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EP-4739971-A1 - FLOW SYSTEM

EP4739971A1EP 4739971 A1EP4739971 A1EP 4739971A1EP-4739971-A1

Abstract

The disclosure describes a system (100) for storing and transferring heat via a heat transfer fluid, the system (100) comprising a first storage tank (110) comprising a first storage tank inlet (111) and a first storage tank outlet (112), a second storage tank (120) comprising a second storage tank inlet (121) and a second storage tank outlet (122), a third storage tank (130) comprising a third storage tank outlet (132), a heat source (150), a heat exchanger (160), a first pipe (170) connected between the heat source (150) and the first storage tank inlet (121), a second pipe (180) connected between the heat exchanger (160) and the second storage tank inlet (121), one or more overflow connectors (190) arranged to enable the heat transfer fluid to overflow between the first storage tank (110), the second storage tank (120) and the third storage tank (130), and a piping system (200).

Inventors

  • BROWN, JAMES
  • Barros Borrero, Andrés

Assignees

  • KYOTO GROUP AS

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240702

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A thermal energy storage system (100) for storing and transferring heat via a heat transfer fluid, the thermal energy storage system (100) comprising a first storage tank (110) comprising a first storage tank inlet (111) and a first storage tank outlet (112), a second storage tank (120) comprising a second storage tank inlet (121) and a second storage tank outlet (122), a third storage tank (130) comprising a third storage tank outlet (132), a heat source (150), a heat exchanger (160), a first pipe (170) connected between the heat source (150) and the first storage tank inlet (111), a second pipe (180) connected between the heat exchanger (160) and the second storage tank inlet (121), one or more overflow connectors (190) arranged to enable the heat transfer fluid to overflow between the first storage tank (110), the second storage tank (120) and the third storage tank (130), and a piping system (200) connected to the heat source (150), the heat exchanger (160), the first storage tank outlet (112), the second storage tank outlet (122) and the third storage tank outlet (132), where the piping system (200) is configured to provide a first fluid connection between the heat exchanger (160) and any one of the first storage tank outlet (112), the second storage tank outlet (122), and the third storage tank outlet (132), and provide a second fluid connection between the heat source (150) and any one of the first storage tank outlet (112), the second storage tank outlet (122) and the third storage tank outlet (132).
  2. 2. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first pumping device (210) configured to pump the heat transfer fluid from any one of the first storage tank outlet (112), the second storage tank outlet (122) and the third storage tank outlet (132) to the first storage tank inlet (111) via the piping system (200), heat source (150) and the first pipe (170), and a second pumping device (220) configured to pump the heat transfer fluid from any one of the first storage tank outlet (112), the second storage tank outlet (122) and the third storage tank outlet (132) to the second storage tank inlet (121) via the piping system (200), heat exchanger (160) and the second pipe (180).
  3. 3. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first storage tank (110), the second storage tank (120) and the third storage tank (130) are connected in series via the one or more overflow connectors (190), wherein the third storage tank (130) is positioned between the first storage tank (110) and the second storage tank (120).
  4. 4. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermal energy storage system (100) is configured to store and transfer heat via a molten salt.
  5. 5. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more overflow connectors (190) is provided with heat tracing (230).
  6. 6. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more overflow connectors (190) are arranged to enable a fluid to overflow between the first storage tank (110), the second storage tank (120) and the third storage tank (130) when at least one of the first storage tank (110), the second storage tank (120) and the third storage tank (130) is filled with the heat transfer fluid to a maximum capacity.
  7. 7. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first storage tank (110), the second storage tank (120) and the third storage tank (130) are made from stainless steel or carbon steel.
  8. 8. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first storage tank (110), the second storage tank (120) and the third storage tank (130) have an internal volume in the range 20 m 3 - 500 m 3 .
  9. 9. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermal energy storage system (100) is configured to store and transfer heat via a heat transfer fluid with a specific heat capacity of at most 3500 J/kg K, preferably in the range 500-2500 J/kg K, at a temperature of above 150 °C.
  10. 10. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the storage tank outlet of any one or more of the first storage tank (110), the second storage tank (120) and the third storage tank (130) is arranged at the base of said storage tank.
  11. 11. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first pipe (170), second pipe (180) and piping system (200) is provided with heat tracing (230).
  12. 12. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the heat exchanger (160) is configured to generate steam.
  13. 13. The thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the heat source (150) is an electrical heater.
  14. 14. A method for generating, storing and transporting heat in a thermal energy storage system (100) according to any one of the claims 1 - 13 comprising the steps of, transporting the heat transfer fluid from any one of the first storage tank (110), the second storage tank (120) and the third storage tank (130) to the first storage tank (110) via the piping system (200), heat source (150) and the first pipe (170), heating the heat transfer fluid with the heat source (150), transporting the heat transfer fluid from any one of the first storage tank (110), the second storage tank (120) and the third storage tank (130) to the second storage tank (120) via the piping system (200), heat exchanger (160) and the second pipe (180), and transferring heat in the heat exchanger (160) from the heat transfer fluid to a secondary heat transfer fluid.
  15. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the heat transfer fluid has a specific heat capacity of at most 3500 J/kg K, preferably in the range 500-2500 J/kg K.

Description

Flow system Field of disclosure The present disclosure relates to the field of thermal energy storage systems. Background [0001] Thermal energy storage systems are generally considered to be useful for balancing energy consumption between periods of low demand and periods of high demand. A thermal energy storage may be charged during a period of low demand, and discharged during a period of high demand. The charging may thus be performed during period when the cost of electricity/heat is low, while the discharge may be performed at a period when the cost of electricity/heat is high. [0002] Various technologies may be employed in order achieve thermal energy storage, including systems that utilize sensible heat, thermochemical heat and latent heat. Some technologies employ for example solar power as a way to charge a thermal energy storage system while others employ electrical power. Systems that employ electrical power typically aim to benefit from the fluctuating power prices in order to create saving for the user, where the magnitude of said price fluctuations will put a limit the saving potential. For systems that employ electrical power for charging it is therefore of interest to keep both initial installation and equipment costs as well as operations cost as low as possible. [0003] It is an aim of the present invention to provide a thermal energy storage system with a simple and scalable design. Summary of the invention [0004] A first aspect of the present invention provides a thermal energy storage system for storing and transferring heat via a heat transfer fluid, the thermal energy storage system comprising a first storage tank comprising a first storage tank inlet and a first storage tank outlet, a second storage tank comprising a second storage tank inlet and a second storage tank outlet, a third storage tank comprising a third storage tank outlet, a heat source, a heat exchanger, a first pipe connected between the heat source and the first storage tank inlet, a second pipe connected between the heat exchanger and the second storage tank inlet, one or more overflow connectors arranged to enable the heat transfer fluid to overflow between the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the third storage tank, and a piping system connected to the heat source, the heat exchanger, the first storage tank outlet, the second storage tank outlet and the third storage tank outlet, where the piping system is configured to provide a first fluid connection between the heat exchanger and any one of the first storage tank outlet, the second storage tank outlet, and the third storage tank outlet, and provide a second fluid connection between the heat source and any one of the first storage tank outlet, the second storage tank outlet and the third storage tank outlet. [0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention the thermal energy storage system further comprises a first pumping device configured to pump the heat transfer fluid from any one of the first storage tank outlet, the second storage tank outlet and the third storage tank outlet to the first storage tank inlet via the piping system, heat source and the first pipe, and a second pumping device configured to pump the heat transfer fluid from any one of the first storage tank outlet, the second storage tank outlet and the third storage tank outlet to the second storage tank inlet via the piping system, heat exchanger and the second pipe. [0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the third storage tank are connected in series via the one or more overflow connectors, wherein the third storage tank is positioned between the first storage tank and the second storage tank. [0007] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention the thermal energy storage system is configured to store and transfer heat via a molten salt. [0008] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention the one or more overflow connectors is provided with heat tracing. [0009] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention the one or more overflow connectors are arranged to enable a fluid to overflow between the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the third storage tank when at least one of the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the third storage tank is filled with the heat transfer fluid to a maximum capacity. [0010] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the third storage tank are made from stainless steel or carbon steel. [0011] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention each of the first storage tank, the second storage tank and the third storage tank have an internal volume in the range 20 m3 - 500 m3. [0012] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention the thermal energy storage system is configured to store and transfer h