# US 2014/0190659 A1 · Thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190659 A1 - Document ID: US20140190659A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/237,885 - Filed: 2012-09-03 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-15 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Hans Laurberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190659A1 ## CPC - F28D 20/00: Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00 - F28D 20/0034: {using liquid heat storage material} - Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement is provided. The arrangement has a first thermal energy storage, a compression and expansion unit coupled thereto, and a second thermal energy storage coupled to the compression and expansion unit. The first and second thermal energy storage are adapted to work at a temperature equal to or higher than ambient temperature. In a charging mode, the first thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving and releasing thermal energy to a received working medium. The compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving and compressing the working medium from the first thermal energy storage. The second thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium and thermal energy therefrom and storing at least part of this energy. The compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium from the second thermal energy storage and expanding the compressed working medium. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement, the arrangement comprising a first thermal energy storage, a compression and expansion unit coupled to the first thermal energy storage, and a second thermal energy storage coupled to the compression and expansion unit, wherein, in a charging mode, the first thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving a working medium being supplied to the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement and for releasing thermal energy to the received working medium, the compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving the working medium from the first thermal energy storage and for compressing the working medium, the second thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium from the compression and expansion unit, for receiving thermal energy from the compressed working medium and for storing at least a part of this energy, and the compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium from the second thermal energy storage and for expanding the compressed working medium, wherein the first thermal energy storage and the second thermal energy storage are adapted to work at a temperature being equal to or higher than the ambient temperature of the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in a discharging mode, the compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving a working medium and for compressing the received working medium, the second thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium from the compression and expansion unit and for releasing thermal energy to the compressed working medium, the compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium from the second thermal energy storage and for expanding the compressed working medium, and the first thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving the expanded working medium from the compression and expansion unit, for receiving thermal energy from the expanded working medium, for storing at least a part of this energy and for outputting the working medium. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first thermal energy storage is adapted to work at a first pressure, and the second thermal energy storage is adapted to work at a second pressure being higher than the first pressure, wherein the first pressure corresponds to an ambient pressure of the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the compression and expansion unit comprises at least one compression means and at least one expansion means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanging device, wherein a first side of the heat exchanging device is coupled between the compression and expansion unit and the first thermal energy storage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first side of the heat exchanging device is coupled between an expansion means of the compression and expansion unit and the first thermal energy storage, and wherein a second side of the heat exchanging device is coupled to an external device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first side of the heat exchanging device is coupled between a compression means of the compression and expansion unit and the first thermal energy storage, and wherein a second side of the heat exchanging device is coupled between the second thermal energy storage and an expansion means of the compression and expansion unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the working medium is gas. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first thermal energy storage comprises a liquid medium as storage material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the temperature of the medium being supplied to the system corresponds to an ambient temperature of the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A thermal energy storage and recovery system comprising a thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 1, and a heat consumption arrangement, which is connected directly or indirectly to the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement and which is adapted to receive thermal energy from the medium of the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The thermal energy storage and recovery system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the heat consumption arrangement comprises a district heating installation system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The thermal energy storage and recovery system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first thermal energy storage is part of the district heating installation system. ### Claim 14 A method for storing and recovering thermal energy in a thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement, the method comprising in a charging mode, receiving, by a first thermal energy storage, a working medium being supplied to the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement and releasing, by the first thermal energy storage, thermal energy to the received working medium, receiving, by a compression and expansion unit coupled to the first thermal energy storage, the working medium from the first thermal energy storage and compressing, by the compression and expansion unit, the working medium, receiving, by a second thermal energy storage coupled to the compression and expansion unit, the compressed working medium from the compression and expansion unit, receiving, by the second thermal energy storage, thermal energy from the compressed working medium and storing at least a part of this energy in the second thermal energy storage, and receiving, by the compression and expansion unit, the compressed working medium from the second thermal energy storage and expanding, by the compression and expansion unit, the compressed working medium, wherein the first thermal energy storage and the second thermal energy storage are adapted to work at a temperature being equal to or higher than the ambient temperature of the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein the working medium is gas comprising air. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first thermal energy storage comprises a liquid medium as storage material, wherein the liquid medium comprises water.