Energy storage vessel, systems, and methods

Abstract

A vessel for a thermal energy storage system comprising a bottom wall joined to a surrounding side wall, and an inner liner disposed within the bottom wall and side wall and comprising an inner liner bottom and an inner liner side wall. One aspect of the inner liner bottom and side wall is that they are configured to repeatedly expand and contract during the thermal cycling of the storage system. 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 arranged so as to enclose a volume within the vessel. Each of the heat exchangers is suspended by a suspension assembly. The assembly may be comprised of a central support hanger, a spring loaded upper hanger, and a lower hanger.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent Application No. 61 / 314,313, filed Mar. 16, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to the following copending commonly owned United States patent applications: application Ser. No. 12 / 033,604 of Geiken et al., filed Feb. 19, 2008; application Ser. No. 12 / 172,673 of Flynn et al., filed Jul. 14, 2008; and application Ser. No. 12 / 842,203 of Bell et al., filed Jul. 23, 2010. The disclosures of these United States patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.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 ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028]The vessel may further include thermal insulation disposed between the bottom wall of the vessel and the inner liner bottom. The bottom thermal insulation may be comprised of a plurality of support members of a first insulating material interspersed within a second insulating material. The support members of the first insulating material provide structural support to the liner bottom, thereby enabling the second insulating material to have a

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

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