297 results about "Thermal reservoir" patented technology

Substrates having modified effective thermal conductivity for use in the sequential lateral solidification process are disclosed. In one arrangement, a substrate includes a glass base layer, a low conductivity layer formed adjacent to a surface of the base layer, a high conductivity layer formed adjacent to the low conductivity layer, a silicon compound layer formed adjacent to the high conductivity layer, and a silicon layer formed on the silicon compound layer. In an alternative arrangement, the substrate includes an internal subsurface melting layer which will act as a heat reservoir during subsequent sequential lateral solidification processing.

A thermal reservoir for a two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system is disclosed. Said thermal reservoir includes a well-insulated tank for alternatively storing hot and cold water. Said thermal reservoir contains plurality of valves for directing hot water stored therein into the two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system, thereby causing cold water within the two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system to be displaced therefrom and into well insulated storage tank. Said process is fully reversible in that cold water displaced from the two-pipe hydronic air-condition system into said thermal reservoir may be subsequently directed from the thermal reservoir and restored to the two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system and hot water therefrom directed back into storage. Accordingly a two-pipe hydronic air-conditioning system may be switched between heating and cooling modes with rapidity and without waste of the energy content of said hot water and said cold water.

An electronic apparatus heat extraction packaging feature wherein in the transfer of locally generated heat at a component of an electronic apparatus, the heat is stored in a buffering reservoir in the apparatus housing with a Peltier effect transfer control device being mounted external to the housing and interfaced with the thermal reservoir at the housing surface. The packaging interface permits the use of larger Peltier effect devices, greater freedom in precooling of the thermal reservoir and lighter weight portable computers where the Peltier effect devices are positioned in a docking station. In a portable computer with a battery power supply, the thermal reservoir can be independent or the battery can be employed in the thermal reservoir functions.

The present invention discloses a thermal module with heat reservoir, which is arranged with respect to a chip, and the thermal module comprises: a housing, disposed at a appropriate position corresponding to the chip and made of a material of high heat conductivity; a phase change material, disposed within the housing, capable of changing from a first state to a second state by absorbing heat and changing from the second state to the first state by releasing the heat stored therein; wherein the thermal module can be either mounted on the chip at an appropriate location or disposed at a location separated from the chip by an appropriate distance, in addition, the phase change process of the phase change material changing between the first state and the second state can be either a physical process or a chemical process.

A surface-plasmon-coupled thermoelectric apparatus includes a first surface-plasmon substrate and a thermoelectric substrate electrically coupled to a plurality of electrodes. The substrates are electrically isolated from each other, and a first face of the thermoelectric substrate opposes a first face of the first surface-plasmon substrate to define a phonon insulating gap. A method of transferring thermal energy across the phonon insulating gap includes creating a first surface-plasmon polariton at the first surface-plasmon substrate when the first surface-plasmon substrate is coupled to a first thermal reservoir. Also included is creating a nonequilibrium state between the electron temperature and the phonon temperature at a first face of the thermoelectric substrate, when a second face of the thermoelectric substrate is coupled to a second thermal reservoir. Also included is coupling the first surface plasmon polariton with electrons in the thermoelectric substrate across the phonon insulating gap, thereby transferring thermal energy between the thermal reservoirs through the phonon insulating gap.

A pyramid-like structure consisting of a base and 3 or more side frames, each side frame forming an angle to the base. The pyramid-like structure having an enclosed space within and including a way to collect solar energy and to collect and transfer thermal energy from the sun; air suction mechanisms to take surrounding air into the enclosed space; a plurality of wind turbines; a Main Thermal Reservoir to take in and hold heat transfer medium, which is heated therein and then pumped to the top day tanks. The heat transfer medium is heated by a Heat Absorption and Transfer Layer through a network of pipes on the side frame back to the Main Thermal Reservoir, wherein thermal energy is collected, absorbed and transferred to the enclosed space of the pyramid, heating the enclosed space and within the air suction means, causing a temperature differential between the surrounding air and heated air inside the enclosed space of the pyramid to create a continuous flow of the heated air to turn the wind turbines. If desired, the thermal energy can be used to by a desalination system to process seawater into potable water.

A device for transporting heat from a cold reservoir to a warm reservoir, in which at least two cyclic processes are employed for transporting heat thereby absorbing work, of which at least one is a regenerative cyclic process, and at least one is a magnetocaloric cyclic process, wherein the regenerative cyclic process has a working fluid and a heat storage medium, is characterized in that the heat storage medium of the regenerative cyclic process comprises a magnetocaloric material for the magnetocaloric cyclic process, wherein the magnetocaloric material is in a regenerator area with a cold end and a warm end, the working fluid of the regenerative cyclic process additionally serving as a heat transfer fluid for the magnetocaloric cyclic process. This produces a compact device with low apparative expense, wherein the power density and also the efficiency of the device are increased. The device may advantageously be used for cooling a superconducting magnet configuration.

The invention relates to a phase change heat accumulation system for generating steam directly and a preparation method of a phase change heat accumulation agent. A phase change material is enhanced with graphite foam, and is absorbed in a porous medium of the graphite foam, so that a binary eutectic salt / graphite foam material is prepared and is used as a composite phase change material of a heat accumulation device, the composite phase change material is high in heat conduction coefficient, therefore under the same design condition, the phase change heat accumulation system provided by the invention is applied to systems of a focusing type solar thermal power generation system, an industrial waste heat recovery system and the like, and has the characteristics of high heat transfer efficiency, small volume, low cost and the like. In addition, the phase change heat accumulation system for generating steam directly can flexibly adopt a parallel connection or serial connection mode according to the temperature of high-temperature waste heat steam and the requirement of a steam user; and during serial connection, the binary eutectic salt / graphite foam composite phase change material can be combined in a cascaded manner according to a melting point, thus the efficiency of an energy accumulation system is increased, and the energy can be greatly accumulated.

A variety of energy storage and retrieval systems are described. Generally “hot” and “cold thermal reservoirs are provided. The “hot” reservoir holds both liquid and saturated vapor phase working fluid. The “cold” reservoir holds working fluid at a lower temperature than the hot reservoir. A heat engine / heat pump unit: (a) extracts energy from vapor passing from the hot reservoir to the cold reservoir via expansion of the vapor in a manner that generates mechanical energy to facilitate retrieval of energy; and (b) compresses vapor passing from the cold reservoir to the hot reservoir to facilitate the storage of energy. In some embodiments, the heat engine / heat pump takes the form of a reversible positive displacement heat engine that can act as both an expander and a compressor. To facilitate the storage and retrieval of electrical energy, an electric motor / generator unit may be mechanically coupled to the heat engine / heat pump unit.

An apparatus and method for the therapeutic treatment of an elongated protruding body part. An inner liner and an outer liner, joined together at a proximate end form a cavity there between which is filled with a thermal reservoir material. The inner liner and outer liner are permanently sealed together and shaped to accommodate the body part which is to be thermally treated. The method includes chilling or heating the body part by chilling or heating the apparatus prior to placement over the body part. Preferred embodiments include a sterile inner pocket protected by a removable seal element and self-adhesive straps to secure the device more firmly in place.

The Rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system provides a rapidly rechargeable thermal energy storage bank operably connected to a heat engine capable of propelling a vehicle. Microwave energy is supplied to the system via a network of waveguides. Thermal storage bank has a slurry in a heat exchanger capable of sustaining operation of the engine without requiring the microwave source. The slurry provides a mixture of powdered stainless steel and silicone oils functioning as the working fluid in the hot side of the heat exchanger. The slurry may be heated by plugging the system into standard AC power for a predetermined microwave heat charging duration. A closed, triple-expansion, reciprocating Rankine cycle engine capable of operating under computer control via a high pressure micro-atomized steam working medium is provided to propel the vehicle. A variety of working fluids are capable of powering the Rankine cycle engine.

A system and method are used to allow for compensation of a thermal output of an array of individually controllable elements. This can be done by inputting control signals to the array when it is not being used to pattern a projection beam in order to maintain the temperature of the array. A heating element can be provided to maintain the temperature of the array. A thermal reservoir can be provided to maintain the temperature of the array or a cooling element can be provided to reduce the temperature of the array during use.

An apparatus and method for cooling a heat-generating component includes a stationary base structure and a rotating structure. The stationary base structure is mountable at the first heat-conducting surface to or near the heat-generating component. The stationary base structure has a first and second heat-conducting surface to conduct heat therebetween. The rotating structure is rotatably coupled to the stationary base structure. The rotating structure has a heat-extraction surface facing the second heat-conducting surface across a spatial gap. As a result of the rotating structure rotatably moving, the rotating structure substantially transfers the heat from the second heat-conducting surface to a thermal reservoir communicating with the rotating structure. In addition, as a result of the rotating structure rotatably moving, at least two surfaces of the rotating structure and / or the stationary base structure generate a thrust and an opposing thrust to vary and / or maintain the spatial gap.

Provided is a geothermal heat exchange system and method including a plurality of heat depots, each including a sealed container filled with a heat exchange fluid and further including an input heat transfer line and an output heat transfer line for carrying the heat transfer fluid. The input line proceeds through a top surface of the container at least a minimal distance into the container, and the output heat transfer line originates immediately at the upper surface of the container. Multiple heat depots connected to one another in a continuous unbroken chain are also provided.

The invention discloses a phase-change heat transfer type intermediate temperature heat reservoir and an intermediate temperature solar air-conditioning system formed by the phase-change heat transfer type intermediate temperature heat reservoir. The phase-change heat transfer type intermediate temperature heat reservoir is a closed pressure container and comprises a box body, a plurality of ring frames, screens, heat accumulation layers and heat exchanging tubes, wherein the plurality of ring frames are respectively and horizontally fixed on the inner wall at the lower part of the box body, a plurality of screens are respectively arranged on each ring frame, the heat accumulation layers are respectively paved on each sieve screen, each heat accumulation layer is formed by mixing a composite phase-change heat accumulation material and grains of sand, the heat exchanging tubes are arranged in an inner cavity in the upper part of the box body, a tube cavity of each heat exchanging tube is isolated from the inside of the box body and is communicated with the outside of the box body, wherein a heat conducting device flows in the tube cavity, the intermediate temperature heat accumulation device takes water and water vapor as phase-change heat transfer working mediums, and the phase-change heat transfer mediums are directly evaporated or condensed on the surface of the granular composite phase-change heat accumulation material to realize phase-change heat exchange. The phase-change heat transfer type intermediate temperature heat reservoir and the intermediate temperature solar air-conditioning system have the advantages of excellent heat exchange capability, high solar utilization ratio, simple structure, easy manufacture and long service life.

Forward voltage drift in a probe system for the characterization of a light-emitting wafer is virtually eliminated by directing compressed air to the probe so as to ensure that the exact same temperature conditions exist during repeated measurements of the wafer. In one embodiment of the invention, an air flow at room temperature is used, either continuously or intermittently. In another embodiment, the temperature of the probe is controlled by flowing a liquid or a gas through micro-channels built into the probe. In yet another embodiment, the probe is connected to a solid-state Peltier cell that is computer-controlled to maintain the probe's temperature at a predetermined set-point. A temperature-controlled chamber or a thermal reservoir enclosing the probe could be used as well. The results obtained showed remarkable repeatability.

The invention discloses an engine coolant waste heat utilization engine warming system adopting a solid-liquid phase change heat reservoir and a method of the engine coolant waste heat utilization engine warming system. The system comprises a temperature sensor, an electronic thermostat, an electronic fan, a radiator, the solid-liquid phase change heat reservoir, an electronic three-way valve and an MCU. Coolant flows through the phase change heat reservoir to heat phase change materials. The phase change happens to the phase change materials, the phase change materials absorb a large amount of latent heat, and residual heat of an engine is transferred into the phase change heat reservoir to be stored and used for starting engine warming. The electronic thermostat and the electronic three-way valve are controlled by the MCU and kept running synchronously all the time. The premise that normal work of an engine cooling system is not influenced is ensured. After the engine stops, large circulation is closed through the electronic thermostat and the electronic three-way valve. The phase change heat reservoir is sealed and enters the energy preservation state. Thus, under the condition that the existing engine power consumption is hardly increased, waste heat recycle is achieved. The engine warming starting process is achieved under the condition that the engine power consumption is not increased.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for energy effective regulation of temperature and ventilation of one or more ventilation units of buildings, where one or more heat-pumps are used to exchange thermal energy between outdoor air and an indoor heat carrying fluid medium and where the heating and / or cooling of each ventilation units are achieved by distributing the indoor heat carrying fluid medium in each ventilation units, in such a manner that the natural short term variations in outdoor temperature due to passages of weather systems and the day / night variations is utilized to give the one or more heat-pumps optimized conditions such that they are only turned on for extracting outdoor heat which is delivered to the indoor heat carrying and distributing fluid medium at the relative warm periods in the case of warming the buildings, or only in the relative cold periods for cooling the heat carrying and distributing fluid medium for removal of indoor heat in the case of cooling the buildings, and that the thermal energy that is exchanged with the outdoor air is partly used to cover the ventilation units actual demand for heading or cooling while the remaining major part of the thermal energy is sent to a thermal store to cover the ventilation units heating or cooling demand during the subsequent periods where the natural weather conditions is less favorable for exchanging thermal energy from outdoor air by use of heat-pumps.

The invention discloses a coal-heat co-mining method based on a high ground temperature mine. The method uses a goaf formed after coal mining as a reservoir; at the same time, a geothermal well is excavated into a thermal reservoir in a roadway. Hot water is pumped out through a geothermal exploitation well, and cold water is recharged through a geothermal recharging well; at the same time, a WSHP(Water Source Heat Pump) heat exchange station and a wind source heat pump station are built on surface to recover heat energy in the hot water and the hot wind. Through the method, coal mining can effectively change structure of a underground rock stratum, and exert a certain pressure relief and anti-reflection effect on the thermal reservoir, thereby improving heat extraction efficiency of thegeothermal well; by the method, the waste high ground temperature mine can also be reused for reproduction; the extracted geothermal resources are energy-saving and emission-reducing; and the geothermal well is excavated in the mine, which greatly reduces mining depth of the geothermal well, reduces drilling difficulty, shortens drilling cycle and reduces mining cost.

A novel heat exchanger includes a thermal reservoir and a tube, the tube having straight sections and corrugated bends, and being in thermal contact with the thermal reservoir. The thermal reservoir has a first plate and a second plate fixed to the first plate. The first plate has a channel formed therein with straight sections to receive the straight sections of the tube, and curved sections for receiving the corrugated sections of the tube. The second plate has a channel formed therein as well that is complementary to the channel of the first plate. The heat exchanger is heated by one or more cartridge heaters. In a particular embodiment, two thermal reservoirs are fixed to one another and the cartridge heaters are disposed in channels formed therebetween. Optionally the thermal reservoirs can be heated or cooled by thermoelectric chips, and can include one or more heat sinks.

Under one aspect, a method of cooling a circuit element includes providing a thermal reservoir having a temperature lower than an operating temperature of the circuit element; and providing a nanotube article in thermal contact with the circuit element and with the reservoir, the nanotube article including a non-woven fabric of nanotubes in contact with other nanotubes to define a plurality of thermal pathways along the article, the nanotube article having a nanotube density and a shape selected such that the nanotube article is capable of transferring heat from the circuit element to the thermal reservoir.

The invention relates to a heating device , for a mobile inhalation unit for the inhalation of active agents, comprising a heating wire (15), with two connector ends (23, 31) for the introduction of electrical energy and a thermal reservoir (13, 17) for heating air flowing along the thermal reservoir, whereby the thermal reservoir may be heated by means of the heating wire(15). The heating wire has a temperature coefficient of at least 0.001 K<-1>.The invention further relates to an inhalation unit with such a heating device and a method for heating a thermal reservoir on such a heating device.

A system for providing coolant to a heat load includes a first coolant reservoir providing coolant to the heat load and a second coolant reservoir receiving used coolant after passing through the heat load. The used coolant is refreshed by a cooling apparatus which receives the used coolant from the second coolant reservoir, cools the used coolant, and supplies refreshed coolant to said first coolant reservoir. The resulting dual reservoir system offers significant reductions in the size, weight and power of the vapor cycle system (VCS) equipment while providing for accurate temperature control of the coolant delivered to the heat load.

An electric heat therapy apparatus which includes an upper cover, a holder, a heating unit including a control circuit, an electrical connector and a light bulb, a heat reservoir, wherein the holder has no upper end connected to a lower ed of the upper cover and a lower end connected to an upper end of the electrical connector, the heat reservoir is connected to a lower end of the electrical connector, the heat reservoir has a closed bottom, and the light bulb is fitted within the heat reservoir for keeping heat and light in the heat reservoir, whereby the human skin can be prevented from causing pathological changes by the direct light given by the light bulb and the heat given by the light nulb will be efficiently retained in the heat reservoir and the temperature of the heat reservoir can be rapidly increased.

A cryogen free superconducting magnet assembly having a high Tc superconducting magnet and a thermal reservoir in thermal contact with the high Tc superconducting magnet. A method of cooling a cryogen free superconducting magnet assembly and an MRI system having cryogen free superconducting magnet assemblies.

The invention provides a salt-melting heat-storing warehouse, relating to a solar heat power-generation and heat-storage system. A closed system consists of low-temperature storage tank equipment, high-temperature storage tank equipment, a heat exchanging system, a nitrogen pipeline system and a liquid salt-melting pipeline. The salt-melting heat-storing warehouse is characterized in that the nitrogen pipeline system comprises a nitrogen pipeline and a nitrogen storage tank; the nitrogen pipeline is communicated with the low-temperature storage tank equipment, the high-temperature storage tank equipment and the liquid salt-melting pipeline; the heat exchanging system is connected with the low-temperature storage tank equipment and the high-temperature storage tank equipment respectively by the liquid salt-melting pipeline; the low-temperature storage tank equipment comprises a low-temperature storage tank; the high-temperature storage tank equipment comprises a high-temperature storage tank; one end of the liquid salt-melting pipeline is arranged in the low-temperature storage tank and the other end of the liquid salt-melting pipeline is arranged in the high-temperature storage tank. When the salt-melting heat-storing warehouse is used for storing heat, the temperature of the melted salt is heated to 386 DEG C; during the heat discharging, the melted salt of the system is cooled to the temperature of about 292 DEG C; under both the heat-storing condition and the heat-discharging condition, the melted salt is in liquid state; the cold salt and the hot salt are stored in independent tanks respectively; and the heat storage system with the independent cold tank and heat tank has the advantages that both the heat storage and the heat discharging can occur at constant temperature.

A solar power plant (10) capable of generating electricity comprising a light pipe carrying highly concentrated solar light (19), a hot reservoir (24), a cold reservoir (20), and a plurality of large-scale solid-state nano-structured photonic crystals (12) that are capable of recycling out-of-band photons with transition energies associated with a photovoltaic cell (13) into photons with in-band energies associated with the same photovoltaic cell (13) when photon energy is subjected to propagation through a thermal temperature gradient that is held across a suitably nano-structured photonic crystal (12). The input thermal photons from the hot thermal reservoir (24) are shifted in energy to the optimal photovoltaic cell energy for electron-hole pair generation by work that is expanded by the heat engine to convert said input photons into phonons and then back to photons again at a new wavelength through a process of phonon rethermalization occurring inside the nano-structured photonic crystal (12).

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system with a thermal reservoir and method for cooling are provided. A cooling vessel for a magnet system of the MRI system includes a first portion containing a helium cryogen in contact with a plurality of magnet coils of an MRI system. The cooling vessel also includes a second portion separate from and fluidly decoupled from the first portion, with the second portion containing a material different than the helium cryogen and having a volume greater than the first portion.

A pyramid-like structure consisting of a base and 3 or more side frames, each side frame forming an angle to the base. The pyramid-like structure having an enclosed space within and including a way to collect solar energy and to collect and transfer thermal energy from the sun; air suction mechanisms to take surrounding air into the enclosed space; a plurality of wind turbines; a Main Thermal Reservoir to take in and hold heat transfer medium, which is heated therein and then pumped to the top day tanks. The heat transfer medium is heated by a Heat Absorption and Transfer Layer through a network of pipes on the side frame back to the Main Thermal Reservoir, wherein thermal energy is collected, absorbed and transferred to the enclosed space of the pyramid, heating the enclosed space and within the air suction means, causing a temperature differential between the surrounding air and heated air inside the enclosed space of the pyramid to create a continuous flow of the heated air to turn the wind turbines. If desired, the thermal energy can be used to by a desalination system to process seawater into potable water.