Pumped Thermal and Energy Storage System Units with Pumped Thermal System and Energy Storage System Subunits
First Claim
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 thermal system subunits, wherein each pumped thermal system subunit is configured for operation in at least a thermal storage mode and a 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 subunit of the plurality, wherein the first subunit 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 subunit of the plurality, wherein the second subunit is operating in a thermal storage mode.
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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
8 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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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 thermal system subunits, wherein each pumped thermal system subunit is configured for operation in at least a thermal storage mode and a 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 subunit of the plurality, wherein the first subunit 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 subunit of the plurality, wherein the second subunit is operating in a thermal storage mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification