer due to a large, extended surface belt. Heat is transferred from a heated roller to the belt, and then allowed to radiate to space as the belt follows a generally flattened oval path away from the heated roller.

Abstract: A heat transfer system comprising a pair of zones positioned at respective locations of differing temperatures between which heat is transferred; a first element one surface of which conducts heat; a second element, one end of which communicated with one of the pair of zones and the other end of which communicates with the other of the pair of zones and one surface of which conducts heat and is slidably engaged with the heat-conducting surface of the first element and means for establishing oscillatory movement of the second element between the pair of zones such that the heat-conducting surface thereof slidably engages the heat-conducting surface of the first element and such that the ends thereof do not communicate with the other of the pair of zones.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for reclaiming energy from an exhaust airstream. The exchanger includes a porous metal element suitable for absorbing heat from the exhaust airstream, means for reciprocally moving the porous element back and forth transversely to the exhaust airstream, an inlet duct for receiving the exhaust airstream and directing it through the porous element to an outlet duct, and reclaiming air blower means for delivering two heat-reclaiming airstreams through the porous metal element, one on either side of the exhaust airstream, and an air exhaust fan in the path of said exhaust airstream for drawing said airstream through said porous element.

Abstract: An earth orbiting satellite (10) having an interior portion (22) supporting heat generating elements (26) and an exterior portion (12) having a thermal radiator (20) for heat radiated by these elements, is provided with reflectors (34s, 34c) in the annulus between the interior and exterior portions, the reflectors being configured to reflect radiation from the axially extending side surfaces of the heat generating elements to the thermal radiator and to conduct heat from the heat generating elements and radiate the conducted heat to the thermal radiator.

Abstract: A gas-liquid heat exchange device that utilizes a plurality of heat absorbent discs mounted on a horizontal axis and adapted to be rotated between a liquid and a gas stream to transfer heat from the liquid to the gas. The discs are imparted a rotational force by driving means that utilizes the gravitational force attracting the heavier liquid.