Energy storage and retrieval system comprising a regenerator and an electrical machine coupled to a compressor and an expander
AssigneeKaaj Energy Inc.
InventorReza Lotfalian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to an energy storage and retrieval system for the generation of power. A compressor (301) pressurizes ambient air. The pressurized air flow passes through a thermal energy regenerator (280) for thermal energy storage and retrieval and onto an expander (302) for generating mechanical power. The compressor (301) and the expander (302) are coupled to an electrical machine (304) through a common shaft (303). The regenerator (280) comprises one or more Thermal Energy Storage (TES) units which can be coupled to one another in a parallel configuration. The TES units comprise a thermal medium for the storage and retrieval of thermal energy.
Claims20
An energy storage and retrieval system for the generation of power from a heat stream, the system comprising:
- a thermal medium for storage and retrieval of thermal energy;
- a regenerator comprising at least two Thermal Energy Storage (TES) units comprising the thermal medium, the at least two TES units fluidly coupled in a parallel configuration by a plurality of manifolds and a plurality of valves for controlling a coordinated aperture and closure of the plurality of valves for storage and retrieval of the thermal energy;
- wherein a first set of valves controls a first flow of cold source into one of the at least two TES units;
- wherein a second set of valves controls the first flow of cold source leaving the one of the at least two TES units;
- wherein a third set of valves controls a first flow of heat source to another one of the at least two TES units;
- wherein a fourth set of valves controls the first flow of heat source leaving the another one of the at least two TES units;
- and
- wherein thermal energy is seamlessly transferred from the first flow of heat source to the first flow of cold source;
- and
- a heat engine comprising an electrical machine comprising a combined synchronous electrical motor-generator, the electrical machine being mounted on a first shaft, the electrical machine being mechanically coupled to a first compressor and to a first expander, the first compressor and the first expander being in fluid communication with the regenerator, wherein the first compressor receives ambient air at a first pressure and pressurizes the ambient air at a second pressure to produce a pressurized air flow, and wherein the pressurized air flow passes through the regenerator producing heated pressurized air, and directing the heated pressurized air onto the first expander to produce mechanical power to drive the first compressor and to drive the synchronous electrical motor-generator to generate electricity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.