Systems and devices for high-temperature thermal energy storage and methods for use

#The present disclosure relates to thermal energy storage systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to high-temperature energy storage systems that store electrical energy in the form of thermal energy by converting electricity into high-temperature heat via direct resistive heating for various applications including the supply of heat to industrial processes. The high-temperature energy storage systems and/or components thereof may be configured for stability in one or more atmospheres including inert or reactive atmospheres and/or atmospheres that include, for example, flue gases, CO2, CO, CH4, H20, steam, hydrogen, argon, air, and combinations thereof.

#Industrial process heat, i.e. heat up to 1600° C., is necessary for producing essential materials such as cement, steel, and glass, and accounts for one-quarter of global energy consumption. Since 90% of industrial process heat is traditionally produced from fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, and oil, industrial process heat is responsible for 10% of global and 9% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.

#High-temperature thermal storage systems are capable of storing energy generated from intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind. Thermal storage systems capture and store energy in the form of heat during one time period, store the heat in a storage device, and release the heat for an intended use during another time period (e.g., on demand). Some thermal energy storage systems may absorb energy in one form, such as incoming solar or electric power, and deliver output energy in a different form, such as heat that is carried by a liquid or gas. However, the range of temperatures across which the storage medium or bulk storage material can be heated and cooled is an important determinant of the amount of energy that can be stored per unit of material. In some thermal storage systems, the storage medium or bulk storage material may be substrates formed of electrically conductive refractory materials.

#The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1A provides a schematic diagram of a side view of an exemplary first block-shaped thermal storage unit, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

#FIG. 1B provides a schematic diagram of a side view of an exemplary second block-shaped thermal storage unit, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

#Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals, and characters, unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements, components, or portions of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, while the subject invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, the description is done in connection with the illustrative embodiments. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the subject invention as defined by the appended claims.

#Industrial heat makes up 24% of global energy use. Right now, most of this energy comes from fossil fuel combustion. With the wide variety of renewable electricity sources available today, there is an opportunity to greatly reduce the current cost of, and emissions produced by, energy used for industrial heat. However, many renewable electricity sources are intermittent and cannot provide electricity consistently when needed continuously as required for much industrial manufacturing.

#The systems, devices, and methods described herein may be used to generate and store heat so that it may be delivered consistently and reliably to one or more industrial processes or sub-processes using electricity instead of traditional fuel combustion. The substrates and thermal storage units disclosed herein may be electrically conductive so that, for example, they communicate electricity to one another for resistive heating of a set, or plurality, of substrates and/or thermal storage units.