Thermal energy storage systems with improved seismic stability

Abstract

A thermal energy storage (TES) system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 900° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. The thermal storage medium may constitute refractory material such as brick or concrete configured with radiation cavities and fluid flow channels to provide for rapid radiative charging from VRE and long-term convective discharging. Configurations of the thermal storage medium enable a substantially horizontal thermocline and heat delivery arrangement, which provides seismic stability and facilitates significant expandability of the TES system primarily by increasing the length of the system without adding undue height, contributing to both stability and efficiency of the heat delivery structure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.