Electrical power systems incorporating thermal energy storage
AssigneeSolarreserve Technology, LLC
InventorAdam Green
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a thermal storage system that is easily integrated with a wide range of electric power systems. In particular, the principles of the present invention are easily implemented at a very large scale to integrate with larger scale grid systems. The thermal storage aspects of the present invention are cost effective to implement. Also, the manner in which the systems operate allow thinner, less expensive wiring to be used effectively. Because heavy wiring can be a significant part of startup expenses, the ability to use thinner gauge wiring provides significant cost savings. Further, the systems are quickly responsive to grid conditions and not only modulate energy storage but also modulate energy storage fast enough to respond to grid conditions in real time.
Claims23
A system for storing and supplying thermal energy, comprising:
- (a) a supply comprising a molten fluid;
- (b) a heating system that is thermally coupled to a flowing portion of the molten fluid in a manner effective to allow the heating system to heat the flowing portion of the molten fluid, wherein the heating system is electrically coupled to a source of electricity that supplies an electric current to the heating system, wherein the heating system draws and uses the electric current to generate heat used to heat the flowing portion of the molten fluid;
- and
- (c) a control system that uses information indicative of at least one condition of the source of electricity to (i) controllably modulate the amount of electric current drawn and used by the heating system as a function of time to heat the flowing portion of the molten fluid to store energy from the source of electricity in the molten fluid, wherein the amount of electric current draw is increased and decreased as a function of time responsive to the information;
- and (ii) to controllably modulate the rate at which thermal energy stored in the molten fluid is discharged, wherein the rate of the discharge is modulated as a function of time responsive to the information.
A power system, comprising:
- (a) an energy storage and supply system that stores and supplies electrical energy on demand, comprising:
- (i) a supply comprising a molten fluid;
- (ii) a heating system that is fluidly coupled to the flowing portion of the molten fluid in a manner effective to allow the heating system to heat the flowing portion of the molten fluid to a temperature in the range from 500 C to about 800 C, wherein the heating system is electrically coupled to a source of electricity supplied at a voltage in the range from about 480 volts to about 200 kV;
- (iii) a control system that uses information indicative of at least one condition of the source of electricity to (i) controllably modulate the amount of electric current drawn and used by the heating system as a function of time to heat the flowing portion of the molten fluid to store energy from the source of electricity in the molten fluid, wherein the amount of electric current draw is increased and decreased as a function of time responsive to the information;
- and (ii) to controllably modulate the rate at which thermal energy stored in the molten fluid is discharged, wherein the rate of the discharge is modulated as a function of time responsive to the information;
- and
- (iii) a working fluid thermally coupled to the molten fluid in a manner effective to transfer heat energy from the molten fluid to the working fluid
- (b) an additional power supply entity that supplies electrical energy;
- (c) a grid operator;
- (d) a plurality of end users;
- and
- (e) a distribution network that distributes electrical energy from the energy storage and supply system and the additional power supply entity to the end users.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.