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US 2025/0382902 A1Published application
System and method for thermal energy storage
AssigneeNooter/Eriksen, Inc.
InventorsGlen L. Bostick, Piero Scapini, David L. Wait
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Abstract
A system and method for efficiency and revitalization of power plant assets allows for existing fossil fuel burning power plants to operate in tandem with renewable power sources and to operate at a consistent base load. The system and method reduce fossil fuel burning power plant power/load cycling and improve efficiency, increase power plant useful lifetime, and reduce emissions. The system and method allow for substantially consistent power output regardless of power demand and power supply generation from existing fossil fuel burning power plants and renewable energy sources supplying a common grid.
Claims65
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An energy storage system for controllably storing energy produced by
- a power plant and controllably releasing energy back to the power plant, the system comprising:
- an energy storage vessel, the energy storage vessel comprising:
- at least one cell adapted and configured to receive a heat storage medium, allow the heat storage medium to pass through the at least one cell, and output the heat storage medium from the at least one cell;
- at least one heat exchanger positioned within the at least one cell and adapted and configured to exchange heat between the power plant and the heat storage medium using a working fluid capable of circulating between the power plant and the at least one heat exchanger;
- wherein during periods of reduced demand on the power plant, the system is adapted and configured to charge the at least one cell by imparting heat to the heat storage medium using the working fluid and the at least one heat exchanger of the at least one cell, and wherein during periods of greater demand on the power plant, the system is adapted and configured to discharge the at least one cell by imparting heat from the heat storage medium to the working fluid and using the heat imparted to the working fluid;
- a cold storage tank and a hot storage tank, the cold storage tank adapted and configured to receive heat storage medium from which heat has been removed during discharge of the at least one cell, and the hot storage tank adapted and configured to receive heat storage medium to which heat has been added during charging of the at least one cell;
- and
- the at least one cell further comprises material handling components, the material handling components being adapted and configured, during the at least one cell charging, to selectively move heat storage medium from the cold storage tank to a top of the at least one cell and move heat storage medium exiting the at least one cell to the hot storage tank, the heat storage medium having been heated by the at least one cell prior to exiting the at least one cell, and the material handling components being adapted and configured, during the at least one cell discharging, to selectively move heat storage medium from the hot storage tank to a top of the at least one cell and move the heat storage medium exiting the at least one cell to the cold storage tank, the heat storage medium having had heat withdrawn by the at least one cell prior to exiting the at least one cell.
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An energy storage system for controllably storing energy produced by a power plant and controllably releasing such stored energy to the power plant, the system comprising:
- a charging cell adapted and configured to receive a heat storage medium, allow the heat storage medium to pass through the charging cell, and output the heat storage medium from the charging cell;
- at least one heat exchanger positioned within the charging cell and adapted and configured to exchange heat between the power plant and the heat storage medium using a working fluid circulating between the power plant and the at least one heat exchanger;
- and
- a discharging cell adapted and configured to receive a heat storage medium, allow the heat storage medium to pass through the discharging cell, and output the heat storage medium from the discharging cell;
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- at least one heat exchanger positioned within the discharging cell and adapted and configured to exchange heat between the power plant and the heat storage medium using a working fluid circulating between the power plant and the at least one heat exchanger;
- at least one cold storage tank and at least one hot storage tank, wherein the charging cell is adapted and configured to receive the heat storage medium from the at least one cold storage tank, add heat to the heat storage medium using the at least one heat exchanger of the charging cell, and discharge heated heat storage medium to the at least one hot storage tank;
- wherein during periods of reduced energy demand on the power plant, the system is adapted and configured to charge the charging cell by imparting heat to the heat storage medium using the working fluid and the at least one heat exchanger of the charging cell, and wherein during periods of greater energy demand on the power plant, the system is adapted and configured to discharge the discharging cell by imparting heat from the heat storage medium to the working fluid and using the heat imparted to the working fluid in the power plant generation of electrical power.
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An energy storage system for controllably storing energy produced by a power plant and controllably releasing energy back to the power plant, the system comprising:
- at least one energy storage vessel, each energy storage vessel comprising:
- a cell adapted and configured to receive a heat storage medium, allow the heat storage medium to pass through the cell, and output the heat storage medium from the cell;
- at least one heat exchanger positioned within the cell and adapted and configured to exchange heat between the power plant and the heat storage medium using a working fluid capable of circulating between the power plant and the at least one heat exchanger;
- wherein during periods of reduced demand on the power plant, the system is adapted and configured to charge the cell by imparting heat to the heat storage medium using the working fluid and the at least one heat exchanger of the cell, and wherein during periods of greater demand on the power plant, the system is adapted and configured to discharge the cell by imparting heat from the heat storage medium to the working fluid and using the heat imparted to the working fluid;
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- wherein the cell further comprises material handling components, the material handling components being adapted and configured, during cell charging, to selectively move heat storage medium from a cold storage into the cell and move heat storage medium exiting the cell to a hot storage, the heat storage medium having been heated by the cell prior to exiting the cell, and the material handling components being adapted and configured, during cell discharging, to selectively move heat storage medium from the hot storage and move the heat storage medium exiting the cell to the cold storage, the heat storage medium having had heat withdrawn by the cell prior to exiting the cell.
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A method of controllably storing energy produced by a power plant and controllably releasing energy back to the power plant, the method comprising:
- receiving a heat storage medium in a cell of a vessel, allowing the heat storage medium to pass through the cell, and outputting the heat storage medium from the cell;
- exchanging heat between the power plant and the heat storage medium within the cell by using at least one heat exchanger positioned within the cell and circulating working fluid between the power plant and the at least one heat exchanger;
- during periods of reduced demand on the power plant, charging the cell by imparting heat to the heat storage medium using working fluid and the at least one heat exchanger of the cell, and during periods of greater demand on the power plant, discharging the cell by imparting heat from the heat storage medium to the working fluid and using the heat imparted to the working fluid;
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- receiving heat storage medium from which heat has been removed during discharge of the cell at a cold storage tank, and receiving heat storage medium to which heat has been added during charging of the cell at a hot storage tank.
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A method of controllably storing energy produced by a power plant and controllably releasing energy back to the power plant, the method comprising:
- receiving a heat storage medium in a cell of at least one energy storage vessel, allowing the heat storage medium to pass through the cell, and outputting the heat storage medium from the cell;
- exchanging heat between the power plant and the heat storage medium within the cell by using at least one heat exchanger positioned within the cell and circulating working fluid between the power plant and the at least one heat exchanger;
- during periods of reduced demand on the power plant, charging the cell by imparting heat to the heat storage medium using working fluid and the at least one heat exchanger of the cell, and during periods of greater demand on the power plant, discharging the cell by imparting heat from the heat storage medium to the working fluid and using the heat imparted to the working fluid;
- receiving heat storage medium from which heat has been removed during discharge of the cell at a cold storage tank and receiving heat storage medium to which heat has been added during charging of the cell at a hot storage tank;
- during cell charging, using material handling components to selectively move heat storage medium from the cold storage tank to a top of the cell and move heat storage medium exiting the cell to the hot storage tank, with the heat storage medium having been heated by the cell prior to exiting the cell, and during cell discharging using material handling components to selectively move heat storage medium from the hot storage tank to the top of the cell and move the heat storage medium exiting the cell to the cold storage tank, with the heat storage medium having had heat withdrawn by the cell prior to exiting the cell.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.