Systems for managing thermal energy within a thermal storage solution
AssigneeAntora Energy, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Joseph Ponec, Justin Briggs, David Bierman, Sam Kortz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal storage solution system is disclosed herein. The system includes an insulated container having a thermal storage medium, a heating element configured to heat the thermal storage medium, a heat receiving unit (e.g., thermophotovoltaic (TPV) heat engine, heat transfer fluid, an industrial process component) configured to convert heat into electric energy, and a mechanism configured to control a view factor between the thermal storage medium and the heat engine. In another embodiment, the system includes multiple thermal storage media as unit cells in a single enclosure or container with insulation between adjacent unit cells.
Claims29
A system for storing energy comprising:
- an insulated container comprising a thermal storage medium;
- a heating element configured to heat the thermal storage medium;
- a heat receiving unit;
- a throttle positioned between the thermal storage medium and the heat receiving unit;
- and
- a re-radiator positioned between the throttle and the heat receiving unit such that the re-radiator is configured to receive power radiated from the thermal storage medium through the throttle and the heat receiving unit is configured to receive power radiated from the re-radiator;
- wherein
- the throttle is adjustable between a plurality of configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration, the second configuration being a more closed configuration compared to the first configuration such that less power is received by the re-radiator from the thermal storage medium than in the first configuration, and wherein the second configuration is not a fully closed configuration;
- and
- the throttle is dynamically controlled to maintain the re-radiator at a constant temperature as the temperature of the thermal storage medium changes over time.
A system for storing energy comprising:
- a container comprising a plurality of thermal storage media, each thermal storage medium comprising a trough or slot;
- a heating element associated with each thermal storage medium, the heating element configured to the thermal storage medium;
- a heat receiving unit;
- an insulation placed between a first surface of one of the plurality of thermal storage media and a second surface of a neighboring insulated container, the first surface facing the second surface;
- and
- a throttle positioned between one or more of the thermal storage media and the heat receiving unit;
- a re-radiator positioned between the throttle and the heat receiving unit such that the re-radiator is configured to receive power radiated from the one or more of the thermal storage media through the throttle and the heat receiving unit is configured to receive power radiated from the re-radiator;
- wherein
- the throttle is adjustable between a plurality of configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration, the second configuration being a more closed configuration compared to the first configuration such that less power is received by the re-radiator from the one or more of the thermal storage media than in the first configuration, and wherein the second configuration is not a fully closed configuration;
- and
- the throttle is dynamically controlled to maintain the re-radiator at a constant temperature as the temperature of the thermal storage medium changes over time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.