Pumped thermal systems with dedicated compressor/turbine pairs

• US 10,428,693 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malta, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Malta, Inc.
• Inventors: Laughlin, Robert B., Larochelle, Philippe, Cizek, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dounis, Laert
• Application Number:
  US15/440,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20170159498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 60659
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 13/02 Controlling, e.g. stopping or starting
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/00 Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein regenerating exhaust steam F01K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/12 having two or more accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/185 using waste heat from outside the plant F02G5/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/20 with heating by combustion gases of main boiler
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/10 Closed cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/14 Gas-turbine plants having means for storing energy, e.g. for meeting peak loads
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/90 Variable geometry
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 60/10 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/00 Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0047 using molten salts or liquid metals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/16 Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids

Abstract

In an example, a system configured to operate in a heat pump mode and heat engine mode is disclosed. The system may comprise a first working fluid path, first hot thermal storage (HTS) fluid path, and first cold thermal storage (CTS) fluid path for operation in the heat pump mode. The first working fluid path may be configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, a first compressor, first hot side heat exchanger, first turbine, first cold side heat exchanger, and back to the first compressor. The system may also comprise a second working fluid path, second HTS fluid path, and second CTS fluid path for operation in the heat engine mode. The second working fluid path may be configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, a second compressor, second hot side heat exchanger, second turbine, second cold side heat exchanger, and back to the second compressor.

Claims

1. A system configured to operate in at least a heat pump mode and a heat engine mode, the system comprising:

a first compressor;

a second compressor;

a first hot side heat exchanger;

a second hot side heat exchanger;

a hot thermal storage (“

HTS”

) medium;

a first HTS tank;

a second HTS tank;

a first turbine;

a second turbine;

a first cold side heat exchanger;

a second cold side heat exchanger;

a cold thermal storage (“

CTS”

) medium;

a first CTS tank;

a second CTS tank;

a working fluid;

a first working fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, the first compressor, the first hot side heat exchanger, the first turbine, the first cold side heat exchanger, and back to the first compressor;

a first HTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to flow the HTS medium from the second HTS tank through the first hot side heat exchanger and to the first HTS tank;

a first CTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to flow the CTS medium from the first CTS tank through the first cold side heat exchanger and to the second CTS tank;

a second working fluid path for operation of the system in the heat engine mode and configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, the second compressor, the second hot side heat exchanger, the second turbine, the second cold side heat exchanger, and back to the second compressor;

a second HTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat engine mode and configured to flow the HTS medium from the first HTS tank through the second hot side heat exchanger and to the second HTS tank; and

a second CTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat engine mode and configured to flow the CTS medium from the second CTS tank through the second cold side heat exchanger and to the first CTS tank.

2. A system configured to operate in at least a heat pump mode and a heat engine mode, the system comprising:

a first compressor;

a second compressor;

a hot side heat exchanger;

a hot thermal storage (“

HTS”

) medium;

a first HTS tank;

a second HTS tank;

a first turbine;

a second turbine;

a cold side heat exchanger;

a cold thermal storage (“

CTS”

) medium;

a first CTS tank;

a second CTS tank;

a working fluid;

a first working fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, the first compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the first turbine, the cold side heat exchanger, and back to the first compressor;

a first HTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to flow the HTS medium from the second HTS tank through the hot side heat exchanger and to the first HTS tank;

a first CTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to flow the CTS medium from the first CTS tank through the cold side heat exchanger and to the second CTS tank; and

a second working fluid path for operation of the system in the heat engine mode and configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence and in the same direction as the working fluid is circulated in the first working fluid path, the second compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the second turbine, the cold side heat exchanger, and back to the second compressor.