Abstract: The present invention relates to a regenerator including a packed bed of energy storage elements made of a material having the following chemical analysis: 25%<Fe2O3<90%, 5%<Al2O3<30%, CaO<20%, TiO2<25%, 3%<SiO2<50%, Na2O<10%, Fe2O3+Al2O3+CaO+TiO2+SiO2+Na2O>80%, and other compounds: complement to 100%.

Abstract: An improved thermal store is provided. The thermal decouples the heat output from the thermal store from the energy provided to the heater.

Abstract: An improved solid heat transfer element composed of an elongate member having a generally cylindrical surface with male vortex generating protrusions is provided. The vortex generating protrusions, which may be referred to as “turbulators,” provide improved heat transfer by convection to a flow of air transverse to the elongate members without substantially increasing the pressure drop in the flow of air passing over the members. Advantageously, a plurality of the heat transfer elements, or of straight portions of a single serpentine heat transfer element, may be arranged in an aligned or staggered array of elements or straight portions. Many advantageous profile shapes of the element and vortex generators are provided, including aerodynamic profile shapes that are symmetrical with respect to a fluid flow to provide low drag and pressure drop. Heat in the element may be generated by means of electrical resistance or absorption of radiation.

Abstract: A system for delivering vapor phase fluid at an elevated pressure from a transport vessel containing liquefied or two-phase fluid is provided. The system includes: (a) a transport vessel positioned in a substantially horizontal position; (b) one or more energy delivery elements disposed on the lower portion of the transport vessel wherein the energy delivery devices include a heating means and a first insulation means, wherein the energy delivery devices are configured to the contour of the transport vessel; (c) one or more substantially rigid support devices disposed on the outer periphery of the energy delivery devices, wherein the support devices hold the energy delivery devices in thermal contact with a lower portion of the transport vessel; and (d) one or more attaching devices secure the rigid support devices onto the transport vessel and hold the energy delivery devices between the substantially rigid support device and a wall of the transport vessel.

Abstract: Described is a modular thermal energy transfer system. The modular thermal energy transfer system includes a plurality of modular thermal units, each modular thermal unit having a thermal retainer with a conditioning pipe and a usable fluid pipe disposed therein. The conditioning pipes are in fluidic communication with one another, and the usable fluid pipes are in fluidic communication with one another. The conditioning pipes are adapted to carry a conditioning fluid therethrough and to allow transfer of thermal energy between the thermal retainers and the conditioning fluid. The usable fluid pipes are adapted to carry a usable fluid therethrough and to allow the transfer of thermal energy between the thermal retainers and the usable fluid. The various thermal retainers of the modular thermal units are configured to be positionable proximate one another such that thermal energy is transferable between substantially adjacent thermal retainers.

Abstract: A heat-storage object which can be formed in a desired shape, has a high heat-storage material content and hence excellent heat-storage property, undergoes no leakage with time despite the high heat-storage material content, and even when subjected to processing such as cutting or punching, does not undergoes leakage through the cut surface or hole, and has excellent processability, as well as a composition for heat-storage object formation, and a process for producing the same. The heat-storage object comprises fine particles of an organic latent heat-storage material (a), the particles having been fixed with a binder (c).

Abstract: Equipment for storage of heat energy preferably for storage of heat energy by converting electric energy produced by plants utilizing wind energy into heat energy and using the stored heat energy for providing various heat supply services, and, in order to eliminate the disadvantages due to the intermittent operation of plants utilizing wind energy, using the stored heat energy for generating electric energy during windless period; furthermore, storing the energy by means of cheap electric energy produced by the power stations during night and using it during peak load periods.

Abstract: A heat exchange system providing a heat medium in a loop circuit circulating heat exchanger to transfer heat, which mainly uses a water as base material, and the liquid state heat medium is formed by mixing the water with an improving agent or heat carrying particles. The heat medium is filled in a loop circuit heat exchange circulating path having an internal pressure space, and the internal pressure space is used to raise the boiling point and reduce freezing point phase transition temperatures of the water to comply with implementation needs. Hence, the present invention is able to achieve satisfactory strength of heat transfer and unequivocally resolve environmental issues.

Abstract: For use on board a mobile means of transport (eg. aircraft, bus, ship), a heating system and method are described which lead to a reduction of peak demand in the on-board kitchen energy supply system relating to the integrated heating appliances for the warming or heating of food. For this, latent or thermochemical heat storage units are used which are fully integrated into the structural elements of the heating appliance in question and heats the product in such a way that there is sufficient heat output, while at the same time, the absolute temperature is limited by means of an appropriate choice of heat storage material for product enhancement.

Abstract: In a heat storage air conditioning apparatus, a power demand time-sequence data collecting unit collects time-sequence data on demand for power; a power demand curve estimating unit estimates a power demand curve obtained as a result of analysis of the power demand time-sequence data collected by the power demand time-sequence data collecting unit; a thermal energy load demand estimating unit estimates thermal energy load demand from the power demand curve estimated by the power demand curve estimating unit; an operation unit of a thermal-energy source feeds cooling/heating energy; a heat accumulating unit stores the cooling/heating energy supplied from the operation unit therein; a cold/hot air discharging unit discharges the thermal energy stored in the heat accumulating unit; a cooling/heating energy quantity recognizing unit recognizes the quantity of cooling or heating energy dissipated from the cold/hot air discharging unit; and a converting unit converts the quantity of cooling/heating energy into the

Abstract: A heat retention device is disclosed in the form of a heating pad which includes an electrically resistive coil contained within a volume. The coil terminates at an electric coupler which is external of the volume. A heat retention mass is contained within the volume in thermal conductivity with the resistive element.

Abstract: A heating device for food and other products is provided. The device includes a unit containing a rechargeable phase change material which is capable of being charged with heat energy by a heat source such as a conduction, convection, radiant heat, electrical resistance, electrical inductance, microwave, or radio frequency. The phase change material may be provided in a variety of forms and may comprise linear alkyl crystalline alkyl hydrocarbons, alkyl hydrocarbon waxes, crystalline fatty acids, linear crystalline primary alcohols, ethylene copolymers, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, and acetamide.

Abstract: An image fixing roller includes an exothermic phase transition layer which performs a plurality of phase transitions repeatedly from an amorphous state to a crystalline state. The exothermic phase transition layer may include a plurality of exothermic phase transition materials, or a plurality of exothermic phase transition component layers, each of which exothermic phase transition material or component layer has a different crystallization initiation temperature (Tci), a different exothermic peak temperature (Tcp) and a melting point temperature which is higher than that of a toner fixing temperature. An image fixing apparatus using the above-mentioned image fixing roller and a method of fixing toner images on an image receiving material, using the image fixing roller are proposed.

Abstract: A device for storing and gradually dispensing heat or cold includes a container having a partially heat-conducting wall enclosing a space with material having a high heat capacity including a semisolid hydrogel formed by a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer containing 90-99.5% of water, based on the sum of polymer and water.

Abstract: A heat retention device in the form of a heating pad includes an electrically resistive coil contained within a volume. The coil terminates at an electric coupler which is external of the volume. A phase change material is contained within the volume in thermal conductivity with the resistive element.

Abstract: A heat retention device is disclosed in the form of a heating pad which includes an electrically resistive coil contained within a volume. The coil terminates at an electric coupler which is external of the volume. A heat retention mass is contained within the volume in thermal conductivity with the resistive element.

Abstract: A rechargeable phase change material unit is provided. The unit comprises a first shell portion and a second shell portion forming a hollow shell defining a cavity. At least one layer of a phase change material is disposed in the cavity of the shell. The phase change material is capable of being charged with heat energy. A heater assembly is positioned on one side of the layer of phase change material. The heater assembly is provided to charge the phase change material with heat energy and distribute heat energy throughout the layer of phase change material during the charging of the phase change material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric radiator. A heating body, made of a resistive element embedded in a light alloy unit, is housed in an enclosure. The enclosure and heating body are separated by stiffening elements to surround the heating body with an air space. Heat is controlled by cutting power to the heating body during a variable time interval.

Abstract: Low-cost off-peak electric energy or electric energy from natural energy sources is used for heating of cooling of system air, which is moved in a closed circuit to heat or cool the energy storage medium of permeable concrete and sized gravel in the exterior walls of the structures. The heated or cooled system air is pressurized by a blower, and is moved horizontally outward through the energy storage medium, to store energy therein, as heat or cold. When stored heat or cold is required inside the structure, system air is moved horizontally, inward, through the energy storage medium, and is heated or cooled thereby, thus moving heat or cold to the material forming the interior surfaces of the exterior walls. Those surfaces then provide radiant heat transfer and convection heat transfer, with materials of the interiors of the structure, and with contents and occupants thereof. The energy storage walls are constructed of large energy storage blocks, lapped for added strength.

Abstract: A heat releasing chemical bag including a flexible water-tight bag, sodium acetate solution contained in the flexible bag, a triggering element mounted in the flexible bag and dipped in sodium acetate solution to activate sodium acetate solution, causing it to crystallize and to release heat during its crystallization, an electric heating element mounted in an electrically insulative container inside the poly bag and controlled to heat crystallized sodium acetate, causing it to be reduced to liquid state. Furthermore, a ceramic paste is contained in the electrically insulative container and completedly surrounds the electric heating element and activated to produce far-infrared rays when the electric heating element is to a source of electric power.

Abstract: A thermal heating and heat storage device is provided. The preferred device includes a paraffin based phase change material therein. In addition, the device includes an electrically resistive heating element. The heating element is selectively controllable to heat the paraffin based phase change material to a temperature of at least its phase change temperature. A thermal switch arrangement is provided to control heating. A covering is provided which defines an internal volume in which are positioned the phase change material and the electrically resistive heating element.

Abstract: A thermally insulating jacket under reversible vacuum, having an inner wall, an outer wall and an hollow space between these walls. The hollow space is in fluid communication with an outer housing containing a reversible non-evaporable hydrogen getter loaded with hydrogen. The reversible hydrogen getter has a certain hydrogen equilibrium pressure. The hollow space contains a non-evaporable promoter getter having a certain hydrogen equilibrium pressure. These jackets can be employed with heat accumulators, batteries, cryogenic vessels, cryogenic pipes, catalytic silencers and solar panels.

Abstract: A compact portable apparatus and method for heating gases for periods ranging from about one tenths of a second to several minutes to temperatures as high as 2700.degree. Celsius in 4 hrs. Graphite or metal oxide spherical pebbles which are placed in an externally thermally insulated cylindrical bed. The pebbles enclose and are heated by electrical resistive elements from which they are physically isolated. High heat storage density is achieved by designing the bed for high pressure loss operation and gas flow is in the downward direction. The bed is pressurized prior to initiating the gas flow with a quick acting valve or burst disc placed at the heater outlet. Typical applications are as a heat source for magnetohydrodynamic channels or wind tunnels. For magnetohydrodynamic applications a pulsed liquid seed metal injection method producing micrometer diameter liquid particles is 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: A pebble-bed evaporator and superheater assembly includes a tubular pressure shell with internal baffles, the latter including a plurality of apertures therein for passage of gas therethrough. Contained within the shell are heater elements and pebble elements which store heat and transfer the same to liquified gas which is vaporized and flows through the shell whereby the gas supplied to the shell and is heated to a predetermined elevated temperature above its input temperature. The heated gas output of the shell flows to a mixer unit connected to the shell and the mixed gas flows out of the mixer. Connected to the mixer is a supply of liquified gas to cool the high temperature gas entering the mixer from the shell such that the temperature of the gas exiting the mixer is below the temperature of the heated gas exiting the shell. In this way the temperature of the gas exiting the mixer is controlled to the desired level.

Abstract: An electric thermal storage heater with a heat storage brick assembly enclosed within an insulating sheath and an outer shell or housing; there is a space between the outer shell and the insulating sheath through which low temperature air is passed; the brick assembly has air flow openings therethrough into which the electric heating elements may be slipped during installation, and the openings communicate with entrance and exit passages which supply air to and through the brick assembly; air valving is provided to close and modulate the air flowing through the brick assembly and through the low temperature air path; the heating elements maintain the temperature of the bricks between 500.degree. F. and 1300.degree. F., depending upon the expected heating load; and air ducts and a fan move air from the storage heater to the duct system of a heat pump or similar forced air heating device.