# US 8,739,536 B2 · Regulating the temperature of a heat regenerator used in an installation for storing energy by adiabatic compression of air

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- Number: US 8,739,536 B2
- Document ID: US8739536B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/378,576
- Filed: 2010-06-14
- Published: 2012-04-12
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2009-06-18
- Assignees: Gdf Suez
- Applicants: Patrick Canal; Lionel Nadau
- Inventors: Patrick Canal; Lionel Nadau
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739536B2

## CPC

- F28D 17/02: using rigid bodies, e.g. of porous material
- F02C 6/16: for storing compressed air
- F05D 2260/211: by intercooling, e.g. during a compression cycle
- Y02E 60/16: Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The invention relates to a method of regulating the temperature of a heat regenerator (ST1, ST2) used in an installation (10) for storing energy by adiabatic compression of air. The regenerator is subjected to successive operating cycles, each cycle comprising a compression stage followed by an expansion stage. Between two successive cycles, the method consists in cooling a bottom compartment (26a) of the layer of refractory material (26) of the regenerator that is situated in the proximity of the bottom distribution box (24) in order to bring the air leaving the heat regenerator to a temperature that is compatible with the range of temperatures required during the compression stages. The invention also provides such a heat regenerator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of regulating the temperature of a heat regenerator used in an installation for storing energy by adiabatic compression of air, the heat regenerator comprising a layer of refractory material for storing sensible heat, which layer is arranged vertically between a top distribution box and a bottom distribution box, the heat regenerator being subjected to successive operating cycles, each operating cycle comprising a compression stage during which a stream of hot air penetrates into the regenerator via its top distribution box and passes right through the layer of refractory material in order to leave via the bottom distribution box after yielding its heat energy, followed by an expansion stage during which a stream of cold air penetrates into the regenerator via its bottom distribution box and passes right through the layer of refractory material in order to leave via the top distribution box after recovering its heat energy, the method being characterized in that it consists, between two successive operating cycles, in cooling a bottom compartment of the layer of refractory material that is situated in the proximity of the bottom distribution box in order to bring it to a temperature that is compatible with the required temperature range for air leaving the heat regenerator during the compression stages.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the bottom compartment of the layer of refractory material is cooled by spraying a liquid at a temperature that is compatible with the required temperature range for the air leaving the heat regenerator during the compression stages.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the bottom compartment of the layer of refractory material is cooled by injecting a stream of air at a temperature that is compatible with the required range of temperatures for the air leaving the heat regenerator during the compression stages.

### Claim 4

A heat regenerator for an installation for storing energy by adiabatic compression of air, the regenerator comprising a layer of refractory material for storing sensible heat, which layer is arranged vertically between a top distribution box for receiving a stream of hot air during compression stages and a bottom distribution box for receiving a stream of cold air during expansion stages, the regenerator being characterized in that it further comprises means for cooling a bottom compartment of the layer of refractory material that is situated in the proximity of the bottom distribution box in order to bring it to a temperature that is compatible with the required range of temperatures for the air leaving the heat regenerator during the compression stages.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The heat regenerator according to claim 4, including a liquid cooling circuit for cooling the bottom compartment of the layer of refractory material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The heat regenerator according to claim 5, wherein the liquid cooling circuit includes a strip of liquid injectors arranged vertically above the bottom compartment of the layer of refractory material, a tank arranged level with the bottom distribution box of the regenerator in order to recover the injected liquid, a pump, and a heat exchanger for cooling the liquid coming from the tank.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The heat regenerator according to claim 4, including a gaseous cooling circuit for cooling the bottom compartment of the layer of refractory material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The heat regenerator according to claim 7, wherein the gaseous cooling circuit comprises an air duct opening out at its ends into the regenerator on either side of the bottom compartment of the layer of refractory material, a fan, and a heat exchanger for cooling the stream of air taken from beneath the bottom compartment of the layer of refractory material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The heat regenerator according to claim 4, wherein the bottom compartment of the layer of refractory material extends vertically from the bottom distribution box up to a height that corresponds to about 10% of the total height of the layer of refractory material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

An installation for storing energy by adiabatic compression of air, the installation comprising at least one air compressor, a compressed air storage cavity connected to the compressor, and at least one air turbine connected to the storage cavity, the installation being characterized in that it includes at least one heat regenerator according to claim 4 that is connected to the storage cavity, to the compressor, and to the air turbine.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The installation according to claim 10, including a medium-pressure heat regenerator connected to medium- and high-pressure compressors and to two air turbines and a high-pressure heat regenerator connected to the high-pressure compressor, to one of the air turbines, and to the storage cavity.