SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POWER PEAKING WITH ENERGY STORAGE

• US 20150069758A1
• Filed: 05/21/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SuperCritical Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SuperCritical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Davidson, Chal S., Wright, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,482,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/10 the vapours being cold, e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide, ether
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/103 Carbon dioxide F01K25/065 takes precedence
• 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 3/02 Use of accumulators and specific engine types; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/12 having two or more accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/16 Mutual arrangement of accumulator and heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 7/16 the engines being only of turbine type the engines using steam of critical or overcritical pressure F01K7/32; the engines being of extraction or non-condensing type F01K7/34
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/14 Power generation using energy from the expansion of the refrigerant
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/24 Storage receiver heat
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/00 Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/005 using primary and secondary systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/008 the refrigerant being carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/06 using expanders F25B9/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Disclosed illustrative embodiments include systems and methods for power peaking with energy storage. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a power plant includes a thermodynamic piping circuit having a working fluid contained therein, and the working fluid has a flow direction and a flow rate. Power plant components are interposed in the thermodynamic piping circuit. The power plant components include a compressor system, a recuperator system, a heat source, a turbine system, a heat rejection system, and a thermal energy transfer system. A valving system is operable to selectively couple the heat rejection system, the thermal energy storage system, and the compressor system in thermohydraulic communication with the working fluid maintaining the flow direction and the flow rate to implement a thermodynamic cycle chosen from a Brayton cycle, a combination Brayton cycle/refrigeration cycle, and a Rankine cycle.

Claims

1. A power plant comprising:

a thermodynamic piping circuit having a working fluid contained therein, the working fluid having a flow direction and a flow rate;

power plant components interposed in the thermodynamic piping circuit, the power plant components including a compressor system, a recuperator system, a heat source, a turbine system, a heat rejection system, and a thermal energy transfer system; and

a valving system operable to selectively couple the heat rejection system, the thermal energy storage system, and the compressor system in thermohydraulic communication with the working fluid maintaining the flow direction and the flow rate to implement a thermodynamic cycle chosen from a Brayton cycle, a combination Brayton cycle/refrigeration cycle, and a Rankine cycle.

2. The power plant of claim 1, wherein the heat rejection system includes a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between the working fluid and a heat transfer medium.

3. The power plant of claim 2, wherein the heat rejection system is configured to provide the expanded working fluid cooled by the first heat exchanger to the compressor system only.

4. The power plant of claim 2, wherein the thermal energy storage system includes:

a reservoir configured to contain therein the thermal energy storage medium; and

a second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between the working fluid and the thermal energy storage medium contained in the reservoir.

5. The power plant of claim 4, wherein the reservoir includes at least one tube configured to contain therein the working fluid.

6. The power plant of claim 4, wherein the thermal energy storage system further includes an expansion device configured to further expand the working fluid from the heat rejection system and provide the further expanded working fluid to the second heat exchanger.

7. The power plant of claim 6, wherein the heat rejection system is configured to provide the expanded working fluid cooled by the first heat exchanger to the compressor system and to the expansion device of the thermal energy storage system.

8. The power plant of claim 4, wherein the heat rejection system is configured to provide expanded working fluid to the second heat exchanger of the thermal energy storage system without further expansion of the working fluid by the thermal energy storage system.

9. The power plant of claim 8, wherein the heat rejection system is furthered configured to provide expanded working fluid to the thermal energy storage system without cooling of the working fluid by the first heat exchanger and without further expansion of the working fluid by the thermal energy storage system.

10. The power plant of claim 8, wherein the heat rejection system is furthered configured to provide expanded working fluid to the thermal energy storage system with cooling of the working fluid by the first heat exchanger and without further expansion of the working fluid by the thermal energy storage system.

11. The power plant of claim 1, further comprising an electrical generator rotatably coupled to the turbine system.

12. The power plant of claim 1, wherein the compressor system is rotatably coupled to the turbine system.

13. The power plant of claim 1, wherein the compressor system is not rotatably coupled to the turbine system.

14. The power plant of claim 1, wherein the working fluid includes carbon dioxide.

15. The power plant of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy storage medium includes water.

16. A power plant comprising:

a compressor system structured to compress a working fluid;

a recuperator system structured to heat the compressed working fluid;

a heat source structured to further heat the heated compressed working fluid from the recuperator system;

a turbine system coupled to receive the further heated compressed working fluid from the heat source and structured to convert a drop in enthalpy of working fluid to mechanical energy, the recuperator system being further structured to cool expanded working fluid from the turbine system;

a heat rejection system structured to selectably cool expanded working fluid and provide the expanded working fluid cooled by the heat rejection system and further structured to selectably provide the expanded working fluid without being cooled by the heat rejection system; and

a thermal energy storage system structured to selectably further expand the working fluid and to selectively transfer thermal energy between the working fluid and a thermal energy storage medium and provide the working fluid to the compressor system.

17. The power plant of claim 16, wherein the heat rejection system includes a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between the working fluid and a heat transfer medium.

18. The power plant of claim 17, wherein the heat rejection system is configured to provide the expanded working fluid cooled by the first heat exchanger to the compressor system only.

19. The power plant of claim 17, wherein the thermal energy storage system includes:

a reservoir configured to contain therein the thermal energy storage medium; and

a second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between the working fluid and the thermal energy storage medium contained in the reservoir.

20. The power plant of claim 19, wherein the reservoir includes at least one tube configured to contain therein the working fluid.

21. The power plant of claim 19, wherein the thermal energy storage system further includes an expansion device configured to further expand the working fluid from the heat rejection system and provide the further expanded working fluid to the second heat exchanger.

22. The power plant of claim 21, wherein the heat rejection system is configured to provide the expanded working fluid cooled by the first heat exchanger to the compressor system and to the expansion device of the thermal energy storage system.

23. The power plant of claim 19, wherein the heat rejection system is configured to provide expanded working fluid to the second heat exchanger of the thermal energy storage system without further expansion of the working fluid by the thermal energy storage system.

24. The power plant of claim 23, wherein the heat rejection system is furthered configured to provide expanded working fluid to the thermal energy storage system without cooling of the working fluid by the first heat exchanger and without further expansion of the working fluid by the thermal energy storage system.

25. The power plant of claim 23, wherein the heat rejection system is furthered configured to provide expanded working fluid to the thermal energy storage system with cooling of the working fluid by the first heat exchanger and without further expansion of the working fluid by the thermal energy storage system.

26. The power plant of claim 16, further comprising an electrical generator rotatably coupled to the turbine system.

27. The power plant of claim 16, wherein the compressor system is rotatably coupled to the turbine system.

28. The power plant of claim 16, wherein the compressor system is not rotatably coupled to the turbine system.

29. The power plant of claim 16, wherein the working fluid includes carbon dioxide.

30. The power plant of claim 16, wherein the thermal energy storage medium includes water.

31. A method comprising:

implementing a first thermodynamic cycle with power plant components interposed in a thermodynamic piping circuit having a working fluid contained therein, the working fluid having a flow direction and a flow rate, the power plant components including a compressor system, a recuperator system, a heat source, a turbine system, a heat rejection system, and a thermal energy transfer system, the first thermodynamic cycle including a thermodynamic cycle chosen from a Brayton cycle, a combination Brayton cycle/refrigeration cycle, and a Rankine cycle; and

operating a valving system to selectively couple the heat rejection system, the thermal energy storage system, and the compressor system in thermohydraulic communication with the working fluid maintaining the flow direction and the flow rate to implement a second thermodynamic cycle that is different from the first thermodynamic cycle, the second thermodynamic cycle chosen from a Brayton cycle, a combination Brayton cycle/refrigeration cycle, and a Rankine cycle.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein operating a valving system to implement a Brayton cycle and operating a valving system to implement a combination Brayton cycle/refrigeration cycle include:

positioning selected valves to cause working fluid to flow in the flow direction at the flow rate to transfer heat between the working fluid and a heat transfer medium in a first heat exchanger in the heat rejection system.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein operating a valving system to implement a Brayton cycle further includes positioning selected valves to cause working fluid to flow in the flow direction at the flow rate to:

provide the expanded working fluid cooled by the first heat exchanger to the compressor system only.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein operating a valving system to implement a combination Brayton cycle/refrigeration cycle further includes positioning selected valves to cause working fluid to flow in the flow direction at the flow rate to:

provide the expanded working fluid cooled by the first heat exchanger to the compressor system and to an expansion device of the thermal energy storage system;

transfer heat in a second heat exchanger from a thermal energy storage medium to the working fluid further expanded by the expansion device of the thermal energy storage; and

provide the further expanded working fluid cooled by the second heat exchanger to the compressor system.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein operating a valving system to implement a Rankine cycle includes positioning selected valves to cause working fluid to flow in the flow direction at the flow rate to:

provide expanded working fluid to the thermal energy storage system without further expansion of the working fluid by an expansion device of the thermal energy storage system.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein operating a valving system to implement a Rankine cycle further includes positioning selected valves to cause working fluid to flow in the flow direction at the flow rate to:

provide expanded working fluid to the thermal energy storage system without cooling of the working fluid by a first heat exchanger of the heat rejection system and without further expansion of the working fluid by an expansion device of the thermal energy storage system.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein operating a valving system to implement a Rankine cycle further includes positioning selected valves to cause working fluid to flow in the flow direction at the flow rate to:

provide expanded working fluid to the thermal energy storage system with cooling of the working fluid by a first heat exchanger of the heat rejection system and without further expansion of the working fluid by an expansion device of the thermal energy storage system.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising generating electrical power with an electrical generator rotatably coupled to the turbine system.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the working fluid includes carbon dioxide.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the thermal energy storage medium includes water.

41. A method comprising:

positioning a plurality of valves to operate a power plant with a working fluid having a flow rate and a flow direction to implement a combination Brayton cycle/refrigeration cycle to store thermal energy and generate electrical power during a first time period associated with a first level of demand for electrical power and a first price of electrical power;

repositioning the plurality of valves to operate the power plant with the working fluid having the flow rate and the flow direction to implement a Rankine cycle to recover the stored thermal energy during a second time period associated with a second level of demand for electrical power that is higher than the first level of demand for electrical power and a second price of electrical power that is higher than the first level of demand for electrical power; and

repositioning the plurality of valves to operate the power plant with the working fluid having the flow rate and the flow direction to implement a Brayton cycle to generate electrical power.