# US 2018/0320986 A1 · Concrete and tube hot thermal exchange and energy store (txes) including temperature gradient control techniques

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- Number: US 2018/0320986 A1
- Document ID: US20180320986A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/032,177
- Filed: 2018-07-11
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-21
- Assignees: Bright Energy Storage Technologies, LLP
- Applicants: Bright Energy Storage Technologies, LLP
- Inventors: Scott Raymond Frazier; Jennifer Fon Tuey; Miles L. Abarr; Brendan R. Geels; Karl Ginter; Alex Lau
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320986A1

## CPC

- F01K 3/12: having two or more accumulators
- F28D 20/0056: {using solid heat storage material (F28D20/0052 takes precedence)}
- F28D 20/021: {the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container (F28D20/023 - F28D20/028 take precedence)}
- F28D 20/026: {with different heat storage materials not coming into direct contact}
- F28D 2020/0013: {the heat storage material being enclosed in elements attached to or integral with heat exchange conduits}
- F28D 2020/0069: {Distributing arrangements; Fluid deflecting means}
- F28D 2020/0078: {Heat exchanger arrangements}
- Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D)
- 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
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A thermal heat capture, storage, and exchange arrangement, includes at least one thermal exchange and storage (TXES) array, with each TXES array including one or more TXES elements that receive a fluid flow of a heat source fluid and a working fluid, with the TXES elements providing for a transfer of thermal energy between the heat source fluid and the TXES elements. A manifold system provides the working fluid to an input of the TXES elements and receives the working fluid from an output of the TXES elements. At least one heat engine operable with the TXES array extracts heat from the TXES array and converts it to mechanical energy, with the heat engine being selectively connected to the manifold system of a TXES array to pass the working fluid through the TXES elements, such that a transfer of thermal energy between the working fluid and the TXES elements occurs.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of assembling a thermal heat capture, storage, and exchange arrangement, the method comprising:
providing at least one modular thermal exchange and storage (TXES) array having thermal storage and heat exchanging capabilities, wherein providing each of the at least one modular TXES arrays comprises:
providing a desired number of modular TXES elements;
arranging the desired number of modular TXES elements to form the modular TXES array; and
coupling the desired number of modular TXES elements to a manifold system via piping to provide for a transfer of working fluid between the manifold system and the modular TXES elements;
fluidly coupling the at least one modular TXES array to a heat source to receive a heated source fluid therefrom, with thermal energy from the heated source fluid being stored in one or more of the modular TXES elements of the at least one modular TXES array;
providing at least one heat engine that is operable with the at least one TXES array to extract heat from the at least one TXES array via the working fluid and convert it to mechanical energy; and
fluidly connecting each of the at least one heat engines to the manifold system of a respective modular TXES array to pass the working fluid through one or more modular TXES elements thereof, such that a transfer of thermal energy between the working fluid and the one or more respective TXES elements occurs.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising incorporating a valve system into piping and ducting connecting the heat source to the at least one modular TXES array and connecting the at least one heat engine to the at least one modular TXES array, the valve system selectively controlling the flow of the heated source fluid to the at least one modular TXES array and the one or more TXES elements thereof and selectively controlling the flow of the working fluid to the at least one modular TXES array and one or more TXES elements thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein the valve system in the piping connecting the at least one heat engine to the at least one modular TXES array is controlled to cause the TXES elements of the at least one TXES array to operate in a counter flow fashion, with a flow of the heated source fluid through the respective TXES elements being in a direction generally opposite to a flow of the working fluid through the respective TXES elements.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 further comprising incorporating a plurality of valves into the piping coupling the desired number of modular TXES elements to the manifold system, the plurality of valves selectively controlling the flow the working fluid through one or more of the modular TXES elements in series and parallel flow paths.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein providing each of the desired number of modular TXES elements further comprises constructing a TXES element by:
forming an element body from a matrix material, the matrix material comprising one of a mixture of cement binder and aggregate and a mixture of a binder and a phase change material;
providing one or more flue tubes or passageways in the element body to provide for a flow of the heated source fluid through the TXES element; and
providing one or more working fluid tubes in the element body separate from the one or more flue tubes or passageways to provide for a flow of the working fluid through the TXES element.