294 results about "Thermal reservoir" patented technology

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.