Method of and system for utilizing thermal energy accumulator

• US 4,555,905 A
• Filed: 03/18/1985
• Issued: 12/03/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Company Limited (Mitsui E&S Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Company Limited (Mitsui E&S Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Endou, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrager, Allen M.
• Application Number:
  US06/713,570
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 60/659, 60/715
• US Class Current: 60/659
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 21/005 using mixtures of liquid and steam or evaporation of a liquid by expansion
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 3/02 Use of accumulators and specific engine types; Control thereof

Abstract

A method and system is described which employs a thermal energy accumulator in which a thermal energy fluid and hot water coexist with each other. Hot water is taken out of the accumulator and supplied as thermal energy to an energy utilization compound arrangement of a total flow turbine and a steam turbine driving an electric power generator. The thermal energy fluid may be in the form of saturated steam, for example.

Claims

1. A thermal energy storage type power generating system utilizing hot water, comprising:

a thermal energy accumulator to store hot water;

a total flow turbine driven by hot water supplied from said accumulator;

a steam turbine driven by steam supplied from said total flow turbine;

power generator means for power generation connected to and driven by said total flow turbine and said steam turbine; and

a steam supplying device for supplementing make-up amounts of steam required to maintain temperature and pressure of hot water in said accumulator constant at all times.

2. A power generating system according to claim 1 which further includes a boiler for producing hot water and steam, at least a portion of said produced steam being supplementally supplied to said accumulator for make-up purposes.

3. A power generating system according to claim 1 wherein said power generator means comprises a single power generator driven by said total flow turbine and said steam turbine through a common drive shaft.

4. A power generating system according to claim 2 wherein said power generator means comprises a single power generator driven by said total flow turbine and said steam turbine through a common drive shaft.