Thermal energy storage vessel, systems, and methods

A method for making a vessel at a vessel construction site, the method comprising:

• a. pre-fabricating modular components of the vessel at a site other than the construction site, wherein the modular components include vessel liner components;
• b. preparing ground of the construction site to receive the vessel;
• c. constructing a bottom wall and a side wall of the vessel;
• d. transporting the modular components to the construction site;
• and
• e. assembling the vessel liner components to form a vessel liner within the vessel, the vessel liner comprising a liner bottom disposed upon the bottom wall of the vessel, wherein the liner bottom has an outer perimeter and comprises an array of plates, each of the plates joined at a portion of its perimeter to a portion of the perimeter of an adjacent plate by a flexible joint, and a liner side wall joined to the outer perimeter of the liner bottom and disposed within the containment side wall.

A method for storing thermal energy comprising:

• a. providing a vessel comprised of:
• i. a bottom wall joined to a surrounding containment side wall;
• ii. a liner comprising a liner bottom disposed upon the bottom wall, the liner bottom having an outer perimeter and comprising an array of plates, each of the plates joined at a portion of its perimeter to a portion of the perimeter of an adjacent plate by a flexible joint;
• and a liner side wall joined to the outer perimeter of the liner bottom and disposed within the containment side wall;
• and
• iii. an array of heat exchangers disposed in the vessel;
• b. filling a portion of the open volume around the heat exchangers with a thermal storage medium;
• c. connecting a heat transfer fluid delivery system to the heat exchangers;
• and
• d. connecting the heat transfer fluid delivery system to a thermal energy source, thereby transferring thermal energy into the thermal storage medium.