Thermal energy storage vessel, systems, and methods

Abstract

A containment vessel for a thermal energy storage system comprising a bottom wall joined to a surrounding containment side wall, and a liner comprising a liner bottom disposed upon the bottom wall of the vessel, the liner bottom having an outer perimeter and comprising an array of plates, each of the plates joined at a portion of its perimeter to a portion of the perimeter of an adjacent plate by a flexible joint; and a liner side wall joined to the outer perimeter of the liner bottom and disposed within the containment side wall. A thermal energy storage system comprising the containment vessel and an array of heat exchangers is also disclosed. The heat exchangers are disposed in the vessel, and are each supported by a support frame joined to one of the plates of the array of plates of the liner.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 228,351, filed Jul. 24, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to copending commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 033,604 of Geiken et al., filed Feb. 19, 2008; and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 172,673 of Flynn et al., filed Jul. 14, 2008. The disclosures of these United States patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The inventions disclosed herein relate generally to energy storage and, more particularly, to thermal energy storage systems and methods thereof.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Worldwide, there are ever-growing demands for electricity due to increasing populations, technology advancements requiring the use of electricity, and the proliferation of such technology to more and more c...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, when the sun or wind is not available, such solutions are not producing any power.

Similar issues arise for wind turbines during calm weather.

While this system takes advantage of a vertical temperature gradient within the thermocline tank to enable simplification to a single tank, challenges with respect to the pumping, valving, and delivery of molten salt through a complex network of piping to the solar field, and to the power generator remain present.

The handling of heat transfer fluid by standard pumps, valves and piping is much simpler than the equivalent handling of a molten inorganic salt, which is corrosive, and which is abrasive if some portion of solid phase salt (crystals) is present, and which can solidify in the pumps, valves, and piping at temperatures lower than 400° F., thus requiring a disruptive thawing process step to restart the system.

This simplification notwithstanding, the problems of containing the molten salt, and transferring thermal energy to and from it are significant, particularly at the scale needed by a public utility for an economically viable thermal energy storage process.

Images