Pumped thermal and energy storage system units with pumped thermal system and energy storage system subunits

• US 10,428,694 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:
  US15/440,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20170159500A1
• 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

An example method may comprise providing a composite pumped thermal system having a plurality of subunits, each configured for operation in a thermal storage mode and a power generation mode; operating the system in power output mode with a power output level at an intermediate output level between 0% and 100% of a maximum output level of the system; reducing the power output level to 0% of the maximum output level by reducing a power output of a first subunit operating in a power generation mode; and at 0% of the maximum output level, wherein a power input level of the system is also at 0% of a maximum input level of the system, increasing the power input level to an intermediate input level between 0% and 100% of the maximum input level by increasing a power input of a second subunit operating in a thermal storage mode.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a composite pumped thermal system configured for continuous ramping between power output and power input, wherein the composite pumped thermal system comprises a plurality of pumped thermals systems, wherein each pumped thermal system is configured for switching between at least a thermal storage mode and a power generation mode, wherein at least one pumped thermal system of the plurality of pumped thermal systems comprises a closed cycle fluid path configured to circulate a working fluid through, in sequence and in the same direction, a compressor, a hot side heat exchanger, a turbine, and a cold side heat exchanger of the pumped thermal system when the pumped thermal system operates in the thermal storage mode and when the pumped thermal system operates in the power generation mode;

operating the composite pumped thermal system in power output mode with a power output level at an intermediate power output level greater than 0% and less than 100% of a maximum power output level of the composite pumped thermal system;

reducing the power output level to 0% of the maximum power output level by reducing a respective power output of a first pumped thermal system of the plurality, wherein the first pumped thermal system is operating in a power generation mode; and

at 0% of the maximum power output level of the composite pumped thermal system, wherein a power input level of the composite pumped thermal system is also at 0% of a maximum power input level of the composite pumped thermal system, increasing the power input level of the composite pumped thermal system to an intermediate power input level greater than 0% and less than 100% of the maximum power input level by increasing a respective power input of a second pumped thermal system of the plurality, wherein the second pumped thermal system is operating in the thermal storage mode, and wherein the first pumped thermal system is not operating in the thermal storage mode.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

operating the composite pumped thermal system in power output mode at 100% of the maximum power output level; and

reducing the power output level to the intermediate power output level by reducing a respective power output of at least a third pumped thermal system of the plurality operating in a power generation mode.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

transitioning at least the third pumped thermal system of the plurality to operate in a pumped thermal storage mode;

increasing the power input level from the intermediate power input level to 100% of the maximum power input level by increasing a respective power input of at least the third pumped thermal system of the plurality operating in a thermal storage mode.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

increasing the power input level from the intermediate power input level to 100% of the maximum power input level by increasing a respective power input of at least a fourth pumped thermal system of the plurality operating in a thermal storage mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each pumped thermal system of the plurality has a respective maximum power input level less than 100% of the maximum power input level of the composite pumped thermal system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each pumped thermal system of the plurality has a respective maximum power output level less than 100% of the maximum power output level of the composite pumped thermal system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each pumped thermal system of the plurality can be continuously ramped between a respective maximum power input of each pumped thermal system and 50% of the respective maximum power input of each pumped thermal system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each pumped thermal system of the plurality can be continuously ramped between a respective maximum power output of each pumped thermal system and 50% of the respective maximum power output of each pumped thermal system.