Thermal energy storage assemblage with dynamic insulation and failsafe cooling

A thermal storage unit, including:

• a first enclosure having an interior surface;
• a thermal storage assemblage comprising a plurality of thermal storage blocks positioned in a second enclosure having an exterior surface, the second enclosure positioned within the first enclosure, wherein the thermal storage blocks include fluid pathways;
• a plurality of heater elements positioned within the assemblage and configured to heat the thermal storage blocks;
• a fluid passage bounded by the exterior surface and the interior surface and in communication with the fluid pathways;
• and
• a fluid movement system configured to direct a stream of fluid through the fluid passage upward along a wall of the second enclosure, across a roof of the second enclosure, down along one or more other walls of the second enclosure, then into bottom openings of the fluid pathways, wherein the directed stream of fluid through the fluid passage is configured to form an insulation layer.

A method a heated thermal storage unit, comprising:

• heating, by multiple heater elements, a plurality of thermal storage blocks of a thermal storage assemblage within a first enclosure, wherein the first enclosure defines an interior and an exterior and includes a first vent with a first vent closure, the first vent forming a first passage between the interior and the exterior;
• directing, by a fluid movement system, a stream of fluid through fluid pathways in the plurality of thermal storage blocks;
• maintaining, by a failsafe mechanism, the first vent closure in a closed position during an operating condition of the fluid movement system;
• and
• opening, by the failsafe mechanism, the first vent closure in response to a nonoperating condition of the fluid movement system.

A thermal storage unit, including:

• a first enclosure having an interior surface;
• a thermal storage assemblage comprising a plurality of thermal storage blocks positioned in a second enclosure having an exterior surface, the second enclosure positioned within the first enclosure, wherein the thermal storage blocks include fluid pathways;
• a plurality of heater elements positioned within the assemblage and configured to heat the thermal storage blocks;
• a fluid passage bounded by the exterior surface and the interior surface and in communication with the fluid pathways;
• a fluid movement system configured to direct a stream of fluid through the fluid passage and the fluid pathways, wherein the directed stream of fluid through the fluid passage is configured to form an insulation layer;
• and
• a dynamic insulation subsystem that includes a fluid flow path defined by an inlet from an exterior of the thermal storage unit, an upper passage, a side passage and a lower passage, wherein the dynamic insulation subsystem is configured to provide fluid communication from the exterior through the fluid flow path of fluid and up through the fluid pathway.

A thermal storage unit, including:

• a first enclosure having an interior surface;
• a thermal storage assemblage comprising a plurality of thermal storage blocks positioned in a second enclosure having an exterior surface, the second enclosure positioned within the first enclosure, wherein the thermal storage blocks include fluid pathways
• a plurality of heater elements positioned within the assemblage and configured to heat the thermal storage blocks;
• a fluid passage bounded by the exterior surface and the interior surface and in communication with the fluid pathways;
• and
• a fluid movement system configured to direct a stream of fluid through the fluid passage and the fluid pathways, wherein the directed stream of fluid through the fluid passage is configured to form an insulation layer;
• wherein:
• the second enclosure includes a first vent with a first vent closure, the first vent forming a first passage between an interior of the first enclosure and an exterior, wherein the thermal storage unit is configured to maintain the first vent closure in a closed position during an operating condition of the fluid movement system;
• and a second vent having a second vent closure and forming a second passage between the interior and the exterior;
• the thermal storage unit includes a failsafe mechanism configured to open the first and second vent closures in response to a nonoperating condition of the fluid movement system;
• and
• the open position of the first and second vent closures in the nonoperating condition of the fluid movement system are configured to allow passage of external fluid through the second vent into the interior via the second passage, through the first passage, through the fluid pathways, and out of the first enclosure through the first vent.