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BR-112021005563-B1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE BASED ON PARTICLES

BR112021005563B1BR 112021005563 B1BR112021005563 B1BR 112021005563B1BR-112021005563-B1

Abstract

THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS BASED ON PARTICLES. Methods and devices for long-duration electricity storage using low-cost thermal energy storage and high-efficiency energy cycles are disclosed. In some embodiments, it has the potential for superior long-duration and low-cost air-storage of energy.

Inventors

  • Zhiwen Ma
  • PATRICK GORDON DAVENPORT
  • Janna MARTINEK

Assignees

  • ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260310
Application Date
20190924
Priority Date
20180924

Claims (13)

  1. 1. Thermal energy storage method using solid particles (102) CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises, in order: a first storage of a first heat transfer medium comprising a first plurality of solid particles (102) at a first temperature between 250 and 500 °C; a first energy transfer to the first heat transfer medium in a first heat exchanger (202), resulting in at least a portion of the first heat transfer medium being heated to a second temperature between 850 and 1300 °C; a second storage of the first heat transfer medium at the second temperature; a second transfer of at least a portion of the thermal energy from the first heat transfer medium at the second temperature to a working fluid (110) at the first temperature in a second heat exchanger (202), resulting in heating the working fluid (110) to a third temperature between 700 and 1200 °C and cooling the first heat transfer medium to the first temperature; and conversion of at least a fraction of the thermal energy portion into electricity (109), wherein the conversion comprises expansion of the working fluid (110) at the third temperature (103) through a first turbine and rotating a shaft (112).
  2. 2. Method according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the first plurality of solid particles comprises at least one of concrete, gravel, rock, ash, silica, alumina, titanium, clay, or any other suitable inorganic material.
  3. 3. Method according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises: before the first transfer, operation of the first turbine (103) as a compressor, by supplying electrical energy to the first turbine (103); wherein: the operation transfers at least a portion of the electrical energy to the working fluid (110) at the first temperature, resulting in the heating of the working fluid (110) to the third temperature.
  4. 4. Method according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises: before the first transfer, a third energy transfer from the working fluid (110) at the third temperature to the first heat transfer medium at the first temperature, resulting in heating of the first heat transfer medium to a fourth temperature that is between the first temperature and the second temperature; wherein: subsequently, the first transfer results in heating of the first heat transfer medium from the fourth temperature to the second temperature.
  5. 5. Method according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises: after the second transfer, a fourth energy transfer from the first heat transfer medium at the fourth temperature to a second heat transfer medium at a fifth temperature between -80 and -10 °C; wherein: the fourth transfer results in a cooling of the first heat transfer medium to a sixth temperature between 150 and 300 °C, and the heating of the second heat transfer medium to a seventh temperature between -10 and 20 °C.
  6. 6. Method according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises: passing the working fluid (110) at the fourth temperature through a second turbine (103), wherein: the second turbine (103) results in the production of electricity (109).
  7. 7. Method according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises: a second heat transfer medium comprises a second plurality of solid particles (102) at the seventh temperature and before the second transfer, a fifth energy transfer from the second heat transfer medium to the working fluid, wherein: the fifth transfer results in a cooling of the second heat transfer medium to the fifth temperature and a heating of the working fluid (110) to the third temperature.
  8. 8. Thermal energy storage system (100) using solid particles (102), the system being configured to perform the method as defined in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises: a first heat transfer medium; a first working fluid (110); a first heat exchanger (202); a silo (101); a second heat exchanger (202); a first turbine (103); and a shaft (112), wherein: the first heat exchanger (202) is configured to remove heat from the particles (102), the silo (101) comprises a heat sink, the second heat exchanger (202) is configured to remove heat from the first working fluid (110), the first heat transfer medium comprises a plurality of solid particles (102), the first heat transfer medium is capable of being heated by the first heat exchanger (202) from a first temperature between 250 and 500 °C to a second temperature between 850 °C and 1300 °C, a first conduit is configured to transfer the first heat transfer medium from the first heat exchanger (202) to the second heat exchanger (202), the second heat exchanger (202) is configured to transfer heat from the first heat transfer medium at the second temperature to the first working fluid (110) at the first temperature, resulting in cooling of the first heat transfer medium from the second temperature to the first temperature and a heating of the first working fluid (110) from the first temperature to a third temperature between 700 and 1200 °C, the first working fluid (110) at the third temperature is expanded through the first turbine (103), resulting in the first working fluid (110) at the first temperature and the generation of electricity (109) by the rotation of the shaft (112), and the first turbine (103) can be operated as a compressor and can compress the first working fluid (110) from the first temperature to the third temperature.
  9. 9. System according to claim 8, CHARACTERIZED in that the second heat exchanger (202) comprises a fluidized bed.
  10. 10. System according to claim 8, CHARACTERIZED in that: the first turbine (103) can be operated as a compressor and can compress the first working fluid (110) from the first temperature to the third temperature.
  11. 11. System according to claim 8, CHARACTERIZED in that it further comprises: a second heat transfer medium; and a third heat exchanger (202); wherein: the second heat transfer medium is capable of being cooled by the first working fluid (110) from a fourth temperature between -10 and 20 °C to a fifth temperature between -80 and -10 °C in the third heat exchanger (202), and the third heat exchanger (202) is configured to transfer heat from the first working fluid (110) to the second heat transfer medium, resulting in a second heat transfer medium at the fourth temperature.
  12. 12. System according to claim 11, CHARACTERIZED in that the first working fluid transfers heat from the first heat transfer medium at the second temperature to the second heat transfer medium at the fifth temperature, resulting in the first heat transfer medium at a sixth temperature between 150 and 300 °C and the second heat transfer medium at the fourth temperature.
  13. 13. System according to claim 12, CHARACTERIZED in that the second heat exchanger (202) and the third heat exchanger (202) are fluidized bed heat exchangers.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED ORDERS [001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/735,455 filed September 24, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/850,927 filed May 21, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. CONTRACTUAL ORIGIN [002] The United States Government has rights to this invention under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 between the United States Department of Energy and the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, the manager and operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. FUNDAMENTALS [003] Renewable energy resources have been limited by the capacity to store energy produced during off-peak hours for use during off-peak hours. Energy storage is important for renewable energy sources with variable regeneration, such as wind and solar. However, current battery technologies are too expensive for long-duration energy storage on a grid scale. Molten salt storage is expensive and limited by salt stability and corrosion issues. Pumped energy storage in the form of hydroelectricity is limited by the geological conditions of the system as it requires two reservoirs at different vertical levels. Thus, there remains a need for improved energy storage systems capable of storing excess electricity produced by alternative energy sources such as wind and solar, to be recovered later during peak electricity demand. SUMMARY [004] One aspect of the present disclosure is a method that includes, in order, a first storage of a first heat transfer medium comprising a first plurality of solid particles at a first temperature between 250 and 500 °C, a first transfer of energy to the first heat transfer medium resulting in at least a portion of the first heat transfer medium being heated to a second temperature between 850 and 1300 °C, a second storage of the first heat transfer medium heated at the second temperature, a second transfer of at least a portion of the energy from the first heat transfer medium at the second temperature to a working fluid at the first temperature resulting in heating the working fluid to a third temperature between 700 and 1200 °C and cooling the first heat transfer medium to the first temperature, and converting at least a fraction of the energy portion into electricity. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first transfer may be carried out using a resistive heater positioned within a silo. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the first transfer may be performed using a receiver configured to receive solar radiation. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the second transfer may occur within a first heat exchanger. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the first heat exchanger may include a fluidized bed. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the second transfer is completed using a heat exchanger positioned inside the silo. [005] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the first heat transfer medium may include at least one of concrete, gravel, rock, ash, silica, alumina, titanium, clay, or any other suitable inorganic material. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the conversion may include expanding the heated working fluid in a first turbine. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method may further include, prior to the first transfer, operating the turbine as a compressor, supplying electrical energy to the turbine, wherein the operation transfers at least a portion of the electrical energy to the working fluid at the first temperature, resulting in heating of the working fluid to the third temperature. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method may further include, prior to the first transfer, a third energy transfer from the working fluid at the third temperature to the first heat transfer medium at the first temperature, resulting in heating of the first heat transfer medium to a fourth temperature that is between the first temperature and the second temperature, wherein subsequently, the first transfer results in heating of the first heat transfer medium from the fourth temperature to the second temperature. [006] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method may further include, after the second transfer, a fourth energy transfer from the first heat transfer medium at the fourth temperature to a second heat transfer medium at a fifth temperature between -80 and -10 °C, wherein the fourth transfer results in the cooling of the first heat transfer medium to a sixth temperature between 150 and 300 °C, and the heating of the second heat transfer medium to a seventh temperature between -10 and 20 °C. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the method may further include passing the working fluid at the fourth temperature through a second turbine, wherein the second turbine results in the production of electricity. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method may further include a second heat transfer medium which includes a second plurality o