Modularized electric heating type calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device

Through the modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device, the problems of poor thermal conductivity and uneven gas distribution of the calcium hydroxide energy storage and release system are solved by using a honeycomb array and a tree-like gas channel structure. Combined with high-voltage pulse and vibration cleaning components, efficient heat transfer and long-term stable operation are achieved, thereby improving the reaction rate and material conversion rate of the system.

CN120609224AActive Publication Date: 2025-09-09ORDOS TENGYUAN COAL CO LTD +1
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202511029081.2
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-07-25
Publication Date
2025-09-09
Estimated Expiration
2045-07-25

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing calcium hydroxide energy storage and release system has poor thermal conductivity, uneven gas distribution, high pressure drop, easy formation of hot spots and blockages, lack of effective cleaning mechanism, affecting the reaction rate and material conversion rate, and difficult to achieve long-term stable operation.

Method used

A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device is used, with a honeycomb array structure and tree-like gas channels to achieve uniform gas distribution and efficient heat transfer. Combined with high-pressure pulse cleaning components and vibration components, the sintered particles are stripped off, and the device is designed as a detachable modular structure for easy maintenance and expansion.

Benefits of technology

It achieves uniform distribution of gas and efficient heat transfer in the reaction bed, inhibits material sintering, maintains the activity of the reaction bed and smooth gas flow, improves the operational stability and reliability of the system, and reduces operation and maintenance costs.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The modularized electric heating type calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device comprises a reactor shell, a reactor upper cover is fixedly connected to the top of the reactor shell, the reactor upper cover communicates with an upper pipe section, the bottom of the reactor shell communicates with a lower pipe section, and an electric heater is fixedly connected into the reactor upper cover; a bearing structure is fixedly connected in the reactor shell, a reaction module is arranged on the bearing structure, the reaction module comprises a plurality of honeycomb units, the honeycomb units are filled with tree-shaped gas channels and Ca (OH) 2, the tree-shaped gas channels are located in the Ca (OH) 2, a high-voltage pulse cleaning assembly is arranged in the reactor upper cover, and a vibration assembly is arranged at the bottom of the bearing structure; and the controller is provided with a control system, and the heater, the high-voltage pulse cleaning assembly and the vibration assembly are all electrically connected with the controller. According to the invention, high-efficiency thermochemical energy storage and controllable cleaning and maintenance are realized on the premise of ensuring the compactness of the system, and the system has good engineering practicability and popularization prospects.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of thermochemical energy storage, and in particular to a modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device. Background Art

[0002] With the continued increase in the proportion of renewable energy generation and the growing demand for stable and efficient thermal energy in industrial processes, the development of large-scale, long-cycle, low-loss thermal energy storage technologies is crucial. Thermochemical energy storage has attracted widespread attention due to its high theoretical energy storage density and ability to store thermal energy for long periods at ambient temperatures. Among the many thermochemical energy storage material systems, Ca(OH)2 is considered a highly promising medium- and high-temperature energy storage material due to its significant advantages, including its wide availability, low cost, non-toxicity, good reaction reversibility, and moderate reaction temperature.

[0003] The current calcium hydroxide energy storage and release system mainly adopts a fixed bed reactor structure, which forms a static bed by piling up reactant particles or molded bodies, allowing the airflow to pass through the gaps between materials to achieve heterogeneous reactions. This type of reactor has the advantages of simple structure and high packing density. However, the dense stacking of materials leads to poor thermal conductivity, and heat is difficult to be transferred evenly and quickly to the interior of the bed. Especially in the endothermic dehydration stage, high-temperature "hot spots" are easily formed in the area close to the heat source, causing the material to sinter and deactivate; at the same time, the gas has a large flow resistance and high pressure drop in the tortuous channels between the filling particles, and is prone to channeling, that is, the gas preferentially chooses the path with the least resistance to pass quickly, resulting in uneven gas distribution on the cross section of the bed, significantly reducing the reaction rate and the overall conversion rate of the material.

[0004] In addition, most existing systems lack effective online cleaning mechanisms, making it difficult to promptly remove sintered particles and blockages formed during circulation, which can easily cause obstruction of the airflow channel and increased pressure drop, further affecting the system's continuous operation capability and heat storage performance.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a new calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device with optimized structure, efficient heat transfer and self-cleaning function, which can integrate the endothermic dehydration and exothermic hydration processes in a single reactor, while taking into account modular scalability and long-term operation reliability, so as to promote the engineering application of this type of heat storage technology. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following solution: The present invention provides a modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device, comprising:

[0008] A reactor shell, wherein the top of the reactor shell is fixedly connected to a reactor cover, the bottom of the reactor shell is fixedly connected to a frame, the reactor cover is connected to an upper pipe section, the bottom of the reactor shell is connected to a lower pipe section, and an electric heater is fixedly connected inside the reactor cover;

[0009] A load-bearing structure is fixedly connected to the reactor shell. The load-bearing structure is a planar support plate in the form of a honeycomb array, which is provided with a large number of hexagonal openings. A reaction module is provided on the load-bearing structure. The reaction module includes a plurality of honeycomb units. The honeycomb units are filled with tree-like gas channels and Ca(OH)2. The tree-like gas channels are located in the Ca(OH)2. A high-pressure pulse cleaning component is provided in the reactor cover. A vibration component is provided at the bottom of the load-bearing structure.

[0010] A controller is provided with a control system, wherein the heater, the high-pressure pulse cleaning component and the vibration component are all electrically connected to the controller.

[0011] Preferably, a plurality of non-equal-height fins are arranged on the inner wall of the honeycomb unit, and the non-equal-height fins are higher on one side close to the heater than on the other side.

[0012] Preferably, the tree-like gas channel includes a main gas channel, three branch gas channels are fixedly connected to the tree-like gas channel, the branch gas channels are connected to the tree-like gas channel, and a number of circular microholes are provided on the main gas channel and the branch gas channels, and the branch gas channels radiate from the main gas channel to the area between two adjacent non-equal height fins.

[0013] Preferably, the two upper and lower adjacent main gas channels are connected to each other, and the angle between the branch gas channel and the main gas channel is in the range of 60°±5°. On the same height section, the three branch gas channels are distributed circumferentially at an equal angle of 120°.

[0014] Preferably, the high-pressure pulse cleaning assembly includes a high-pressure gas storage tank, a high-pressure gas charging pipe and a plurality of high-pressure pulse nozzles, and the high-pressure gas storage tank is connected to an external compressed gas source through the high-pressure gas charging pipe.

[0015] Preferably, the vibration assembly includes a vibrator, which includes a vibrator base, a vibrator housing, a resonant spring, an armature, an electromagnet and a vibrating body, the vibrating body is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the load-bearing structure, the vibrator housing is fixedly connected between the vibrator base and the vibrating body, the vibrating body is fixedly connected with an electromagnet, the vibrator base is fixedly connected with an armature, a resonant spring is fixedly connected between the vibrator base and the vibrating body, and the resonant spring, the armature and the electromagnet are all located inside the vibrator housing.

[0016] Preferably, a particle collecting bin is installed in the reactor shell, and the particle collecting bin is located below the main gas channel.

[0017] Preferably, the reaction module further includes a semi-honeycomb unit and a triangular unit, and the semi-honeycomb unit and the triangular unit are filled with thermochemical materials.

[0018] Preferably, the reactor shell and the reactor cover are fixed and sealed by a flange, the electric heater includes a straight cylindrical section and a right-angle elbow section, the straight cylindrical section and the right-angle elbow section are fixedly connected, and the straight cylindrical section and the right-angle elbow section are fixedly connected inside the reactor cover.

[0019] Preferably, the operation process of the device includes:

[0020] Heat storage stage: air enters the upper pipe section, is heated by the electric heater, and then enters the reaction module. It undergoes an endothermic decomposition reaction with Ca(OH)2 through the tree-like gas channel to generate CaO and release water vapor;

[0021] Heat release stage: Water vapor is introduced into the reaction module from the lower pipe section, undergoing an exothermic hydration reaction with CaO to release heat energy;

[0022] Cleaning stage: In the non-reaction stage, the controller controls the high-pressure pulse cleaning component to work in conjunction with the vibration component to peel off the sintered particles on the bed surface.

[0023] The present invention discloses the following technical effects:

[0024] First, in this device, the reactor shell and the reactor cover are connected to form a closed cavity, which provides a closed space for Ca(OH)2 / CaO. The electric heater can heat the gas. The upper and lower pipe sections are used to introduce and discharge the gas during the heat storage and release process. The honeycomb unit is the core reaction unit and the main part of energy storage and release.

[0025] Second, in this device, the tree-like gas channels are used to achieve uniform gas distribution and efficient heat and mass transfer within the reaction bed. The heated gas is evenly distributed through the tree-like gas channels into the Ca(OH)2 reaction material filled in the honeycomb unit. The tree-like gas channel design avoids direct contact between the heater and the reaction material, effectively suppressing local overheating, thermal stress accumulation, and material sintering.

[0026] 3. In this device, the load-bearing structure is a flat support plate in the form of a honeycomb array, with a large number of hexagonal openings, which has good support strength and gas permeability, can achieve heat exchange and airflow penetration, and prevent the reaction material from penetrating and falling;

[0027] 4. The modular structural design of the present invention allows the honeycomb units to be disassembled and spliced, making it suitable for different application scenarios. Maintenance and expansion are flexible and convenient. While ensuring the compactness of the system, it achieves high-efficiency thermochemical energy storage and controllable cleaning maintenance, and has good engineering practicality and promotion prospects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Middle AA section view;

[0031] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Middle BB cross-section;

[0032] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an electric heater of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 is a bottom view of the electric heater of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a high-voltage pulse assembly of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a high-voltage pulse assembly of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the internal reaction module of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the honeycomb unit of the internal reaction module of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of a half honeycomb unit of an internal reaction module of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the triangular unit of the internal reaction module of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of a cross section of a honeycomb unit of a reaction module of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the tree-like gas channel structure of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the load-bearing structure of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the vibrator of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the working of the particle collection bin of the present invention;

[0045] Among them, 1. frame; 2. reactor shell; 3. reactor cover; 4. reaction module; 5. load-bearing structure; 6. tree-shaped gas channel; 7. vibrator; 8. sintered particles; 21. lower pipe section; 31. upper pipe section; 22. particle collection bin; 32. electric heater; 33. high-pressure gas storage bin; 41. honeycomb unit; 42. semi-honeycomb unit; 43. triangular unit; 61. main gas channel; 62. branch gas channel; 71. vibrator base; 72. vibrator housing; 73. resonance spring; 74. armature; 75. electromagnet; 76. vibrator; 331. high-pressure inflation pipe; 332. high-pressure pulse nozzle; 411. non-uniform fins. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0047] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0048] Reference Figure 1-16 The present invention provides a modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device, comprising:

[0049] The reactor shell 2 has a reactor cover 3 fixedly connected to the top of the reactor shell 2, a frame 1 fixedly connected to the bottom of the reactor shell 2, an upper pipe section 31 connected to the reactor cover 3, a lower pipe section 21 connected to the bottom of the reactor shell 2, and an electric heater 32 fixedly connected to the reactor cover 3;

[0050] A load-bearing structure 5 is fixedly connected to the reactor shell 2, and a reaction module 4 is arranged on the load-bearing structure 5. The reaction module 4 includes a plurality of honeycomb units 41. The honeycomb units 41 are filled with tree-like gas channels 6 and Ca(OH)2. The tree-like gas channels 6 are located in the Ca(OH)2. A high-pressure pulse cleaning component is arranged in the reactor cover 3, and a vibration component is arranged at the bottom of the load-bearing structure 5.

[0051] The controller has a control system, and the heater, the high-pressure pulse cleaning component and the vibration component are all electrically connected to the controller.

[0052] In this device, the reactor shell 2 and the reactor cover 3 are connected to form a closed cavity. The electric heater 32 is preferably a resistive electric heater, and the temperature can be adjusted by a control circuit. It is arranged on both sides of the reactor cover 3 to indirectly drive the Ca(OH)2 reaction by heating the working gas. The honeycomb unit 41 is the core reaction unit, and the tree-like gas channel 6 is integrated inside to achieve uniform distribution of gas in the reaction bed and efficient heat and mass transfer. In order to improve the long-term operation stability of the reaction module and solve the problems of increased gas flow resistance and decreased reaction efficiency caused by sintering and agglomeration of Ca(OH)2 after multiple thermochemical cycles, the present invention integrates a high-pressure pulse cleaning component inside the reactor cover 3. The high-pressure pulse cleaning component forms a high-energy impact airflow to act on the upper bed layer of the reaction module to peel off the sintered or agglomerated particles on the bed surface to prevent them from forming an insulation layer or blocking the gas channel during the reaction process, affecting the heat and mass transfer efficiency. The vibration component can improve the particle removal effect and prevent local agglomerated particles from remaining.

[0053] The heated gas is evenly distributed into the Ca(OH)2 reaction material filled in the honeycomb unit 41 through the tree-like gas channels 6. The tree-like gas channels 6 are designed to avoid direct contact between the heater and the reaction material, effectively suppressing local overheating, thermal stress accumulation, and material sintering.

[0054] The upper pipe section 31 and the lower pipe section 21 are used for the introduction and discharge of gas during the heat storage and release process. The functions of the upper pipe section 31 and the lower pipe section 21 in different operating stages are as follows:

[0055] Heat storage stage:

[0056] Air is introduced through the upper pipe section 31 of the reactor cover 3. Before entering the honeycomb unit 41, it is heated to a set temperature by the electric heaters 32 installed on both sides of the inner wall of the reactor cover 3. The heated air then flows through the tree-like gas channels 6 into the Ca(OH)2 material bed filled in the honeycomb reaction module, triggering the following endothermic decomposition reaction:

[0057] Ca(OH)2→CaO+H2O↑

[0058] During this process, the generated water vapor is discharged along the tree-like gas channel 6 and discharged from the device through the lower pipe section 21 at the bottom, thereby achieving continuous and unobstructed airflow.

[0059] Heat release stage:

[0060] Water vapor is introduced into the device from the lower pipe section 21 and enters the honeycomb unit 41 filled with CaO, where it undergoes a heat release hydration reaction:

[0061] CaO+H2O→Ca(OH)2

[0062] The water vapor achieves rapid penetration and uniform contact under the distribution effect of the tree-like gas channels 6, which significantly improves the reaction rate and heat output efficiency.

[0063] The excess gas is discharged through the upper pipe section 31, forming a reverse airflow channel design with the heat storage stage, which is helpful for reaction control and switching operations under high and low temperature conditions.

[0064] To ensure the structural integrity and stability of the reaction module during operation, a load-bearing structure 5 is set at the bottom of the reactor shell 2. The structure is a planar support plate in the form of a honeycomb array, with a large number of hexagonal openings, which has good support strength and gas permeability, and can realize heat exchange and airflow penetration. To prevent the reaction material from penetrating and falling, the characteristic size of the openings of the support plate is designed to be significantly smaller than the particle size of the Ca(OH)2 raw material. Preferably, the spacing between the opposite sides of the hexagonal holes is controlled to be less than 0.3mm to effectively intercept the raw material particles. Before loading, the Ca(OH)2 raw material is sieved and the particle size range is controlled to be 0.5-2mm, so as to ensure that the particles can be stably accumulated and will not penetrate the support plate openings due to gravity or airflow scouring, thereby ensuring the reliability and long-term stability of the reaction bed operation. The edge of the load-bearing structure 5 is fixed to the shell by welding or bolts, which can effectively bear the weight of the reaction module and prevent it from being dislocated or deformed during long-term operation.

[0065] The modular structure offers excellent scalability. When increasing heat storage and release capacity or adapting to larger reactors is required, the number of honeycomb units can be increased, allowing for orderly horizontal or vertical splicing without replacing the entire system. Module expansion is typically performed during the initial design phase of system operation and can also be adjusted later in operation based on changes in energy storage requirements.

[0066] During the installation process, the honeycomb units 41 can be embedded into the reactor shell 2 one by one, and the splicing can be completed in a predetermined order. The honeycomb units 41 can be stably positioned by mechanical connection methods such as snaps, threads or slots to ensure good airtightness between the units and smooth communication of the gas channels. The honeycomb units 41 can be arranged in multiple layers. Figure 2 and Figure 3Although the buckle structure is not shown in detail in the figure, the honeycomb units 41 are preferably connected detachably by mechanical means such as elastic buckles or threads to ensure convenient assembly and reliable airtightness.

[0067] In addition, the modular design also facilitates subsequent maintenance and upkeep. After a period of operation, if a honeycomb unit affects the overall operation due to degradation of reaction performance, channel blockage or structural damage, the unit can be disassembled individually for replacement or repair without disassembling the entire device, significantly reducing operation and maintenance costs and improving system reliability and availability.

[0068] As a further optimization solution, a plurality of non-uniform fins 411 are arranged on the inner wall of the honeycomb unit 41 , and the non-uniform fins 411 are higher on one side close to the heater than on the other side.

[0069] Each honeycomb unit 41 is provided with a linear gradient non-contoured fin 411 inside. The height of the fin on the side close to the electric heater 32 is relatively high. The non-contoured fin 411 structure can enhance the heat exchange capacity close to the heater side, making the temperature distribution inside the reaction bed more uniform, thereby effectively avoiding local overheating in the high-temperature area during the heat storage stage; since Ca(OH)2 has the risk of sintering and agglomeration at high temperatures, this structure reduces the range of the area exceeding the sintering temperature by adjusting the temperature gradient, preventing the degradation of the reaction material structure, and improving the reversibility and cycle stability of the reaction.

[0070] A further optimized solution is that the tree-like gas channel 6 includes a main gas channel 61, and three branch gas channels 62 are fixedly connected to the tree-like gas channel 6. The branch gas channels 62 are connected to the tree-like gas channel 6. A number of circular microholes are provided on the main gas channel 61 and the branch gas channels 62. The branch gas channels 62 radiate from the main gas channel 61 to the area between two adjacent non-equal height fins 411.

[0071] The main gas channel 61 runs through the reactor longitudinally and serves as the main transport path for high-temperature water vapor; multiple branch gas channels 62 radiate from the main gas channel 61 to the middle area of ​​each non-uniform fin 411, achieving deep penetration and uniform distribution of gas inside the heat storage material.

[0072] To further improve mass transfer efficiency and enhance gas-solid contact, circular micropores are evenly distributed on the channel walls of the main gas channel 61 and the branch gas channel 62. The diameter of these circular micropores is smaller than the average particle size of the Ca(OH)2 material being filled (usually controlled within the 50-80% particle size range) to prevent filler from entering the channel and causing blockage, while ensuring that the gas can laterally penetrate from the channel sidewalls to the filler layer. The holes are arranged at equal intervals along the axial direction of the channel, and the pore spacing of the circular micropores is generally set to 1.5-2.5 times the channel diameter. In the circumferential direction, the holes are arranged in three or four spiral rows, forming a circumferential distribution to improve penetration uniformity and effective coverage. This type of microporous structure can be produced using processes such as laser drilling and has good manufacturability and consistency. This circular microporous structure significantly enhances the penetration depth and contact area of ​​the gas in the Ca(OH)2 filler layer, thereby improving the reaction rate and system heat exchange efficiency.

[0073] The multi-directional structure of the branched gas channels enhances the exhaust efficiency of water vapor and effectively avoids local poor heat transfer or reaction blockage caused by steam retention.

[0074] To further optimize the solution, the two upper and lower adjacent main gas channels 61 are connected to each other, and the angle between the branch gas channel 62 and the main gas channel 61 is in the range of 60°±5°. On the same height section, the three branch gas channels 62 are distributed circumferentially at an equal angle of 120°.

[0075] The axis of each branch gas channel 62 forms a three-dimensional angle of 60°±5° with the axis of the main gas channel 61, taking into account both the axial propulsion and lateral diffusion capabilities of the gas. On the same height cross-section, the three branch gas channels 62 are distributed circumferentially at 120° equal angles to ensure uniform coverage of the channel structure within the cross-section. In the vertical direction, adjacent layer branch gas channels 62 are staggered at 60°, thus constructing a three-dimensional tree-like topological network with spatial rotational symmetry. This highly symmetrical, multi-directional, multi-level channel structure, combined with the circumferential micropore design, significantly improves the flow distribution and mass transfer process of water vapor in the packed bed, reduces channel pressure drop, avoids local airflow short-circuits or dead corners, and ultimately achieves an improvement in the overall energy efficiency of the system and enhanced operational performance.

[0076] To further optimize the solution, the high-pressure pulse cleaning component includes a high-pressure gas storage tank 33, a high-pressure gas charging pipe 331 and a plurality of high-pressure pulse nozzles 332. The high-pressure gas storage tank 33 is connected to an external compressed gas source through the high-pressure gas charging pipe 331.

[0077] The high-pressure gas storage tank 33 is connected to the external compressed gas source through the high-pressure inflation pipe 331, and is provided with a pressure regulating valve and an electromagnetic pulse valve, which can be automatically triggered by the control system in the preset "cleaning stage" to release a short-term high-pressure pulse airflow.

[0078] Multiple high-pressure pulse nozzles 332 face downward, are arranged at a position lower than the electric heater 32, and are evenly distributed along the cross-section of the reactor. After the cleaning phase begins, the compressed air in the high-pressure gas storage bin 33 is quickly released through the pulse nozzles 332, forming a high-energy impact airflow that acts on the upper bed layer of the reaction module to peel off the sintered or agglomerated particles on the surface of the bed layer, preventing them from forming an insulating layer or blocking the gas channel during the reaction process, affecting the heat and mass transfer efficiency.

[0079] This high-pressure pulse cleaning method has the advantages of being non-contact, fast response, and having a wide impact range. It is suitable for the periodic treatment of surface agglomeration problems in thermochemical reaction beds. It can effectively improve the permeability and reaction activity of the reaction bed layer, and ensure the performance stability of the device during long-term operation.

[0080] A further optimized solution is provided, in which the vibration assembly includes a vibrator 7, which includes a vibrator base 71, a vibrator housing 72, a resonance spring 73, an armature 74, an electromagnet 75 and a vibrating body 76. The vibrating body 76 is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the load-bearing structure 5, the vibrator housing 72 is fixedly connected between the vibrator base 71 and the vibrating body 76, the electromagnet 75 is fixedly connected to the vibrating body 76, the armature 74 is fixedly connected to the vibrator base 71, the resonance spring 73 is fixedly connected between the vibrator base 71 and the vibrating body 76, and the resonance spring 73, the armature 74 and the electromagnet 75 are all located in the vibrator housing 72.

[0081] To further enhance particle removal and prevent the accumulation of locally agglomerated particles, a vibrator 7 is installed beneath the load-bearing structure 5. This vibrator 7, linked to the high-voltage pulse assembly via a control system, activates synchronously during the cleaning phase, applying periodic low-frequency vibrations to the load-bearing structure 5 and the supported reaction modules 4. This vibration creates vertical disturbances within the bed, helping to remove some sintered particles 8 adhering to the fin surfaces or the module's bottom support surface, thereby improving cleaning efficiency and enhancing bed permeability.

[0082] According to a further optimized solution, a particle collecting bin 22 is installed in the reactor shell 2 , and the particle collecting bin 22 is located below the main gas channel 61 .

[0083] The particles peeled off from the reaction module 4 are guided by the main gas channel 61 and fall into the Figure 12 The sintered particles 8 are shown in a collection bin 22. The collection bin 22 is arranged below the load-bearing structure 5 and communicates with the main gas channel outlet. The internal particles can be discharged regularly by manual or automatic means to prevent particle accumulation from obstructing the system airflow path.

[0084] According to a further optimized solution, the reaction module 4 further includes a semi-honeycomb unit 42 and a triangular unit 43 , and the semi-honeycomb unit 42 and the triangular unit 43 are filled with thermochemical materials.

[0085] The half honeycomb unit 42 and the triangular unit 43 are edge filling units used to fill the gaps around the module and assist in forming a rectangular layout of the overall structure. Since the edge filling unit is located relatively close to the inner wall of the reactor shell, it is not suitable to set up the same tree-like gas channel structure as the core unit due to the limited layout space and gas flow path design requirements. If it is forcibly set up, it will not only increase the difficulty of assembly, but also the gas flow rate in the edge area is originally low, and the flow field organization function of the tree-like channel will not be fully exerted. Therefore, the present invention preferably fills the interior of the half honeycomb unit 42 and the triangular unit 43 with a thermochemical filler with a higher porosity than the core reaction unit, such as Ca(OH)2 particles with a larger particle size and loose structure, or a porous composite material prepared by doping a pore-forming agent. This type of filler has a stronger natural gas diffusion ability and thermal response performance, which can promote the effective conduction of thermochemical reactions in the edge area, thereby avoiding edge dead zones and improving the heat and mass transfer uniformity and energy efficiency of the entire module.

[0086] Further optimized, the reactor shell 2 and the reactor cover 3 are fixed and sealed by flanges, the electric heater 32 includes a straight cylindrical section and a right-angle elbow section, the straight cylindrical section and the right-angle elbow section are fixedly connected, and the straight cylindrical section and the right-angle elbow section are fixedly connected inside the reactor cover 3.

[0087] The operation cycle and running time of the cleaning phase can be set according to the actual working conditions of the device, the reaction efficiency monitoring value or the pressure drop change trend. The typical process is as follows:

[0088] 1. After the heat storage and release phase is over, the system enters standby mode and the control system starts the cleaning phase according to the program;

[0089] 2. The vibrator 7 is started first to provide low-frequency vibration to disturb the bed structure;

[0090] 3. The high-pressure gas storage tank 33 is supplied with compressed gas through the high-pressure charging pipe 331. When the air pressure reaches the set value, the electromagnetic pulse valve opens and the compressed air is released instantly through the pulse nozzle 332;

[0091] 4. The pulsed airflow impacts the material on the upper portion of the reaction module, and combined with the vibration of the vibrator, causes some weakly bonded sintered particles 8 to break away and slide down the main gas channel 61 to the particle collection bin 22;

[0092] 5. After the cleaning phase is completed, the system automatically closes the pulse valve and vibrator, preparing to enter the next round of heat storage and release operation.

[0093] This device can realize the reversible reaction process between Ca(OH)2 and CaO, which corresponds to the heat storage stage and the heat release stage respectively; during the intermittent period of the device operation, the system is also provided with a cleaning stage for stripping and discharging the sintered particles 8 that may be formed during the operation, so as to maintain the long-term activity and smooth flow of the reaction bed.

[0094] During the heat storage stage (endothermic decomposition process), external air is introduced into the device through the upper pipe section 31; the air is heated to the target temperature when passing through the electric heaters 32 arranged on both sides of the reactor cover 3; the heated high-temperature air enters the reaction module, penetrates longitudinally along the main gas channel 61, and at the same time diffuses to the surroundings through multiple layered branch gas channels 62, uniformly acting on the Ca(OH)2 material filled in the honeycomb unit; the generated water vapor is quickly discharged from the reaction bed under the guidance of the branch gas channel 62, avoiding steam retention affecting the reaction efficiency and heat conduction; after the reaction is completed, CaO remains in the reaction module to complete the thermal energy storage.

[0095] During the heat release stage (exothermic synthesis process), external water vapor is introduced into the device through the lower pipe section 21 as a reaction gas; after the water vapor enters the reaction module, it first enters the main gas channel, and then evenly penetrates into the bed containing CaO through the multi-layer branch gas channels 62; the uniform distribution of the branch gas channels increases the penetration depth of water vapor and the reaction contact area, accelerating the hydration reaction rate and heat release efficiency; finally, Ca(OH)2 is regenerated in the module, waiting for the next round of heat storage cycle.

[0096] During the cleaning phase, the system automatically switches to the cleaning state according to the control logic or operation cycle. First, the vibrator 7 set at the bottom of the reactor is started, applying low-frequency mechanical disturbances to the load-bearing structure 5 and the reaction module 4 to loosen and fall off the sintered particles 8 in the bed; then, the high-pressure gas storage tank 33 located inside the reactor cover 3 releases compressed air, which is ejected through multiple high-pressure pulse nozzles 332 to form a high-pressure pulse airflow acting on the surface of the bed, further peeling off the residual sintered particles 8. The fallen particles are guided through the bottom of the main gas channel and finally collected in the particle collection bin 22 arranged below. The setting of this cleaning phase can effectively alleviate the problem of sintering of reaction materials, reduce the risk of blockage of the reaction bed, and ensure the patency of the gas channel and the long-term stable operation of the device.

[0097] The above structural design and operation mode take into account efficient heat transfer, uniform gas distribution, particle cleaning and modular installation, effectively improving the energy storage and release performance, system maintainability and long-term operation stability.

[0098] The present invention has the following technical advantages and beneficial effects:

[0099] 1. Modular structure design, honeycomb units can be disassembled and spliced, suitable for different application scenarios, maintenance and expansion are flexible and convenient;

[0100] 2. The gradient fin structure optimizes heat flux distribution, alleviates heat accumulation, inhibits sintering, and improves heat transfer and reaction efficiency;

[0101] 3. The tree-like gas channel system enhances uniform gas distribution and improves heat and mass exchange performance;

[0102] 4. Indirect heating design: the electric heater only heats the gas, avoiding direct contact with the reactants, effectively extending the system life and improving safety;

[0103] 5. During the cleaning phase, high-voltage pulses and electromagnetic vibrations are used to remove sintered particles 8, maintaining bed activity and smooth airflow;

[0104] 6. The main gas channel also serves as the particle guide path during the cleaning phase, reducing structural complexity and component redundancy;

[0105] 7. The supporting structure has high permeability and bearing capacity, maintaining the stable operation of the reaction bed and ensuring smooth gas passage.

[0106] The device achieves high-efficiency thermochemical energy storage and controllable cleaning maintenance while ensuring the compactness of the system, and has good engineering practicality and promotion prospects.

[0107] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "transverse", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0108] The embodiments described above are merely descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the spirit of the present invention, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by persons skilled in the art should fall within the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device, characterized in that: include: A reactor shell (2), wherein the top of the reactor shell (2) is fixedly connected to a reactor cover (3), the bottom of the reactor shell (2) is fixedly connected to a frame (1), the reactor cover (3) is connected to an upper pipe section (31), the bottom of the reactor shell (2) is connected to a lower pipe section (21), and an electric heater (32) is fixedly connected inside the reactor cover (3); A load-bearing structure (5) is fixedly connected to the reactor shell (2), and the load-bearing structure (5) is a planar support plate in the form of a honeycomb array, which is provided with a large number of hexagonal openings. A reaction module (4) is provided on the load-bearing structure (5), and the reaction module (4) includes a plurality of honeycomb units (41). The honeycomb units (41) are filled with tree-shaped gas channels (6) and Ca(OH)2, and the tree-shaped gas channels (6) are located in the Ca(OH)2. A high-pressure pulse cleaning component is provided in the reactor upper cover (3), and a vibration component is provided at the bottom of the load-bearing structure (5); A controller is provided with a control system, wherein the heater, the high-pressure pulse cleaning component and the vibration component are all electrically connected to the controller.

2. A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of non-uniform fins (411) are arranged on the inner wall of the honeycomb unit (41), and the non-uniform fins (411) are higher on one side close to the heater than on the other side.

3. A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The tree-like gas channel (6) includes a main gas channel (61), three branch gas channels (62) are fixedly connected to the tree-like gas channel (6), the branch gas channels (62) are connected to the tree-like gas channel (6), and a plurality of circular microholes are provided on the main gas channel (61) and the branch gas channels (62), and the branch gas channels (62) radiate from the main gas channel (61) to the area between two adjacent non-uniform fins (411).

4. A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The two upper and lower adjacent main gas channels (61) are connected to each other, and the angle between the branch gas channel (62) and the main gas channel (61) is in the range of 60°±5°. On the same height section, the three branch gas channels (62) are distributed circumferentially at an equal angle of 120°.

5. A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The high-pressure pulse cleaning component comprises a high-pressure gas storage bin (33), a high-pressure gas charging pipe (331) and a plurality of high-pressure pulse nozzles (332); the high-pressure gas storage bin (33) is connected to an external compressed gas source via the high-pressure gas charging pipe (331).

6. A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vibration assembly includes a vibrator (7), the vibrator (7) including a vibrator base (71), a vibrator housing (72), a resonant spring (73), an armature (74), an electromagnet (75) and a vibrating body (76), the vibrating body (76) being fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the load-bearing structure (5), the vibrator housing (72) being fixedly connected between the vibrator base (71) and the vibrating body (76), the electromagnet (75) being fixedly connected to the vibrating body (76), the armature (74) being fixedly connected to the vibrator base (71), the resonant spring (73) being fixedly connected between the vibrator base (71) and the vibrating body (76), and the resonant spring (73), the armature (74) and the electromagnet (75) being all located in the vibrator housing (72).

7. A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A particle collecting bin (22) is installed in the reactor shell (2), and the particle collecting bin (22) is located below the main gas channel (61).

8. A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reaction module (4) further comprises a semi-honeycomb unit (42) and a triangular unit (43), wherein the semi-honeycomb unit (42) and the triangular unit (43) are filled with thermochemical materials.

9. A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reactor shell (2) and the reactor cover (3) are fixed and sealed via a flange, the electric heater (32) comprises a straight cylindrical section and a right-angle elbow section, the straight cylindrical section and the right-angle elbow section are fixedly connected, and the straight cylindrical section and the right-angle elbow section are fixedly connected inside the reactor cover (3).

10. A modular electrically heated calcium hydroxide thermochemical energy storage and release device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The operation process of the device includes: Heat storage stage: air enters the upper pipe section (31), is heated by the electric heater (32), and then enters the reaction module (4). It undergoes an endothermic decomposition reaction with Ca(OH)2 through the tree-like gas channel (6), generating CaO and releasing water vapor. Heat release stage: water vapor is introduced into the reaction module (4) from the lower pipe section (21), and reacts with CaO to release heat energy; Cleaning stage: In the non-reaction stage, the controller controls the high-pressure pulse cleaning component to work in conjunction with the vibration component to peel off the sintered particles on the bed surface.

Citation Information

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