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US 8,554,377 B2Granted
Thermal energy storage system comprising optimal thermocline management
AssigneeTerrafore, Inc.
InventorsAnoop K Mathur, Rajan B Kasetty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for optimizing a thermocline in a thermal energy storage fluid within a thermal energy storage tank are disclosed. The methods comprise identifying a thermocline region in the fluid, adding thermal energy to a fluid stream extracted from the thermocline region, and returning the fluid stream to the tank at a plurality of locations above the thermocline region. The methods further comprise regulating the temperature of the fluid returned to the tank at a set point temperature by modulating the flow rate of the fluid stream and by changing the location from where the fluid is extracted from the tank.
Claims56
A method for optimizing a thermocline in a fluid within a tank, the method comprising the steps of
- measuring a plurality of temperatures of the fluid at a plurality of locations along a vertical height of the tank;
- identifying a thermocline region from the plurality of temperatures of the fluid;
- computing an average temperature of the fluid in the thermocline region;
- identifying a first location along the vertical height of the tank whereat the temperature of the fluid in the tank equals the average temperature of the fluid in the thermocline region;
- closing a plurality of valves located at a plurality of locations along the vertical height of the tank;
- opening a first valve from the plurality of valves, wherein the first valve is closest in proximity to the first location;
- pumping a fluid stream through a heat exchanger, wherein
- the fluid stream entering the heat exchanger is from the first valve;
- and
- the fluid stream exiting the heat exchanger is returned to the tank at one or more locations above the thermocline region;
- measuring a temperature of the fluid stream exiting the heat exchanger;
- and
- maintaining the fluid stream exiting the heat exchanger at an exit set point temperature by modulating a flow rate of the fluid stream.
10 more elements
A method for optimizing a thermocline in a fluid within a tank, the method comprising the steps of
- measuring a plurality of temperatures of the fluid at a plurality of locations along a vertical height of the tank;
- identifying a thermocline region from the plurality of temperatures of the fluid;
- identifying a first location below the thermocline region;
- closing a plurality of valves located at a plurality of locations along the vertical height of the tank;
- opening a first valve from the plurality of valves, wherein the first valve is closest in proximity to the first location;
- pumping a fluid stream through a heat exchanger, wherein
- the fluid stream entering the heat exchanger is from the first valve;
- and
- the fluid stream exiting the heat exchanger is returned to the tank at one or more locations above the thermocline region;
- measuring a temperature of the fluid stream exiting the heat exchanger;
- and
- maintaining the fluid stream exiting the heat exchanger at an exit set point temperature by modulating a flow rate of the fluid stream.
9 more elements
A method for optimizing a thermocline in a fluid within a tank, the method comprising the steps of
- measuring a plurality of temperatures of the fluid at a plurality of locations along a vertical height of the tank;
- identifying a thermocline region from the plurality of temperatures of the fluid;
- computing an average temperature of the fluid in the thermocline region;
- identifying a first location along the vertical height of the tank whereat the temperature of the fluid in the tank equals the average temperature of the fluid in the thermocline region;
- computing an amount of thermal energy available at a heat exchanger for transfer to a fluid stream flowing through the heat exchanger, wherein the fluid stream comprises the fluid from the tank;
- computing a flow rate for the fluid stream flowing through the heat exchanger, wherein
- the temperature of the fluid stream entering the heat exchanger is the temperature of the fluid at the first location;
- and
- the fluid stream exits the heat exchanger at an exit set point temperature;
- closing a plurality of valves located at a plurality of locations along the vertical height of the tank;
- opening a first valve from the plurality of valves, wherein the first valve is closest in proximity to the first location;
- and
- pumping the fluid stream at the computed flow rate through the heat exchanger, wherein
- the fluid stream entering the heat exchanger is from the first valve;
- and
- the fluid stream exiting the heat exchanger is returned to the tank at one or more locations above the thermocline region.
13 more elements
A method for optimizing a thermocline in a fluid within a tank, the method comprising the steps of
- computing an amount of thermal energy available at a heat exchanger for transfer to a fluid stream flowing through the heat exchanger wherein the fluid stream comprises the fluid from the tank;
- computing an inlet temperature for the fluid stream flowing through the heat exchanger at a minimum flow rate and exiting the heat exchanger at an exit set point temperature;
- measuring a plurality of temperatures of the fluid at a plurality of locations along a vertical height of the tank;
- identifying a first location along the vertical height of the tank whereat the temperature of the fluid in the tank equals the computed inlet temperature for the fluid flowing through the heat exchanger;
- closing a plurality of valves located at a plurality of locations along the vertical height of the tank;
- opening a first valve from the plurality of valves, wherein the first valve is closest in proximity to the first location;
- and
- pumping the fluid stream at the minimum flow rate through the heat exchanger, wherein
- the fluid stream entering the heat exchanger is from the first valve;
- and
- the fluid stream is returned to the tank at one or more locations proximate a top of the tank.
8 more elements
A method for optimizing a thermocline in a fluid within a tank, the method comprising the steps of
- computing an amount of thermal energy available at a heat exchanger for transfer to a fluid stream flowing through the heat exchanger wherein the fluid stream comprises the fluid from the tank;
- computing an inlet temperature for the fluid stream flowing through the heat exchanger at a maximum flow rate and exiting the heat exchanger at an exit set point temperature;
- measuring a plurality of temperatures of the fluid at a plurality of locations along a vertical height of the tank;
- identifying a first location along the vertical height of the tank whereat the temperature of the fluid in the tank equals the computed inlet temperature for the fluid flowing through the heat exchanger;
- closing a plurality of valves located at a plurality of locations along the vertical height of the tank;
- opening a first valve from the plurality of valves, wherein the first valve is closest in proximity to the first location;
- and
- pumping the fluid stream at the maximum flow rate through the heat exchanger, wherein
- the fluid stream entering the heat exchanger is from the first valve;
- and
- the fluid stream is returned to the tank at one or more locations proximate a top of the tank.
8 more elements
A thermal energy storage tank, the tank comprising:
- a fluid contained within the tank;
- a controller for optimizing a thermocline in the fluid within the tank;
- a plurality of temperature sensors at a plurality of locations along a vertical height of the tank, said plurality of temperature sensors measuring a plurality of temperatures of the fluid within the tank and communicating said plurality of temperatures to the controller;
- a plurality of valves at a plurality of locations along the vertical height of the tank wherein
- each one of the plurality of valves is operationally controlled by the controller;
- an inlet of each one of the plurality of valves is in fluid communication with the fluid within the tank;
- and
- an outlet of each one of the plurality of valves is in fluid communication with a header;
- a heat exchanger for adding thermal energy to a fluid stream flowing through the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises
- at least one inlet through which the fluid stream enters the heat exchanger;
- and
- at least one outlet through which the fluid stream exits the heat exchanger, the at least one outlet in fluid communication with the fluid proximate a top of the tank;
- a pump for pumping the fluid stream through the heat exchanger, wherein
- the pump is operationally controlled by the controller;
- an inlet of the pump is in fluid communication with the header;
- and
- an outlet of the pump is in fluid communication with the at least one inlet of the heat exchanger;
- and
- a sensor for measuring a temperature of the fluid stream exiting the heat exchanger.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.