The use of a latent heat storage system using phase change materials (PCMs) is an effective way of storing thermal energy and has the advantages of high-energy storage density and the isothermal nature of the storage process. PCMs have been widely used in latent heat thermal-storage systems for heat pumps, solar engineering, and spacecraft thermal control applications. The uses of PCMs for heating and cooling applications for buildings have been investigated within the past decade. There are large numbers of PCMs that melt and solidify at a wide range of temperatures, making them attractive in a number of applications. This paper also summarizes the investigation and analysis of the available thermal energy storage systems incorporating PCMs for use in different applications.

Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials and applications

Salt hydrates as latent heat storage materials:Thermophysical properties and costs

Halide semiconductors stand at the very beginning of semiconductor science and technology. CuI was reported as the first transparent conductor, and the first field effect transistor was made from KBr. Although halogens are frequently used in semiconductor preparation, little use is currently made from halide semiconductors in electronics and photonics. We review past reports on the metal halide semiconductor CuI and related alloys and discuss recent progress with regard to this material including its use in organic electronics and solar cells as well as our own work on fully transparent bipolar heterostructure diodes (p-CuI/n-ZnO) with high rectification of several 107 and ideality factors down to 1.5. 

γ-CuI(111) thin film on glass (1 × 1 cm2) and IV-characteristics of p-CuI/n-ZnO/a-Al2O3 bipolar heterojunction diode.

Cuprous iodide – a p‐type transparent semiconductor: history and novel applications

An elastomeric light valve has a substrate with a principal surface on which is formed a multiplicity of pixels; each pixel includes a first set of pixel electrodes interdigitated with a second set of pixel electrodes. A silicone elastomer gel is disposed over both the principal substrate surface and the two sets of pixel electrodes. At least one silicone/polycarbonate self-supporting pellicle is disposed substantially completely over the gel layer; the pellicle and elastomer gel layer are heat cured to improve the response of the layers to electrostatic forces induced in the light valve by control voltages applied during operation of the light valve. A layer of gold is disposed over the at least one pellicle and a layer of silver is disposed over the gold layer to provide an exposed specular surface which is easily deformed and resilient to transverse stresses. Address-lines are provided for applying control voltages to the first and second sets of pixel electrodes responsive to a video signal; a bias voltage is applied to the gold and silver layers to provide optimum light valve sensitivity at lower control voltages.

Transferrable, self-supporting pellicle for elastomer light valve displays and method for making the same

Dans les appareils de traitement photographique connus, on utilise des pompes pour assurer la recirculation et le recyclage des solutions de traitement afin d'obtenir l'agitation necessaire des solutions de traitement. De telles pompes, cependant, sont normalement montees sur l'exterieur du reservoir de traitement et lui sont reliees par un systeme de tuyauteries souples. Cette invention decrit un agencement de reservoirs de traitement modulaire (10, 14, 16, 18) dans lequel les pompes (38, 40, 42) sont montees solidaires avec le module. De ce fait, le module tout entier peut etre depose sans qu'il soit necessaire de deconnecter un grand nombre de tuyaux.

Photographic processing apparatus

A heat exchange device for the introduction of thermal energy into and removal of thermal energy from liquid-solid phase change material is described in which the phase change material is maintained in a container, which is slowly rotated about a generally horizontal axis at a substantially constant rotational speed. Means are provided for automatically nucleating the phase change material as required for cyclic operation. The invention is of particular utility in the use of incongruently melting hydrates for the storage of thermal energy.

Heat exchange method and device therefor for thermal energy storage

Method and apparatus for meniscus coating

Variable temperature refrigeration

Melt-freeze-cycle life-testing of Glauber's salt in a rolling cylinder heat store

A method for the storage and retrieval of thermal energy is disclosed, which in a two phase, two component system is able to utilize both the sensible heat of water (always one of the components) and the heat of fusion of the second component (a salt which forms a hydrate). The system to be employed must be graphically definable in a phase diagram including a liquidus, the compositional range of the system being selected so as to lie within the compositional range of the liquidus along which the system is to operate during both the heating and cooling cycles.

Carlyle S Herrick

Papers

Heat exchange method and device therefor for thermal energy storage

Method and apparatus for meniscus coating

Variable temperature refrigeration

Melt-freeze-cycle life-testing of Glauber's salt in a rolling cylinder heat store

Thermal energy storage and release utilizing combined sensible heat and latent heat of fusion