Atmospheric storage and transfer of thermal energy
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a thermal medium;
a storage container configured to store the thermal medium at a first pressure;
a heat exchanger containing the thermal medium at a second pressure that is different than the first pressure; and
a load-lock disposed between the storage container and the heat exchanger, the load-lock comprising;
a holding section configured to hold a quantity of the thermal medium;
a first pressure seal disposed between the holding section and the storage container, wherein the first pressure seal in a closed configuration prevents equilibration of pressure between the holding section and the storage container through the first pressure seal and prevents transfer of the thermal medium between the storage container and the holding section through the first pressure seal, and wherein the first pressure seal in an open configuration allows equilibration of pressure between the holding section and the storage container through the first pressure seal and allows transfer of the thermal medium between the storage container and the holding section through the first pressure seal; and
a second pressure seal disposed between the holding section and the heat exchanger, wherein the second pressure seal in a closed configuration prevents equilibration of pressure between the holding section and the heat exchanger through the second pressure seal and prevents transfer of the thermal medium between the heat exchanger and the holding section through the second pressure seal, and wherein the second pressure seal in an open configuration allows equilibration of pressure between the holding section and the heat exchanger through the second pressure seal and allows transfer of the thermal medium between the heat exchanger and the holding section through the second pressure seal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heat engine system with pressure-regulating load-locks disposed between thermal medium storage containers and heat exchangers is disclosed. A load-lock connects one or more storage containers at atmospheric pressure to one or more heat exchangers at greater than or less than atmospheric pressure.
168 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a thermal medium; a storage container configured to store the thermal medium at a first pressure; a heat exchanger containing the thermal medium at a second pressure that is different than the first pressure; and a load-lock disposed between the storage container and the heat exchanger, the load-lock comprising; a holding section configured to hold a quantity of the thermal medium; a first pressure seal disposed between the holding section and the storage container, wherein the first pressure seal in a closed configuration prevents equilibration of pressure between the holding section and the storage container through the first pressure seal and prevents transfer of the thermal medium between the storage container and the holding section through the first pressure seal, and wherein the first pressure seal in an open configuration allows equilibration of pressure between the holding section and the storage container through the first pressure seal and allows transfer of the thermal medium between the storage container and the holding section through the first pressure seal; and a second pressure seal disposed between the holding section and the heat exchanger, wherein the second pressure seal in a closed configuration prevents equilibration of pressure between the holding section and the heat exchanger through the second pressure seal and prevents transfer of the thermal medium between the heat exchanger and the holding section through the second pressure seal, and wherein the second pressure seal in an open configuration allows equilibration of pressure between the holding section and the heat exchanger through the second pressure seal and allows transfer of the thermal medium between the heat exchanger and the holding section through the second pressure seal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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a direct contact heat exchanger (“
DCHE”
) configured to contact a cold working fluid to a hot solid thermal medium at greater than atmospheric pressure to form a hot working fluid and a cold thermal medium;a hot storage container (“
HSC”
) configured to store the hot solid thermal medium at atmospheric pressure; anda load-lock coupling the DCHE and the HSC, the load-lock comprising; a holding section for the thermal storage medium; a first pressure seal between the holding section and the HSC; and a second pressure seal between the hot holding section and the DCHE, wherein the load-lock is configured to;
receive the hot solid thermal medium into the holding section from the HSC with the first pressure seal open and the second pressure seal closed, wherein the HSC is at atmospheric pressure;
retain the hot solid thermal medium within the holding section with the first pressure seal closed and the second pressure seal closed; and
dispatch the hot thermal storage medium from the holding section to the DCHE with the first pressure seal closed and the second pressure seal open, wherein the DCHE is at greater than atmospheric pressure.
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16. A system comprising:
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a compressor; a turbine; a first heat exchanger configured to operate at a first pressure; a second heat exchanger; a first thermal storage container configured to operate at a second pressure different than the first pressure; a second thermal storage container; a solid thermal medium; a load-lock disposed between the first heat exchanger and the first thermal storage container, wherein the load-lock is operable to transfer the solid thermal medium between the first heat exchanger and the first thermal storage container while preventing equilibration of pressure between the first heat exchanger and the first thermal storage container; a working fluid; and a working fluid flow path comprising a closed cycle including, in sequence, the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the turbine, and the second heat exchanger, wherein the system alternately operates as (i) a heat engine providing mechanical work from heat, and (ii) a heat pump using mechanical work to store heat. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification