THERMOELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING THERMOELECTRIC ENERGY
First Claim
1. A thermoelectric energy storage system for providing thermal energy to a thermodynamic machine for generating electricity, the system comprising:
- a heat exchanger;
a hot storage unit which is connected to the heat exchanger and which contains a thermal storage medium; and
a working fluid circuit configured to circulate a working fluid through the heat exchanger for heat transfer with the thermal storage medium contained in the hot storage unit, andwherein working fluid circuit is configured to minimize a temperature difference between the working fluid and the thermal storage medium in the hot storage unit during heat transfer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for thermoelectric energy storage. A thermoelectric energy storage system having at least one hot storage unit is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, each hot storage unit includes a hot tank and a cold tank connected via a heat exchanger and containing a thermal storage medium. The thermoelectric energy storage system also includes a working fluid circuit for circulating working fluid through each heat exchanger for heat transfer with the thermal storage medium. Improved roundtrip efficiency is achieved by minimizing the temperature difference between the working fluid and the thermal storage medium in each heat exchanger during heat transfer. Exemplary embodiments realize this improved roundtrip efficiency through modification of thermal storage media parameters.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thermoelectric energy storage system for providing thermal energy to a thermodynamic machine for generating electricity, the system comprising:
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a heat exchanger; a hot storage unit which is connected to the heat exchanger and which contains a thermal storage medium; and a working fluid circuit configured to circulate a working fluid through the heat exchanger for heat transfer with the thermal storage medium contained in the hot storage unit, and wherein working fluid circuit is configured to minimize a temperature difference between the working fluid and the thermal storage medium in the hot storage unit during heat transfer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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7. A method for storing thermoelectric energy in a thermoelectric energy storage system, comprising;
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charging a hot storage unit by providing heat via a heat exchanger to a thermal storage medium by compressing a working fluid; discharging the hot storage unit by expanding the working fluid heated via the heat exchanger from the thermal storage medium through a thermodynamic machine; and modifying thermal storage media parameters to ensure that a temperature difference between the working fluid and the thermal storage medium is minimized during charging and discharging. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification