Hybrid Pumped Thermal Systems
First Claim
1. A system configured to operate in at least three modes, including a pumped thermal storage mode, a power generation mode, and a hybrid mode, the system comprising:
- a compressor;
a hot side heat exchanger;
a hot thermal storage (“
HTS”
) medium;
a combustion heat exchanger;
a turbine;
a cold side heat exchanger;
a cold thermal storage (“
CTS”
) medium;
a cooling heat exchanger;
a working fluid;
a first fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in the pumped thermal storage mode, wherein the first fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the turbine, and the cold side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the HTS medium in the hot side heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the CTS medium in the cold side heat exchanger;
a second fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in the power generation mode, wherein the first fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the combustion heat exchanger, the turbine, and the cooling side exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat source in the combustion heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat sink in the cooling heat exchanger; and
a third fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in the hybrid mode, wherein the third fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, both the hot side heat exchanger and the combustion heat exchanger, the turbine, and both the cold side heat exchanger and the cooling heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the HTS medium in the hot side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat source in the combustion heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the CTS medium in the cold side heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat sink in the cooling heat exchanger.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides pumped thermal energy storage systems that can be used to store electrical energy. A pumped thermal energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump or refrigerator, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output. Systems of the present disclosure can employ solar heating for improved storage efficiency.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system configured to operate in at least three modes, including a pumped thermal storage mode, a power generation mode, and a hybrid mode, the system comprising:
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a compressor; a hot side heat exchanger; a hot thermal storage (“
HTS”
) medium;a combustion heat exchanger; a turbine; a cold side heat exchanger; a cold thermal storage (“
CTS”
) medium;a cooling heat exchanger; a working fluid; a first fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in the pumped thermal storage mode, wherein the first fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the turbine, and the cold side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the HTS medium in the hot side heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the CTS medium in the cold side heat exchanger; a second fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in the power generation mode, wherein the first fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the combustion heat exchanger, the turbine, and the cooling side exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat source in the combustion heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat sink in the cooling heat exchanger; and a third fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in the hybrid mode, wherein the third fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, both the hot side heat exchanger and the combustion heat exchanger, the turbine, and both the cold side heat exchanger and the cooling heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the HTS medium in the hot side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat source in the combustion heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the CTS medium in the cold side heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat sink in the cooling heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a compressor; a hot side heat exchanger; a hot thermal storage (“
HTS”
) medium;a combustion heat exchanger; a turbine; a cold side heat exchanger; a cold thermal storage (“
CTS”
) medium;a cooling heat exchanger; a working fluid; a fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, both the hot side heat exchanger and the combustion heat exchanger, the turbine, and both the cold side heat exchanger and the cooling heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the HTS medium in the hot side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat source in the combustion heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the CTS medium in the cold side heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat sink in the cooling heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification