Spider diffuser system

A thermal energy storage installation including a thermal energy storage tank and a spider diffuser system in said tank, said tank comprising an outer wall surrounding a hollow internal space in said tank, said spider diffuser system comprising:

• a manifold structure disposed centrally in said tank,
• said spider diffuser system being arranged for mounting in said space with the manifold structure in vertically spaced relationship relative to a thermocline formed in a temperature stratifiable liquid in said space during operation of said tank,
• said manifold structure having:
• an internal chamber,
• an opening for introduction of the liquid into said internal chamber or discharge of the liquid from said internal chamber, and
• an internal baffle arrangement in said internal chamber, wherein said internal baffle arrangement comprises a plurality of attached upright partitions that divide said internal chamber into multiple, separate chamber sections, causing the liquid moving through said opening to be divided into said chamber sections and reduced in velocity as the liquid enters said chamber sections during operation of said tank;
• a diffuser pipe assembly configured to promote temperature stratification of the liquid during operation of said tank, said diffuser pipe assembly comprising a plurality of elongated diffuser legs, said diffuser legs being attached to said manifold structure so as to extend generally radially outwardly from said manifold structure and toward said inner surface of said tank, wherein each diffuser leg has an internal channel in fluid communication with said internal chamber and a plurality of apertures distributed along the length of said diffuser leg, said apertures intercommunicating said internal channel with said space.

A thermal energy storage tank including a spider diffuser system in said tank, said tank comprising an outer wall having an inner surface surrounding a hollow internal space in said tank, said spider diffuser system comprising:

• a manifold structure centrally disposed in said tank,
• said spider diffuser system being arranged for mounting in said space with said manifold structure in vertically spaced relationship relative to a thermocline formed in a temperature stratifiable liquid in said space during operation of said tank,
• said manifold structure having an internal chamber, an opening adapted for introduction of the liquid into said internal chamber or discharge of the liquid from said internal chamber, and an internal baffle arrangement in said internal chamber, wherein said internal baffle arrangement comprises a plurality of attached upright partitions that divide said internal chamber into multiple, separate chamber sections, causing the liquid moving through said opening to be divided into said chamber sections and reduced in velocity as the liquid enters said chamber sections during operation of said tank;
• a diffuser pipe assembly configured to promote temperature stratification of the liquid during operation of said tank, said diffuser pipe assembly comprising a plurality of elongated diffuser legs, said diffuser legs being attached to said manifold structure so as to extend generally radially outwardly from said manifold structure, each diffuser leg having an internal channel in fluid communication with said internal chamber and a plurality of apertures distributed along the length of said diffuser leg, said apertures intercommunicating said internal channel with said space.