Domestic CHP (combined heat and power) generation is one new application of the ORC (organic Rankine cycle). An environment temperature fluctuation of 40 °C through the year is common in many areas, where the consumer's demand on heat follows a seasonal cycle. In no demand periods the ORC...

A novel GAHP-TSU (gravity-assisted heat-pipe thermal storage unit) is presented, in which the composite granular solid–liquid PCM (phase-change material) is piled up as the porous-medium layer. The composite PCM, which melts over a temperature range of 200–250 °C, is composed of a mixed...