Pumped heat energy storage system with electric heating integration
AssigneeMalta Inc.
InventorsBenjamin R. BOLLINGER, Bao H. TRUONG
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method including: (i) operating a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”) in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage medium (“HTS medium”) by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in a hot HTS medium, wherein the PHES system is further operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity; and (ii) heating the hot HTS medium with an electric heater above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from the working fluid to the warm HTS medium.
Claims12
A system comprising:
- a thermodynamic cycle system operable in an energy storage mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a thermal storage medium by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm thermal storage medium, resulting in a hot thermal storage medium, wherein the energy storage mode comprises the working fluid circulating through at least a compressor and a first heat exchanger wherein the working fluid is in thermal contact with the thermal storage medium, and wherein the thermodynamic cycle system is further operable in a power generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity, wherein the power generation mode comprises the working fluid circulating through at least the first heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid is in thermal contact with the thermal storage medium, and through a turbine;
- and
- an electric heater in thermal contact with the hot thermal storage medium, wherein the electric heater is operable to heat the hot thermal storage medium above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from the working fluid to the warm thermal storage medium.
A method comprising:
- operating a thermodynamic cycle system in an energy storage mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a thermal storage medium by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm thermal storage medium, resulting in a hot thermal storage medium, wherein the energy storage mode comprises circulation of the working fluid through at least a compressor and a first heat exchanger wherein the working fluid is in thermal contact with the thermal storage medium, and wherein the thermodynamic cycle system is further operable in a power generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity, wherein the power generation mode comprises circulation of the working fluid through at least the first heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid is in thermal contact with the thermal storage medium, and through a turbine;
- and
- heating the hot thermal storage medium with an electric heater above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from the working fluid to the warm thermal storage medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.