Thermocline Arrays
First Claim
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1. A thermocline system comprising:
- an inlet fluid path, wherein the inlet fluid path receives a working fluid at a working pressure, wherein the working pressure is not atmospheric pressure;
an outlet fluid path;
a plurality of pressure vessels, each pressure vessel of the plurality comprising;
an interior volume,an inlet valve configured to connect or isolate the interior volume to or from the inlet fluid path,an outlet valve configured to connect or isolate the interior volume to or from the outlet fluid path, anda thermal insulation configured to thermally insulate the pressure vessel from the atmosphere and from each other pressure vessel in the plurality of pressure vessels; and
a solid thermal storage medium within the interior volume of each insulated pressure vessel of the plurality of pressure vessels,wherein at least one pressure vessel interior volume is connected to the inlet fluid path and the outlet fluid path, wherein at least one pressure vessel interior volume is isolated from the inlet fluid path and the outlet fluid path, wherein each pressure vessel interior volume connected to the inlet fluid path and the outlet fluid path is at the working pressure, and wherein each pressure vessel interior volume isolated from the inlet fluid path and the outlet fluid path is at a storage pressure that is not the working pressure.
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Abstract
Thermocline arrays comprising a plurality of pressure vessels that are in used in place of heat exchangers in a closed thermodynamic cycle system, such as a closed Brayton cycle power generation or energy storage system. Each pressure vessel is configurable to be connected to the working fluid stream or isolated from the working fluid stream.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thermocline system comprising:
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an inlet fluid path, wherein the inlet fluid path receives a working fluid at a working pressure, wherein the working pressure is not atmospheric pressure; an outlet fluid path; a plurality of pressure vessels, each pressure vessel of the plurality comprising; an interior volume, an inlet valve configured to connect or isolate the interior volume to or from the inlet fluid path, an outlet valve configured to connect or isolate the interior volume to or from the outlet fluid path, and a thermal insulation configured to thermally insulate the pressure vessel from the atmosphere and from each other pressure vessel in the plurality of pressure vessels; and a solid thermal storage medium within the interior volume of each insulated pressure vessel of the plurality of pressure vessels, wherein at least one pressure vessel interior volume is connected to the inlet fluid path and the outlet fluid path, wherein at least one pressure vessel interior volume is isolated from the inlet fluid path and the outlet fluid path, wherein each pressure vessel interior volume connected to the inlet fluid path and the outlet fluid path is at the working pressure, and wherein each pressure vessel interior volume isolated from the inlet fluid path and the outlet fluid path is at a storage pressure that is not the working pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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operating a closed thermodynamic cycle system in a discharge mode, wherein a working fluid stream is circulated through, in sequence, a compressor, a thermocline array, a turbine, and a cold side heat exchanger, wherein the thermocline array comprises a plurality of pressure vessels, wherein each pressure vessel is configurable to be connected to the working fluid stream or isolated from the working fluid stream, and wherein each pressure vessel contains a solid thermal storage medium configured to transfer thermal energy to the working fluid stream when the pressure vessel is connected to the working fluid stream; connecting a first pressure vessel in the plurality of pressure vessels to the working fluid stream while a respective temperature of the solid thermal storage medium in the first pressure vessel is above a first threshold value; isolating the first pressure vessel from the working fluid stream when the respective temperature of the thermal storage medium in the first pressure vessel falls below the first threshold value; and after the respective temperature of the solid thermal storage medium in the first pressure vessel falls below a second threshold value, connecting a second pressure vessel in the plurality of pressure vessels to the working fluid stream while a respective temperature of the solid thermal storage medium in the second pressure vessel is above a third threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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operating a closed thermodynamic cycle system in a charge mode, wherein a working fluid stream is circulated through, in sequence, a compressor, a thermocline array, a turbine, and a cold side heat exchanger, wherein the thermocline array comprises a plurality of pressure vessels, wherein each pressure vessel is configurable to be connected to the working fluid stream or isolated from the working fluid stream, and wherein each pressure vessel contains a solid thermal storage medium configured to receive thermal energy from the working fluid stream when the pressure vessel is connected to the working fluid stream; connecting a first pressure vessel in the plurality of pressure vessels to the working fluid stream while a respective temperature of the solid thermal storage medium in the first pressure vessel is below a first threshold value; isolating the first pressure vessel from the working fluid stream when the respective temperature of the thermal storage medium in the first pressure vessel rises above the first threshold value; and after the respective temperature of the solid thermal storage medium in the first pressure vessel rises above a second threshold value, connecting a second pressure vessel in the plurality of pressure vessels to the working fluid stream while a respective temperature of the solid thermal storage medium in the second pressure vessel is below a third threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification