High-temperature latent heat storage system using transportable heat pipes for versatile integration with emerging microreactors

A thermal energy storage system comprising:

• a feed and drain tank comprising a heating element operable to melt a thermal storage medium to a molten state;
• a heat pipe integrated thermal battery (“HITB”) comprising a storage tank, the storage tank operable to hold the thermal storage medium such that latent heat of the thermal storage medium may be stored in the HITB;
• a thermal storage medium transport line connecting the feed and drain tank to the HITB;
• and
• a pump configured to move the thermal storage medium from the feed and drain tank to the HITB and from the HITB to the feed and drain tank.

A method for operating a heat pipe integrated thermal battery (“HITB”) comprising:

• charging the HITB, the charging comprising:
• moving a heat pipe through a guide tube of the HITB to a charging position;
• absorbing heat into the heat pipe from a first external system and transferring heat from the heat pipe to a thermal storage medium in a storage tank of the HITB;
• discharging the HITB, the discharging comprising:
• moving the heat pipe through the guide tube to a discharging position;
• absorbing heat into the heat pipe from the thermal storage medium in the storage tank of the HITB and discharging heat from the heat pipe to a second external system.