Pumped Thermal Storage Cycles with Recuperation
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a compressor;
a hot side heat exchanger;
a turbine;
a cold side heat exchanger;
a working fluid;
a closed cycle fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the turbine, and the cold side heat exchanger, wherein the closed cycle fluid path comprises a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg; and
a pressure tank in fluid communication with the working fluid on the high pressure leg over a fluid connection between the high pressure leg and the pressure tank, wherein the pressure tank is configured for use in removing a quantity of the working fluid from the closed cycle fluid path by opening the fluid connection, such that pressure of the working fluid in the high pressure leg decreases and pressure of the working fluid in the pressure tank increases.
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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
26 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a compressor; a hot side heat exchanger; a turbine; a cold side heat exchanger; a working fluid; a closed cycle fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the turbine, and the cold side heat exchanger, wherein the closed cycle fluid path comprises a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg; and a pressure tank in fluid communication with the working fluid on the high pressure leg over a fluid connection between the high pressure leg and the pressure tank, wherein the pressure tank is configured for use in removing a quantity of the working fluid from the closed cycle fluid path by opening the fluid connection, such that pressure of the working fluid in the high pressure leg decreases and pressure of the working fluid in the pressure tank increases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a compressor; a hot side heat exchanger; a turbine; a cold side heat exchanger; a working fluid; a closed cycle fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the turbine, and the cold side heat exchanger, wherein the closed cycle fluid path comprises a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg; and a pressure tank in fluid communication with the working fluid on the low pressure leg over a fluid connection between the low pressure leg and the pressure tank, wherein the pressure tank is configured for use in adding a quantity of the working fluid to the closed cycle fluid path by opening the fluid connection, such that pressure of the working fluid in the low pressure leg increases and pressure of the working fluid in the pressure tank decreases. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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in a closed cycle fluid path of a pumped thermal system, circulating a working fluid through the closed cycle fluid path including, in sequence, a compressor, a hot side heat exchanger, a turbine, and a cold side heat exchanger, wherein the closed cycle fluid path comprises a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg; and removing a quantity of the working fluid from the closed cycle fluid path by opening a fluid connection between the high pressure leg and a pressure tank, such that pressure of the working fluid in the high pressure leg decreases and pressure of the working fluid in the pressure tank increases. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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in a closed cycle fluid path of a pumped thermal system, circulating a working fluid through the closed cycle fluid path including, in sequence, a compressor, a hot side heat exchanger, a turbine, and a cold side heat exchanger, wherein the closed cycle fluid path comprises a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg; and adding a quantity of the working fluid to the closed cycle fluid path by opening a fluid connection between the low pressure leg and a pressure tank, such that pressure of the working fluid in the low pressure leg increases and pressure of the working fluid in the pressure tank decreases. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification