Electricity generating systems with thermal energy storage coupled superheaters
AssigneeCyrq Energy, Inc.
InventorsMatt Rosenfeld, Susan Petty
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure describes methods and systems for generating electricity. A method of generating electricity can include evaporating water with a low grade heat source to form low-temperature steam. The low-temperature steam can be superheated to a superheated temperature by transferring heat to the low-temperature steam from a thermal energy storage that is at a temperature higher than the superheated temperature. A steam turbine generator can be powered with the superheated steam to generate electricity. The thermal energy storage can be recharged using electricity from an intermittent electricity source.
Claims22
A method of generating electricity, comprising:
- evaporating water with a low grade heat source to form low-temperature steam at a first temperature;
- superheating the low-temperature steam to a superheated temperature by transferring heat to the low-temperature steam from a thermal energy storage that is at a temperature higher than the first temperature of the low-temperature steam;
- powering a steam turbine generator with the superheated steam to generate electricity;
- and
- recharging the thermal energy storage using electricity from an intermittent electricity source.
An electricity generating system, comprising:
- a low grade heat source;
- a thermal energy storage having a temperature that is higher than a temperature of the low grade heat source;
- a superheater fluidly connected to the low grade heat source to receive low-temperature steam from the low grade heat source, wherein the superheater transfers heat from the thermal energy storage to the low-temperature steam to superheat the low-temperature steam to a superheated temperature;
- a steam turbine generator fluidly connected to the superheater to receive the superheated steam and generate electricity by converting power from the superheated steam;
- and
- an intermittent electricity source electrically connected to the thermal energy storage to recharge the thermal energy storage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.