Plant and method for accumulation of energy in thermal form

A plant for the accumulation of energy in thermal form,

• comprising an accumulation device, said accumulation device having:
• a containment casing;
• a bed of fluidizable solid particles received within said containment casing;
• heating means thermally connected with said bed, which heating means is configured to transmit thermal energy to the fluidizable solid particles;
• and
• heat exchange means, also thermally connected to said bed and selectively activated to receive thermal energy therefrom,
• the overall configuration being such that said thermal energy is transferred from the heating means to the fluidizable solid particles and said plant is capable of selectively transferring said thermal energy, in simultaneous and deferred manner, from said fluidizable solid particles to said heat exchange means,
• wherein the plant is configured to feed said heating means by means of excess electric energy or by means of residual thermal energy from industrial processes,
• wherein the plant comprises heating means arranged externally to said casing, wherein said heating means are thermally connected to a circuit of a fluidization gas of said fluidizable solid particles of said bed and configured to heat said gas before it enters said containment casing, and wherein said heating means comprises heat exchangers crossed, in use, by an operating fluid in liquid or vapor form that is separate from the fluidization gas.