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US 10,883,388 B2Granted
Systems and methods for generating electricity via a pumped thermal energy storage system
AssigneeEchogen Power Systems, LLC
InventorTimothy Held
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for generating electricity via a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system. A system may include a pump configured to circulate a working fluid within a fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits at a second pressure; a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger; a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, configured to expand a first portion of the working fluid to the first pressure; a heat rejection heat exchanger configured to remove thermal energy from a second portion of the working fluid; a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger; and a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger.
Claims22
A generation system in a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system, comprising:
- a fluid circuit for the circulation of a working fluid therethrough, the working fluid comprising a first portion and a second portion comingled together, the fluid circuit comprising:
- a pump to circulate the working fluid within the fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure, and the working fluid exits the pump at a second pressure,
- a first heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use,
- a second heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use,
- a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the turbine for expanding the working fluid to a third pressure, the third pressure greater than the first pressure and less than the second pressure,
- a separation location where the working fluid is separated into the first portion and the second portion,
- an auxiliary line through which the second portion of the working fluid circulates between the turbine and the first heat exchanger, and
- a heat rejection heat exchanger positioned between an outlet of the turbine and an inlet of the first heat exchanger, and in fluid communication with the auxiliary line, wherein the heat rejection heat exchanger for removing thermal energy from the second portion of the working fluid;
- a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy to and from the working fluid;
- and
- a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy to and from the working fluid.
8 more elements
A generation system in a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system, comprising:
- a fluid circuit for circulating a working fluid therethrough, the working fluid comprising a first portion and a second portion comingled together, the fluid circuit comprising:
- a pump to circulate the working fluid within the fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure, and the working fluid exits the pump at a second pressure;
- a first heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use;
- a second heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use;
- a first turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and wherein the first turbine is for expanding the working fluid to a third pressure, the third pressure greater than the first pressure and less than the second pressure;
- a separation location where the working fluid is separated into the first portion and the second portion,
- a second turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and wherein the second turbine is for expanding the first portion of the working fluid to the first pressure;
- and
- an auxiliary line positioned between the first turbine and an inlet of the first heat exchanger wherein the auxiliary line is for removing thermal energy from the second portion of the working fluid and increasing a pressure of the second portion of the working fluid;
- a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy to and from the working fluid;
- and
- a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy to and from the working fluid.
9 more elements
A method for generating electricity in a pumped thermal energy system, comprising:
- circulating a working fluid, comprising a first portion and a second portion comingled together, through a fluid circuit via a first pump, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits the pump at a second pressure, the second pressure greater than the first pressure;
- circulating the working fluid through a first heat exchanger fluidly connected to the pump within the fluid circuit;
- expanding the working fluid to a third pressure via a first turbine positioned in the fluid circuit between the first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, the third pressure greater than the first pressure and less than the second pressure;
- separating the working fluid into the first portion and the second portion after expansion to the third pressure;
- expanding the first portion of the working fluid via a second turbine to the first pressure;
- circulating the second portion of the working fluid through an auxiliary line fluidly connected to and part of the fluid circuit, wherein the auxiliary line comprises a heat rejection heat exchanger for reducing the thermal energy of the second portion of the working fluid;
- circulating the second portion of the working fluid within the auxiliary line through a second pump, fluidly connected to and part of the auxiliary line, the second pump for increasing the pressure of the second portion of the working fluid to the second pressure;
- circulating the first portion of the working fluid through the second heat exchanger fluidly connected within the fluid circuit;
- and
- combining the second portion with the first portion between the first pump and the first heat exchanger.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.