Heat exchange system with compensation of dimension change of heat storage material and method for exchanging heat by using the heat exchange system

A heat exchange system, with

• at least one horizontal heat exchange chamber with heat exchange chamber boundaries, the heat exchange chamber boundaries surrounding at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber and establishing a volume of the at least one heat exchange chamber interior, wherein
• the heat exchange chamber boundaries comprise at least one first opening at a first end for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one second opening at a second end for guiding out an outflow of the at least one heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior, wherein the at least one heat transfer fluid flows through the heat exchange chamber interior of the horizontal heat exchanger from the first end to the second end in a heat exchange flow;
• at least one heat storage material is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior such that the heat exchange flow of the at least one heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior of the horizontal heat exchanger causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material and the at least one heat transfer fluid, wherein the at least one heat storage material is comprised of a plurality of stones, wherein the plurality of stones are subject to packing, wherein said packing includes at least one of breaking, compacting, and shrinking;
• and wherein
• the heat exchange chamber comprises at least one moveable passive packing device located at a ceiling portion of the heat exchange chamber for compensation of a packing of the heat storage material within the heat exchange chamber interior by at least one of:
• reducing the volume of the heat exchange chamber interior to account for the packing and occupying an unfilled space within the volume of the heat exchange chamber interior, the unfilled space created by the packing;
• further wherein the moveable passive packing device at least one of prevents, counteracts, and reduces a secondary heat exchange flow path of the at least one heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior.