System and method for storing energy and purifying fluid

A method, comprising:

• providing non-potable water to a system comprising:
• a cold storage tank;
• water, an alkylene glycol, or combination thereof within the cold storage tank;
• an external pump that is fluidly coupled to the storage tank;
• an external heat exchanger that is fluidly coupled to the external pump, wherein the external heat exchanger is capable of supercooling the water, the alkylene glycol, or combination thereof to form an ice slurry;
• a vapor expander and compressor device mechanically coupled to a motor/generator device, which is electrically coupled to a power grid or a power source,
• a phase-change heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the vapor expander and compressor device;
• an insulated sensible heat storage tank comprising a cold fluid in a first end of the insulated sensible heat storage tank and a hot fluid in a second end of the insulated sensible heat storage tank, the insulated sensible heat storage tank being fluidly coupled to the phase-change heat exchanger;
• a reversible flow pump that fluidly couples the insulated sensible heat storage tank to the cold storage tank;
• such components being fluidly coupled to define a first fluid loop having a working fluid that flows there through;
• a second fluid loop that passes through the phase-change heat exchanger of the first fluid loop;
• and
• wherein the second fluid loop contains a fluid medium, the fluid medium being capable of exchanging thermal energy with the working fluid;
• a thermodynamic heat pump cycle comprising a heat exchanger in a freezing section;
• a thermodynamic power cycle comprising a heat exchanger in a melting section;
• a section where ice is substantially separated from contaminants and washed;
• an additional heat exchanger to cool incoming impure fluid;
• and
• wherein the working fluid is fluidly coupled to the thermodynamic heat pump cycle and the thermodynamic power cycle;
• a freezer;
• and
• a melter
• generating ice from the non-potable water;
• separating the ice from contaminants in the non-potable water;
• washing the ice;
• and
• melting the ice to produce potable water.

A system, comprising:

• a cold storage tank;
• water, an alkylene glycol, or combination thereof within the cold storage tank;
• an external pump that is fluidly coupled to the cold storage tank;
• an external heat exchanger that is fluidly coupled to the external pump, wherein the external heat exchanger is capable of supercooling the water, the alkylene glycol, or combination thereof to form an ice slurry;
• a vapor expander and compressor device mechanically coupled to a motor/generator device, which is electrically coupled to a power grid or a power source,
• a phase-change heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the vapor expander and compressor device;
• an insulated sensible heat storage tank comprising a cold fluid in a first end of the insulated sensible heat storage tank and a hot fluid in a second end of the insulated sensible heat storage tank, the insulated sensible heat storage tank being fluidly coupled to the phase-change heat exchanger;
• a reversible flow pump that fluidly couples the insulated sensible heat storage tank to the cold storage tank;
• such components being fluidly coupled to define a first fluid loop having a working fluid that flows there through;
• a second fluid loop that passes through the phase-change heat exchanger of the first fluid loop, and
• wherein the second fluid loop contains a fluid medium, the fluid medium being capable of exchanging thermal energy with the working fluid.

A system, comprising:

• a cold storage tank;
• water, an alkylene glycol, or combination thereof within the cold storage tank;
• an external pump that is fluidly coupled to the storage tank;
• an external heat exchanger that is fluidly coupled to the external pump, wherein the external heat exchanger is capable of supercooling the water, the alkylene glycol, or combination thereof to form an ice slurry;
• a vapor expander and compressor device mechanically coupled to a motor/generator device, which is electrically coupled to a power grid or a power source,
• a phase-change heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the vapor expander and compressor device;
• an insulated sensible heat storage tank comprising a cold fluid in a first end of the insulated sensible heat storage tank and a hot fluid in a second end of the insulated sensible heat storage tank, the insulated sensible heat storage tank being fluidly coupled to the phase-change heat exchanger;
• a reversible flow pump that fluidly couples the insulated sensible heat storage tank to the cold storage tank;
• such components being fluidly coupled to define a first fluid loop having a working fluid that flows there through;
• a freezer;
• a melter;
• a unit suitable for separating ice from contaminants, and washing ice;
• an additional heat exchanger;
• a second fluid loop that passes through the phase-change heat exchanger of the first fluid loop;
• and
• wherein the second fluid loop contains a fluid medium, the fluid medium being capable of exchanging thermal energy with the working fluid;
• a first thermodynamically-powered fluid loop that directs fluid in a first direction, the first thermodynamically-powered fluid loop comprising a heat exchanger located in the freezer, and a wet-bulb heat exchanger in thermal communication with a heat sink;
• and
• a second thermodynamically-powered fluid loop that directs fluid in a second direction, the second thermodynamically-powered fluid loop comprising a heat exchanger located in the melter and a warm temperature heat exchanger in thermal communication with a low-grade heat source.