Method and apparatus for storing thermal energy using thermal energy generated in a rotating device - Patent Application 20070122997

Abstract

A method of inputting thermal energy into a fluid medium in a thermal energy production and storage process by at least one rotating device is provided, the rotating device comprising a casing with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a rotor including at least one rotor blade row arranged around a rotor hub mounted on a rotor shaft, and a plurality of stationary vanes arranged in an assembly at least upstream of the at least one rotor blade row, wherein an amount of thermal energy is imparted to a fluid medium flow channeled along a flow path formed inside the casing between the inlet and the outlet by a series of energy transformations occurring as the fluid medium flow passes through the stationary vanes and the rotor blades, respectively. The method further comprises incorporating the at least one rotating device into a thermal energy production and storage facility configured to perform thermal energy production and storage at a temperature essentially equal to or greater than about 500°C, and directing an amount of input energy into the at least one rotating device incorporated into the thermal energy production and storage facility, the input energy comprising electrical energy. Rotating devices and related uses are further provided.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for inputting thermal energy (heat) into fluids, and more particularly to tools and processes that optimize energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas and particulate emissions in thermal energy production and storage performed at high and very high temperatures. [Background technology]

[0002] Industries and governments are struggling to find technologies to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Heavy industrial processes, including thermal energy generation and storage, play a key role in achieving low-emission targets set by companies, governments and international organizations.

[0003] Thermal energy storage (TES) is a key technology to address the challenges associated with intermittency of renewable energy generation and waste heat availability, and to mitigate the mismatch between energy supply and demand. Thermal energy storage has several physical realizations. There are also several ways to classify thermal energy storage materials and systems. Sensible and latent heat storage systems use the principles of physics, whereas thermochemical storage systems additionally use chemical reactions. Energy storage material species exist in different physical phases, i.e. as solids, liquids, gases or as phase change materials (PCMs). The most common types of TES materials are recognized as follows:

[0004] Sensible heat storage (SHS) materials do not undergo phase changes over the temperature range encountered during the storage process. Thus, for SHS types, the amount of stored energy is roughly proportional to the temperature fluctuations in the storage material. SHS types are typically solids (e.g., metals, rocks, and ceramics), liquids (e.g., molten salts), or combinations of these (e.g., molten salt / rock, molten metal / ceramics). SHS materials are relatively inexpensive and simple to operate, so these materials are in fairly widespread use.

[0005] Latent heat storage (LHS) materials involve the storage of energy in phase change materials. Phase change materials typically change their physical phase from solid to liquid and vice versa. The phase change is always accompanied by the absorption or release of heat and occurs at a constant temperature. The stored energy is equivalent to the heat of melting and freezing (enthalpy). PCMs may include solid-solid, solid-liquid, solid-gas, and liquid-gas material types, with solid-liquid materials being the most common. Typical solid-solid materials include salts, and typical solid-liquid materials include metals and salts.

[0006] Thermochemical heat storage (TCS) materials store and release heat through reversible thermochemical reactions. Energy is stored in the form of compounds produced by endothermic reactions, and energy can be recovered at any time by recombining these compounds in an exothermic reaction. The stored and released energy is equivalent to the heat (enthalpy) of the reaction. Typical TCS material species are dissociated solids or liquids, or gaseous components for catalytic reactions. TES systems may vary with respect to the heat transfer fluid (HTF) utilized therein.

[0007] Depending on the type of thermal storage material, the temperature range of TES systems is 0°C to about 1000°C. Low temperature thermal storage materials (working temperature range is 0°C to about 120°C) are used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, whereas intermediate thermal storage materials (working t range is about 120-500°C) and high temperature (working t range is greater than 500°C) thermal storage materials are typically used in applications related to power generation (e.g. solar power generation) and other high temperature industries. Industrial (high temperature) thermal storage units containing thermal storage media are typically connected to heat engines, e.g. steam turbines, for power generation. Additionally or alternatively, the heat recovered from the thermal energy storage can also be used for heating or other heat consumption purposes. Typically, the higher the storage temperature, the higher the system efficiency. Thus, there remains a need to produce high temperature fluids for heating storage materials to temperatures above 500°C in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner.

[0008] A common application of thermal energy storage in industry is the so-called regenerative heating or regenerative heat exchanger. Regenerative heat exchangers, or more generally regenerators, are a type of heat exchanger in which a hot fluid is intermittently stored in a heat storage medium before being transferred to a cold fluid. To achieve this, the hot fluid is first brought into contact with the heat storage medium, then the fluid is displaced by the cold fluid, which absorbs the heat. Usually, the application uses this process periodically or repeatedly, and often requires several heat stores. These stores are in the form of different heat absorption-desorption cycle stages. Regenerative heating was one of the most important technologies developed during the industrial revolution, when it was used in hot stoves in blast furnaces. Later, regenerative heating was used in glass melting furnaces to increase the efficiency of open hearths, and in steelmaking, as well as in high pressure boilers, chemical production, and other applications, where regenerative heating remains important today.

[0009] Traditionally, thermal energy has been primarily used to generate significant CO 2 Thermal energy is produced through the combustion of fossil fuels, which leads to emissions. The use of wood or other bio-based materials instead of fossil fuels has significant resource limitations and other significant impacts on the environment, e.g. on sustainable land use. Electrification of processes involved in the production of thermal energy has been seen as a solution to reduce emissions. One of the obstacles for electrification has been reaching the high temperatures, e.g. up to 1000°C, required in the production and storage of thermal energy. Specifically, electricity has been used for some high-temperature processes, but in most cases neither the technology nor the economics are yet in a position to do so.

[0010] Concentrated solar power is also used to directly heat a heat transfer medium and generate thermal energy for thermal storage. In such cases, however, thermal energy storage is bound to the distance to the solar thermal collector. Thermal stability and evaporation temperature impose limits on the maximum allowable temperature of the heat transfer medium, which is typically liquid in the case of concentrated solar power collectors. Power generation by solar panels is more flexible and not bound to the solar panel site, since the solar panels can be installed wherever space allows, such as on the roofs of houses in urban centers, in order to bring the heat storage means closer to the (heat) consumer. The use of solar power in thermal storage applications depends on the thermal storage concept and, optionally, the heat transfer fluid used. Typical heat transfer fluids have a maximum operating temperature (t o max ) is about 400℃ synthetic oil, molten salt (t o max 565℃), and air (t o max The heat transfer fluids include air, which is heated to temperatures of about 700°C. Problems associated with the above mentioned fluids include heat losses, pumping costs and leakage, especially over long distances between solar panel sites. The use of air as a heat transfer fluid would require an expansion in the size of the transfer pipelines, which would significantly increase the cost of the heat transfer infrastructure.

[0011] For heating purposes, several rotary solutions have been proposed. The hydrodynamic heater pump apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,098,725 (Sanger et al.) is operable to selectively generate a flow of heated and / or pressurized fluid. The aforementioned hydrodynamic heater pump is designed to be installed within the cooling system of an automotive vehicle to provide heat for the passenger compartment of the vehicle and to enable other capabilities such as window de-icing and engine cooling. The disclosed apparatus can also provide a pressurized fluid flow for engine cooling. Because the disclosed technology is friction based and the fluid to be heated is a liquid, the presented design is not suitable for conditions involving extreme turbulence of gas aerodynamics.

[0012] US Patent No. 7,614,367 (Frick) discloses a system and method for flameless heating, condensing or vaporizing a fluid by converting rotational kinetic energy into heat. A system configured for fluid heating may include a rotational kinetic energy generator, a rotary heating device, and a primary heat exchanger, all in closed-loop fluid communication. The rotary heating device may be a water brake dynamometer. The specification discloses the use of the system for heating water on an offshore drilling or oil production platform. However, the presented system is not suitable for heating gaseous media and is not feasible for use with high and extremely high temperatures (based on liquid stability, vapor pressure, etc.).

[0013] In addition, several rotating turbomachinery type devices are also known to carry out the process of hydrocarbon (steam) cracking, with the goal of maximizing the yield of target products, such as ethylene and propylene.

[0014] In this regard, updates in the art related to designing and manufacturing efficient heating systems, particularly systems suitable for high and very high temperature applications, are still desirable in view of efficiently and environmentally addressing the challenges associated with increasing temperatures of fluid materials. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0015] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least mitigate at least some of the problems resulting from limitations and shortcomings of the related art. One or more of the objects are achieved by the methods for producing a heated fluid medium described herein, and by the various embodiments of the rotating device defined herein. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] In one aspect, a method of producing thermal energy and storing thermal energy includes generating a heated fluid medium by at least one rotating device incorporated into the thermal energy production and storage facility. Effect of the Invention

[0017] In one embodiment, a method for producing and storing thermal energy includes generating a heated fluid medium by at least one rotating device incorporated into the thermal energy production and storage facility, which improves energy efficiency and / or reduces greenhouse gas and particulate emissions.

[0018] In an embodiment, a method of producing and storing thermal energy includes generating a heated fluid medium by at least one rotating device incorporated into the thermal energy production and storage facility, the at least one rotating device including a casing with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a rotor including at least one rotor blade row arranged circumferentially about a rotor hub mounted on a rotor shaft, and a plurality of stationary vanes arranged in an assembly at least upstream of the at least one rotor blade row, the method further includes directing an input energy amount into the at least one rotating device incorporated into the thermal energy production and storage facility, the input energy including electrical energy, and and operating the at least one rotating device incorporated within the thermal energy production and storage facility to perform thermal energy production such that a series of energy transformations occurring as the fluid medium stream passes through the fixed vanes and the at least one row of rotor blades, respectively, imparts an amount of thermal energy to a fluid medium stream directed along a flow path formed within the casing between the inlet and the outlet, thereby producing a fluid medium stream heated to a temperature essentially equal to or greater than about 500°C, and supplying the heated fluid medium stream formed by the at least one rotating device into at least one thermal energy storage unit provided within the thermal energy production and storage facility.

[0019] In another aspect, a method is provided for inputting thermal energy into a fluid medium during production and storage of thermal energy.

[0020] In an embodiment, the method includes operating the at least one rotating device operatively connected to at least one thermal energy storage unit configured to store thermal energy within the thermal energy production and storage facility, the at least one thermal energy storage unit including a thermal energy storage medium configured to store thermal energy within the thermal energy production and storage facility, and the amount of thermal energy is transferred from the heated fluid medium produced by the at least one rotating device to the thermal energy storage medium.

[0021] In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing a thermal energy storage medium within the at least one thermal energy storage unit that is one of a sensible heat storage (SHS) medium, a latent heat storage (LHS) medium, or a thermochemical storage (TCS) medium. In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing the thermal energy storage medium in a stable phase or a phase change material (PCM). In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing the thermal energy storage medium in one of a solid phase, a liquid phase, a gas phase, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing the thermal energy storage medium in a dissociated solid, liquid, or gaseous compound.

[0022] In an embodiment, in the method, the thermal energy storage medium is mobile and comprises a fluid, hi an embodiment, the thermal energy storage medium comprises a molten salt or a fluidized sand bed.

[0023] In an embodiment, the method further comprises the thermal energy storage medium being immobile and comprising any one of metal, stone, concrete, sand, ceramic, or a combination thereof, In an embodiment, the thermal energy storage medium comprises a fixed bed of sand or rock.

[0024] In an embodiment, the method includes generating the heated fluid medium in the rotating device. In an embodiment, the method includes a fluid medium entering the rotating device that is essentially a gaseous medium. In an embodiment, the method includes a fluid medium generated in the rotating device that is essentially a gaseous medium. 2 ), steam (H 2 In an embodiment, in the method, the heated fluid medium produced in the rotating device is recycled gas from off-gas produced during the production and storage of thermal energy in the thermal energy production and storage facility.

[0025] In an embodiment, the method further comprises transferring an amount of thermal energy from a heated fluid medium produced by the at least one rotating device to a heat transfer fluid provided in the at least one thermal energy storage unit, the heat transfer fluid being a synthetic oil or a molten salt.

[0026] In an embodiment, the method further comprises generating the heated fluid medium outside the rotating device through a heat transfer process between the heated fluid medium generated within the rotating device and a fluid medium flow that bypasses the rotating device.

[0027] In an embodiment, in the method, the amount of thermal energy is transferred from a heated fluid medium produced by or in the at least one rotating device to the at least one thermal energy storage unit via a heat exchanger. In an embodiment, in the method, the amount of thermal energy is transferred from a heated fluid medium produced by or in the at least one rotating device to a thermal energy storage medium provided in the at least one thermal energy storage unit and / or to a heat transfer fluid. In an embodiment, in the method, the amount of thermal energy is transferred from a heated fluid medium produced by or in the at least one rotating device to the thermal energy storage medium via a heat transfer tube network immersed in the thermal energy storage medium, the thermal energy storage medium being immobile.

[0028] In an embodiment, the method includes generating, by at least one rotating device, the fluid medium that is heated to a temperature essentially equal to or greater than about 500° C., or essentially equal to or greater than about 1200° C., or essentially equal to or greater than about 1700° C.

[0029] In an embodiment, this includes adjusting the velocity and / or pressure of a fluid medium stream propagating through the rotating device to create conditions under which the heated fluid medium is generated.

[0030] In an embodiment, in the method, the heated fluid medium is generated by at least one rotating device including two or more rows of rotor blades arranged successively along the rotor axis.

[0031] In an embodiment, the method further comprises operating the at least one rotating device, the at least one rotating device further comprising a diffuser region disposed downstream of at least one row of rotor blades, the method including: operating the at least one rotating device integrated into the thermal energy production and storage facility such that a quantity of thermal energy is imparted to a flow of fluid medium guided along a flow path formed inside the casing between the inlet and the outlet by a series of energy transformations occurring as the flow of fluid medium passes successively through the fixed vanes, the at least one row of rotor blades, and the diffuser region, thereby generating a flow of heated fluid medium. The diffuser region may be formed with or without fixed diffuser vanes.

[0032] In an embodiment, the at least one rotating device is configured to achieve fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet along a flow path established based on any one of an essentially helical trajectory formed inside an essentially helical casing, an essentially helical trajectory formed inside an essentially tubular casing, an essentially radial trajectory, and along a flow path established by the fluid medium flow in the form of two spirals rolled up as left and right vortex rings.

[0033] In an embodiment, in the method, the amount of thermal energy added to the fluid medium flow propagating through a rotating device is controlled by adjusting the amount of input energy directed into the at least one rotating device incorporated within the thermal energy production and storage facility.

[0034] In an embodiment, the method further comprises introducing a reactive compound or a mixture of reactive compounds into a fluid medium stream propagating through the rotating device and / or through a heating device, whereupon the amount of thermal energy is added to the fluid medium stream through an exothermic reaction. In an embodiment, the reactive compound or mixture of reactive compounds is introduced into the fluid medium stream that is preheated to a predetermined temperature. In an embodiment, the reactive compound or mixture of reactive compounds is introduced into the fluid medium stream that is preheated to a temperature essentially equal to or greater than about 1700°C.

[0035] In an embodiment, the method includes producing the heated fluid medium by at least two rotating devices integrated into the thermal energy production and storage facility, the at least two rotating devices being connected in parallel or in series. In an embodiment, the method includes producing the heated fluid medium by at least two rotating devices connected in series, the fluid medium stream being preheated to a predetermined temperature in at least a first rotating device in the series, and the fluid medium stream being further heated in at least a second rotating device in the series by inputting an additional amount of heat energy into the preheated fluid medium stream propagating through the second rotating device. In an embodiment, the method includes preheating the fluid medium stream to a temperature essentially equal to or greater than about 1700° C. in at least the first rotating device in the series. In an embodiment, the method includes adding the additional amount of heat energy to the fluid medium stream propagating through at least the second rotating device in turn by introducing the reactive compound or mixture of reactive compounds into the stream. In an embodiment, the method includes introducing the reactive compound or mixture of reactive compounds into the thermal energy production and storage unit.

[0036] In an embodiment, in the method, the fluid medium to be heated is selected from the group consisting of feed gas, recycled gas, make-up gas, and process fluids recycled or produced by a thermal energy production process.

[0037] In an embodiment, the method further comprises increasing a pressure in the fluid medium flow propagating through the rotating device.

[0038] In an embodiment, the method comprises directing an amount of electrical energy as input energy into the at least one rotating device incorporated within the thermal energy production and storage facility in a range of about 5 percent to 100 percent.

[0039] In an embodiment, in the method, the amount of electrical energy introduced as input energy into the at least one rotating device integrated in the thermal energy production and storage facility can be derived from a renewable energy source or from different energy sources, optionally a combination of renewable energy sources.

[0040] In an embodiment, the method further comprises incorporating the at least one rotating device together with at least one heater device capable of operating on non-electrical energy into the thermal energy production and storage facility, thereby being utilized to balance fluctuations, e.g. surpluses and shortages, in the amount of electrical energy (e.g. obtained through supply and / or production), optionally renewable electrical energy.

[0041] In another aspect, a thermal energy production and storage facility is provided, in an embodiment, the facility includes at least one rotating device configured to generate a heated fluid medium and at least one thermal energy storage unit, the at least one rotating device being incorporated into the thermal energy production and storage facility and including a casing with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a rotor including at least one rotor blade row arranged around a rotor hub mounted on a rotor shaft, and a plurality of stationary vanes arranged in an assembly at least upstream of the at least one rotor blade row, the at least one rotating device being configured to generate electrical energy. a series of energy transformations occurring as the fluid medium stream passes through the fixed guide vanes and the at least one row of rotor blades, respectively, to impart an amount of thermal energy to a fluid medium stream guided along a flow path formed within the casing between the inlet and the outlet, thereby producing a fluid medium stream heated to a temperature essentially equal to or greater than about 500°C, and to supply the heated fluid medium stream into the at least one thermal energy storage unit disposed within the thermal energy production and storage facility.

[0042] In an embodiment, the at least one thermal energy storage unit includes a thermal energy storage medium configured to store thermal energy within the thermal energy production and storage facility, and at least one rotating device is connected to the at least one thermal energy storage unit such that the amount of thermal energy is transferred from the heated fluid medium generated in the at least one rotating device to the thermal energy storage medium.

[0043] In an embodiment, in the thermal energy production and storage facility, the at least one rotating device comprises two or more rows of rotor blades arranged consecutively along the rotor axis. In one embodiment, the fixed vanes arranged in an assembly at least upstream of the at least one row of rotor blades are formed as fixed guide vanes. In one embodiment, the at least one rotating device further comprises a diffuser area arranged downstream of the at least one row of rotor blades. The diffuser area may be formed with or without fixed diffuser vanes. In some configurations, a vaned diffuser may be realized as a plurality of fixed vanes arranged in an assembly downstream of the at least one row of rotor blades.

[0044] In an embodiment, the thermal energy production and storage facility is configured to carry out processes relating to the production and storage of thermal energy through methods according to any of the previously described aspects and embodiments.

[0045] In a further aspect, an assembly is provided, said assembly including at least two rotation devices according to any of the previous aspects, said rotation devices being connected in parallel or in series.

[0046] In a further aspect, an array is provided and includes at least one rotating device according to any of the aspects, wherein the at least one rotating device is connected to at least one thermal energy storage medium.

[0047] The usefulness of the present invention arises for a variety of reasons, depending on each particular embodiment thereof.

[0048] Overall, embodiments of the present invention provide an electrified rotating fluid heater for providing high temperature fluids, e.g., gas, to be used in thermal energy production and storage, e.g., in place of fuel-fired heaters. The presented method allows for the generation of thermal energy and for inputting this thermal energy into a thermal energy storage medium at high and very high temperatures, e.g., temperatures generally above 500°C. The present invention provides an apparatus and method for heating a fluid material to temperatures between about 500°C and about 2000°C, i.e., temperatures used in thermal energy production and storage. The rotating apparatus disclosed herein allows for the heating of the fluid to a predetermined temperature (e.g., up to 1700°C). This temperature can be further increased (up to 2000°C or higher) through the so-called booster heating concept.

[0049] Thermal energy production and storage typically employs heat consuming utilities, such as fuel fired heaters, that have a high thermal energy demand and thus are used to heat fluids to the temperature required for the production of thermal energy. The invention presented herein allows for the use of a rotating device instead of a conventional heat consuming utility, such as a fuel fired heater. The advantages associated with using a rotating device instead of a fuel fired heater in a method include at least: - Support electrified heating; - Greenhouse gases (e.g. NO, CO 2 , CO, NO X ), other harmful components derived from fuel (e.g. HCl, H 2 S, SO 2 , and heavy metals), particulate emissions and smoke emissions; - the heater volume is reduced, i.e. the volume of the rotating equipment can be at least an order of magnitude smaller compared to conventional process heaters or heat exchangers; - Lower investment costs; - Improved safety when using flammable and hazardous fluids / gases; - The handling of large volumes of gas is feasible; - there is no pressure drop, - the possibility of using the rotary (heater) device also for the compression of the gas (blower function), thus eliminating the need for additional blowers, fans or compressors to overcome the pressure drops associated with the thermal storage units, pipelines and / or possible recycle of the hot process gas; - No dependency on temperature differences for direct heating of gases. Temperature rises in rotating equipment can range from about 10 to 1700°C or more. - the possibility of using rotating devices for indirect heating of fluids, optionally by optimizing the temperature difference in the heat exchanger; - at least partial recycling of hot process gases is possible, thus improving and making heat recovery simpler and improving energy efficiency; It is possible to further increase the temperature of the gas to be heated by adding reactive chemicals which further increase the gas temperature by an exothermic reaction, for example to 2000°C or more; This includes:

[0050] In embodiments, the rotating device can be used in place of conventional fired heaters or process furnaces for direct or indirect heating or thermal energy generation in the production and storage of thermal energy. As renewable electricity becomes more cost-effective, i.e., with the rapid development of wind and solar power generation, it is possible to use the rotating devices described herein powered by renewable electricity instead of fossil fuel combustion. This will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The rotating device allows for the electric heating of fluids to temperatures up to 1700°C or higher. Such temperatures are difficult or impossible to reach using current electrical heating.

[0051] The rotating equipment can be used to directly heat a process gas, an inert gas, air, or any other gas, or to indirectly heat a process fluid (liquid, steam, gas, steam / liquid mixture, etc.). The heated fluid generated in the rotating equipment can be used to heat any one of gas, steam, liquid, and solid materials. The rotating equipment can at least partially replace or be combined with numerous types of furnaces, heaters, kilns, gasifiers, and reactors that are traditionally burned or heated (e.g., as preheaters) with solid, liquid, or gaseous fossil fuels, and in some cases bio-based fuels. Examples of such appliances include furnaces, ovens, kilns, heaters, burners, incinerators, boilers, dryers, conveyor equipment, reactors, and combinations thereof. Some examples include, but are not limited to, blast furnaces, cupola furnaces, pot-and-tank furnaces, shaft furnaces, regenerative furnaces, rotary kilns, steam boilers, catalytic reactors, and fluidized bed reactors. Any device capable of producing thermal energy intended for storage can be at least partially substituted for the rotating device. The heated gases can be flammable, reactive, or inert and can be recycled back to the rotating device. In addition to heating, the rotating device can act as a combined blower-heater, increasing pressure and allowing the gas to be recycled.

[0052] The heated fluid, e.g., gas, can be used in a variety of applications. The heated object can be a solid material, a liquid or a gas. The gas further participates in numerous (reversible) reactions, or phase transitions, or is used as a heating medium. The use of an inert hot gas as a heating medium is the preferred approach when the process fluid is at high pressure or vacuum. Thus, improvements in the production and storage of thermal energy can contribute to increasing the efficiency in a variety of applications that rely on thermal energy.

[0053] This invention reduces greenhouse gas emissions (CO, CO 2 , NO x) and reduced particle emissions. The use of rotating equipment can also further improve the energy efficiency of these processes by creating a closed or semi-closed heating loop for the process and reducing heat losses through the flue gas. In conventional heaters, flue gas can only be partially recycled.

[0054] In addition, the solution allows for improved optimization of the temperature difference in the heat exchanger during indirect heating.

[0055] The present invention further provides the flexibility to use electrical energy, for example electrical energy obtained from renewable sources, which vary from day to day and even hour to hour. The present invention allows for balancing of renewable electrical production, for example by integrating the rotating devices disclosed herein with conventional fuel-operated heaters to provide heat for thermal energy production and storage.

[0056] The invention further allows for reduced on-site investment costs compared to traditional fossil-fired furnaces and solar collectors. Moreover, the invention allows for the installation of renewable electric power generation facilities at significantly greater distances from the thermal energy storage unit compared to existing solutions. This provides additional flexibility in the distance of the thermal energy storage unit to the heat consuming device, e.g. to place the heat storage unit closer to the heat consuming device.

[0057] The phrase "a number of" as used herein means any positive integer starting from 1, for example, 1, 2, or 3. The term "a plurality of" as used herein means any positive integer starting from 2, for example, 2, 3, or 4. The terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one element from another, without denoting any order or importance, unless otherwise expressly stated.

[0058] The term "gasification" is utilized herein to indicate that a substance is converted into a gaseous form by any possible means.

[0059] "Heat" and "thermal energy" are used interchangeably herein.

[0060] Various embodiments of the invention become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0061] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally at 1000 illustrating the layout of a high temperature thermal energy production and storage facility configured to implement methods in accordance with an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a rotation device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for producing thermal energy, according to an embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for producing thermal energy, according to an embodiment. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for producing thermal energy, according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for producing and storing thermal energy, according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for producing and storing thermal energy, according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for producing and storing thermal energy, according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for producing and storing thermal energy, according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for producing and storing thermal energy, according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0063] 1 is a block diagram generally at 1000 illustrating the layout of a thermal energy production and storage facility configured to implement a method according to an embodiment. Block diagram sections shown in dashed lines are optional.

[0064] With reference to Figure 1, the following symbols are used for the components: Streams: 1. Feed, 2. Preheated feed or feed mixture, 3. Feed heated by rotating device (100), 4. Feed further heated in additional (booster) heater units designed to increase / boost temperature, for example through (exothermic) chemical reactions, 5. Fluid medium led to heat recovery section, 5'. Stream 5 after transferring its heat to stream 10, 6. Reactive compound or mixture of reactive compounds, for example reactive chemicals, or support fuel used to increase the temperature of the fluid / gas in additional heater unit 103, 7. Heat transfer fluid entering thermal energy storage unit 101 (indirect heater application), 8. Heated process stream sent for further processing, 9. Feed stream to heat recovery section, 10. Hot fluid stream and / or recycle stream from heat recovery section. Divisions (units): 100. Rotary heater unit (rotary device), 101. Thermal energy storage unit, 102. Preheater unit, 103. Additional heating device (booster heater), 104. Heat recovery unit.

[0065] The facility is configured to conduct industrial processes related to high temperature thermal energy production and storage at temperatures essentially equal to or greater than about 500°C.

[0066] In an embodiment, the facility is configured to perform a process associated with thermal energy production and storage at a temperature in the range of 500° C. to 1700° C. In an embodiment, the facility 1000 is configured to perform a process associated with thermal energy production and storage that starts essentially at a temperature in the range of about 800° C. to 900° C. or more. In an embodiment, the facility 1000 is configured to perform a process associated with thermal energy production and storage that starts essentially at a temperature in the range of about 1000° C. to 1000° C. In an embodiment, the facility 1000 is configured to perform a process associated with thermal energy production and storage that starts essentially at a temperature in the range of about 1100° C. to 1200° C. or more. In an embodiment, the facility is configured to perform a process associated with thermal energy production and storage that starts essentially at a temperature in the range of about 1200° C. to 1300° C. or more. In embodiments, the facility is configured to perform a process associated with thermal energy production and storage at a temperature essentially equal to or greater than about 1500° C. In embodiments, the facility is configured to perform a process associated with thermal energy production and storage at a temperature essentially equal to or greater than about 1700° C. In some embodiments, the facility can be configured to perform an industrial process associated with thermal energy production and storage at a temperature greater than about 1700° C., such as at or above about 2000° C., such as within the range of about 1700° C. to about 2500° C. The facility can be configured to perform an industrial process associated with thermal energy production and storage at about 1700° C., about 1800° C., about 1900° C., about 2000° C., about 2100° C., about 2200° C., about 2300° C., about 2400° C., about 2500° C., and any temperature value included between the aforementioned temperature points. It is noted that the facility 1000 is not precluded from performing at least a portion of an industrial process at temperatures below 500°C.

[0067] The thermal energy storage unit is designated by the numeral 101. Section 101 includes a thermal energy storage medium (also called thermal energy storage material or heat storage material). In some embodiments, unit 101 further includes a heat carrier (heat transfer fluid, HTF). In embodiments, the heat storage material and the heat carrier may be a single medium or different substances.

[0068] In an embodiment, the thermal energy storage medium provided within the at least one thermal energy storage unit 101 is formed as any one of a sensible heat storage (SHS) medium, a latent heat storage (LHS) medium, or a thermochemical heat storage (TCS) medium. For SHS systems, any one of solid or liquid materials may be utilized, including, as examples, metals, stones / rocks, sand, concrete, and ceramics (solids), and molten salt, water, and oil (liquids), or any combination of these solid and liquid materials. Any one of synthetic oils or mineral oils may be utilized.

[0069] Exemplary molten salts include, but are not limited to, nitrate-based materials (e.g., sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and / or lithium nitrate), chloride-based materials (e.g., a mixture of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, and / or zinc chloride), fluoride-based materials, and carbonate-based materials.

[0070] For LHS systems, any suitable phase change material (PCM) may be used, including solid-solid, solid-liquid, solid-gas, and liquid-gas phase change material species. Correspondingly, any suitable TCS system may be used.

[0071] In embodiments, the thermal energy storage medium is formed as a stable phase material, or a phase change material (PCM), consisting of one or more phases. In embodiments, the thermal energy storage medium is provided in any one of a solid phase, a liquid phase, a gas phase, or any combination thereof. These solid, liquid, or gaseous compounds may be formed to undergo chemical reactions associated with the capture and release of thermal energy upon formation and dissociation of the compounds accordingly.

[0072] The thermal energy storage medium may be mobile, in which case it may comprise a fluid, or the thermal energy storage medium may be a non-mobile medium. The mobile thermal energy storage medium may comprise or consist of a molten salt or a fluid material, such as a fluidized sand bed. As an example, a mobile thermal energy storage system using PCM materials is considered.

[0073] The immobile thermal energy storage medium may comprise or consist of any one of metal, stone, concrete, sand, ceramic, or a combination thereof. The floating thermal energy storage medium may be formed, for example, as a fixed material bed, such as a fixed sand bed, or a rock bed.

[0074] The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for generating and storing thermal energy in a thermal energy storage unit 101 containing a thermal energy storage medium that can subsequently be used in industrial processes with high thermal energy demands. This can significantly improve the energy efficiency of the process and reduce the amount of air pollutants emitted into the atmosphere. Figure 1 shows a schematic of these improved systems and methods.

[0075] In an embodiment, the method includes producing a heated fluid medium by a rotary heater unit 100 that includes or consists of at least one rotating device (hereinafter device (100)). For clarity, the rotary heater unit is designated in this disclosure by the same reference number 100 as the rotating device. The rotary heater unit is preferably integrated into a process facility 1000. In an embodiment, the heated fluid medium is produced by the at least one rotating device.

[0076] In one embodiment, the input energy amount E 1 is introduced into at least one rotating device 100 incorporated as a (rotary) heater unit into the process installation 1000. 1Preferably, the input comprises electrical energy. In some embodiments, the amount of electrical energy channeled as an input into at least one rotating device incorporated within the thermal energy production and storage facility is provided within a range of about 5 to about 100 percent, preferably within a range of about 50 to about 100 percent. Thus, the amount of electrical energy channeled as an input into at least one rotating device incorporated within the thermal energy production and storage facility may comprise any one of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, and 100 percent (from the total input energy), or any intermediate value included between the above points.

[0077] Electrical energy can be supplied from external or internal sources. In practice, the electrical input energy E1 supplied into the device can be defined in terms of power, the latter being defined as the rate of energy transfer (measured in watts) per unit time.

[0078] The rotating device 100 is configured to receive a feed stream 1, hereafter feed 1. In general, feed 1 can comprise or consist of any fluid, e.g., liquid or gas, or combinations thereof, provided as pure components or component mixtures. The feed can be a raw gas, a process gas, a make-up gas (so-called replacement / make-up gas), or a mixture of gases. / supplement gas), and the like. The gaseous feed can include inert gases (air, nitrogen gas, steam, and the like), or reactive gases (e.g. oxygen), flammable gases, e.g. hydrocarbons, or any other gas, e.g. hydrogen and ammonia. The feed is selected depending on the process, i.e. the nature of the thermal energy storage medium in the thermal energy storage unit 101 (and indeed the specific industry / industry field to which said thermal energy storage medium belongs) implies specific requirements and / or limitations on the choice of feed material.

[0079] Feed 1 preferably enters the apparatus 100 in essentially gaseous form. Preheating of the feed or conversion of a liquid or essentially liquid feed into gaseous form can be carried out in an optional preheater unit 102. The preheater unit is formed as a (pre)heater device or group of devices. In the preheater unit 102, the feed stream initially provided in gaseous form (e.g. process gas) can be further heated (e.g. superheated). In the preheater unit 102, feed 1 can be evaporated if it is not already in gaseous form and, optionally, superheated.

[0080] The preheater unit 102 may be any conventional device / system configured to provide heat to a fluid material. In some configurations, the preheater unit 102 may be a fired heater, e.g., a direct fired heat exchanger that uses hot combustion gases (flue gases) to increase the temperature of a fluid feed, e.g., a process fluid, flowing through coils disposed within the heater. Additionally or alternatively, the preheater unit 102 may be configured to utilize energy made available by other units in the thermal energy production and storage facility, as illustrated by the feed stream 10 provided by the heat recovery unit 104. The preheater unit 102 may thus be configured to utilize steam, electricity, and / or waste / recycled heat streams.

[0081] The feed stream 1 used to produce the heated fluid medium by the rotary heater unit (apparatus 100) may include unused feed (fresh feed) and / or recycle streams. Thus, feed 1 may consist of any one of fresh feed, recycle (fluid) streams, and mixtures thereof. Stream 2, representing the (pre)heated feed, may include, in addition to feed 1, all recycle streams, e.g. arriving from the recovery section 104 (see stream 10).

[0082] In the rotating heater unit / rotating device 100, the temperature is increased to a level required by the thermal energy storage medium or to a maximum level achieved by the rotating device. If the temperature increase achieved by the rotating device 100 is not sufficient and / or if, for example, the temperature of the fluid needs to be increased again after it has transferred its heat to the thermal energy storage medium, the temperature can be further increased downstream of the rotating heater unit 100 (100A) by additional heater units (100B, 103), further called "booster" heaters. See the explanation regarding FIG. 2B. Each additional heater unit comprises or consists of an additional heating device realized according to:

[0083] In thermal storage applications, it is possible to recover heat from a process stream leaving the thermal energy storage medium (unit 101). The heat recovery section is shown in FIG. 1 as 104. The recovered heat can be used to heat the feed stream 1 (see stream 9 entering the heat recovery section and stream 10 leaving the heat recovery section) and / or the recycle stream (see streams 5 and 10 accordingly), reducing the additional thermal energy that must be put into the feed streams and increasing energy efficiency. Unit 104 can capture excess heat from stream 5 leaving the thermal storage unit 101 and transfer it to the feed stream 9, thus forming the heated feed stream 10. Stream 5, which donates its heat to stream 9, leaves unit 104 as stream 5'. This configuration allows for the recovery of heat from stream (5) leaving the thermal storage unit 101 when stream (5) is not suitable for recycling back to the rotating device 100 (for example, when the thermal storage material is a sand bed and stream 5 is contaminated with dust particles).

[0084] Heat recovery may be provided through collecting gases exiting the process units 101 and recycling the thermal energy of these streams to the preheater unit 102 and / or the rotary device 100. The heat recovery unit 104 may be represented by at least one heat exchange unit (not shown). Heat exchangers based on any suitable technology may be utilized. Heat recovery may be optional in heating the feed gas if the heat is consumed elsewhere or if the heat cannot be recovered for safety or other reasons.

[0085] Heat recovery may be optional in heating the feed gas if the heat is consumed elsewhere or if it is not possible to recover the heat for safety or other reasons.

[0086] In the plant layout 1000, the heat recovery unit 104 can be located before and / or after the preheater 102. In the latter configuration, the heat recovery unit 104 is arranged to recover heat from the hot fluid medium (stream 5) flowing from the thermal storage unit 101. This heat may be further utilized to heat the feed and recycle streams, as described above. On the other hand, if the heat recovery unit 104 is located before the preheater 102, the feed 1 is first directed to the unit 104 (as stream 9) and then returned to the preheating section 102 as stream 10. In such a case, the unit 104 acts as a first preheater.

[0087] The heated fluid medium required for thermal energy storage in the unit 101 is generated by at least one rotating device 100 .

[0088] In one embodiment, the heated fluid medium is generated in the rotating device 100, where a quantity of thermal energy is directly added to the fluid medium propagated through the device. The heated fluid medium generated in the rotating device is fed to a thermal energy storage unit 101, which transfers its heat to a thermal energy storage medium provided inside the unit 101. In some configurations, the heated thermal fluid medium generated in the rotating device is a heat transfer medium. In some other configurations, the heated fluid medium generated in the rotating device 100 may be used to (indirectly) heat a heat transfer medium (stream 7, FIG. 1) entering the thermal energy storage unit 101 from elsewhere. In some configurations, the heat transfer between the heated fluid medium generated in the rotating device and the thermal energy storage medium (and optionally the heat transfer fluid) provided inside the heat exchange unit 101 is performed via a heat exchanger (see FIG. 3B, reference 105).

[0089] According to an embodiment, a rotating device 100 configured to generate a heated fluid medium to be fed into a refinery and / or petrochemical facility includes a rotor including a plurality of rotor blades arranged in at least one row around a rotor hub or rotor disk mounted on a rotor shaft, and a casing with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the rotor being enclosed within the casing. In the device 100, a quantity of thermal energy is imparted to a fluid medium stream guided along a flow path formed within the casing between the inlet and the outlet by a series of energy transformations that occur when the fluid medium stream propagates between the inlet and the outlet within the casing of the rotating device and passes through the at least one row of rotor blades, thereby generating a heated fluid medium stream.

[0090] The embodiment of the rotary device 100 generally follows the disclosures of rotary reactor devices according to U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,937 (Bushuev), U.S. Pat. No. 9,494,038 (Bushuev), and U.S. Pat. No. 9,234,140 (Seppala et al.), and radial reactor devices according to U.S. Pat. No. 10,744,480 (Xu and Rosic), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Any other embodiment that can be configured to employ the method according to the embodiment may also be utilized.

[0091] In the above referenced patents, rotating turbomachinery type devices are designed as reactors for processing hydrocarbons, specifically for steam cracking. The general requirements for these applications are rapid heating of the gases, high temperatures, short residence times, and plug flow (a flow model that does not imply axial mixing). These requirements lead to designs in which the turbomachinery type reactors have several heating stages housed in a relatively small volume.

[0092] The present disclosure can be used as a heater to electrify rotating equipment (including but not limited to those referenced above) and generate a heated fluid medium that is further fed in high temperature thermal storage 101. Incorporating a rotating equipment heater unit into the thermal storage unit and process 101 can significantly reduce greenhouse gas and particulate emissions. As an example, rotating equipment can replace fuel-fired heaters in various applications (below). Temperature ranges can be extended from about 1000°C (generally achievable with the reactor equipment referenced above) to at least about 1700°C and even up to 2500°C. Rotating equipment configurations that can achieve these high temperatures are possible due to the absence of aerodynamic hurdles.

[0093] The rotating device 100, which is adapted according to the embodiment to be incorporated into a high temperature thermal energy production and storage installation and adapted to generate a heated fluid medium for the method according to the embodiment, thus comprises a rotor shaft positioned along a horizontal (longitudinal) axis with at least one rotor unit mounted on the rotor shaft. The rotor unit comprises a plurality of rotor (working) blades arranged around a rotor hub or rotor disk. Together, the rotor blades form a rotor blade cascade. The rotating device 100 thus comprises a plurality of rotor (working) blades arranged in at least one row around a rotor hub or rotor disk mounted on the rotor shaft, which rotor blades form an essentially annular rotor blade assembly or rotor blade cascade.

[0094] In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a plurality of stationary vanes arranged in an assembly at least upstream of the at least one row of rotor blades, in which the rotating apparatus is operated such that a quantity of thermal energy is imparted to a fluid medium flow channeled along a flow path formed within the casing between the inlet and the outlet by a series of energy conversions occurring as the fluid medium flow passes through the stationary vanes and the at least one row of rotor blades, respectively, thereby generating a heated fluid medium flow.

[0095] In some embodiments, the stationary vanes may be arranged in a stationary vane cascade (stator). The stationary vane cascade may be provided in an essentially annular assembly upstream of at least one row of rotor blades. The stationary vanes arranged in the assembly upstream of at least one row of rotor blades may be provided as stationary guide vanes, e.g., inlet guide vanes (IGVs), and may be configured with a profile, size, and arrangement about a central axis to direct fluid flow into the rotor in a predetermined direction, e.g., to control, and in some cases maximize, the inherent work input capability of the rotor.

[0096] The rotating machine is formed with two or more essentially annular rotor blade rows (rotor blade cascades) arranged consecutively on / along the rotor shaft. In such a case, the fixed guide vanes may be provided upstream of the first rotor blade row, upstream of each rotor blade row in turn, or upstream of any selected rotor blade row in the consecutive arrangement of rotor blade rows.

[0097] In an embodiment, the rotary device 100 further comprises a diffuser region arranged downstream of at least one rotor blade row (rotor blade cascade). In this embodiment, the rotary device is operated such that a quantity of thermal energy is imparted to the fluid medium flow guided along a flow passage formed inside the casing between the inlet and the outlet by a series of energy transformations occurring as the fluid medium flow passes successively through the stationary guide vanes, the at least one rotor blade row, and the diffuser region, thereby generating a heated fluid medium flow. The diffuser region can be formed with or without stationary diffuser vanes. In some embodiments, a vaned or vaneless diffuser is arranged in the diffuser region downstream of at least one rotor blade cascade. In some embodiments, the diffuser can be realized as a plurality of stationary (stator) vanes. These stationary vanes are arranged to form a diffuser vane cascade, which is provided as an essentially annular assembly downstream of the rotor.

[0098] The rotor, stationary guide vanes, and diffuser region are enclosed within an internal passage (duct) formed within the casing.

[0099] In some configurations, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,744,480 (Xu and Rosic), the provision of a diffuser may be omitted and the diffuser area may be formed by an essentially vane-free portion of the duct (the so-called vaneless space) located downstream of the rotor and configured with respect to its geometry and / or dimensional parameters to diffuse the high velocity fluid flow arriving from the rotor.

[0100] The provision of a vaneless section of the duct is common to all the configurations of the rotating device 100. Depending on the configuration, the vaneless section (vaneless space) is located downstream of the rotor blades (see U.S. Pat. No. 10,744,480 to Xu and Rosic) or downstream of the diffuser vane cascade (see U.S. Pat. No. 9,494,038 to Bushuev and U.S. Pat. No. 9,234,140 to Seppala et al.). In some configurations, such as those described by Seppala et al., the rotating and fixed blade rows in the internal passage inside the casing are arranged such that a vaneless section is formed between the outlet from the fixed diffuser vanes located downstream of the rotor blades and the inlet to the fixed guide blades located upstream of the rotor blades of the following rotor blade cascade unit.

[0101] The terms "upstream" and "downstream" as used herein refer to the spatial and / or functional location of a given part or component, here a structural part or component relative to the rotor, in the direction of fluid flow (from inlet to outlet) through the entire device.

[0102] Overall, a rotor with a working blade cascade may be positioned between rows of fixed (stator) vanes arranged in an essentially annular assembly (called a cascade) on one or both sides of the working blade row. Configurations including two or more rows of rotor blades / rotor blade cascades arranged consecutively (sequentially) on / along the rotor shaft are conceivable, with or without fixed blades between them. If there are no fixed vanes between the rows of rotor blades, the velocity of the fluid medium propagating through the duct increases in each subsequent row. In such a case, a number of stationary vanes may be arranged in said sequence upstream of the first rotor blade cascade (as fixed guide vanes) and downstream of the last rotor blade cascade (as fixed diffuser vanes).

[0103] A rotor blade row (rotor blade cascade), optionally enclosed inside a casing with a fixed diffuser vane assembly (diffuser region), and a portion of the duct downstream of said rotor blades, can be considered as a minimum process stage (hereafter stage) configured to mediate a complete energy conversion cycle. Thus, the amount of kinetic energy added to the fluid medium flow by at least one rotating blade row is sufficient to raise the temperature of the fluid medium to a predetermined value when said fluid medium flow leaves the rotor blades and propagates in the duct towards the following rotor blade row or enters the same rotor blade row following an essentially helical trajectory formed inside the essentially toroidal shaped casing. The duct (confining the rotor circumference) is preferably shaped in such a way that as the fluid flow propagates in the duct, it slows down, dissipates kinetic energy into the internal energy of the fluid medium, and adds an amount of thermal energy to the fluid medium flow.

[0104] A fixed guide blade row, located upstream of at least one rotor blade row, provides the required flow conditions at the entry of the rotating blade rows (cascade) during the energy conversion cycle.

[0105] In some configurations, the process stage is established by an assembly consisting of a fixed guide vane (upstream of the rotor blades), a row of rotor blades and a diffuser area arranged downstream of said rotor blades. The diffuser area is optionally provided as an essentially vane-free part of the tact provided with the diffuser vanes. During the energy conversion cycle enabled by the successive controlled propagation of the fluid medium flow through the fixed guide vanes, at least one row of rotor blades and the diffuser area, respectively, the mechanical energy of the rotor shaft is converted into kinetic energy and then into the internal energy of the fluid, which subsequently increases the fluid temperature. The amount of kinetic energy imparted to the fluid medium flow by the rotating blade row is sufficient to raise the temperature of the fluid medium to a predetermined value when said fluid medium flow leaves the rotor blades and passes through the diffuser area in a duct, the fluid decelerates, dissipates the kinetic energy into the internal energy of the fluid medium and an amount of thermal energy is added to the fluid medium flow. Within the rotor blade rows, the flow accelerates and the mechanical energy of the shaft and the rotating blades is transferred to the fluid flow. In at least a portion of each rotor blade row, the flow can reach supersonic flow conditions. In the diffuser region, the high-speed fluid flow arriving from the rotor is diffused with a significant entropy increase. This causes the flow to dissipate kinetic energy into the internal energy of the fluid material, which in turn provides thermal energy to the fluid. If the flow upstream of the diffuser is supersonic, the kinetic energy of the fluid flow is converted into the internal energy of the fluid through a system of multiple shocks and viscous mixing and dissipation. The increase in the internal energy of the fluid results in an increase in the fluid temperature. The energy conversion function can be performed, for example, by a vaneless section of a duct located downstream of the rotor blades (see U.S. Pat. No. 10,744,480 to Xu and Rosic) and / or by a diffuser vane assembly (see U.S. Pat. No. 9,234,140 to Seppala et al.).

[0106] The rotating machine 100 can be formed as a multi-stage or single stage solution. A multi-stage configuration can be considered to include several rotor units (e.g. 1-5 rotor blade rows arranged consecutively on / along the rotor shaft) alternating with a common diffuser area (vaned or vaned).

[0107] In an exemplary embodiment outlined in US Pat. No. 9,234,140 to Seppala et al., the rotating device 100 can be realized substantially in the shape of a ring torus, where the cross section of the duct in the meridian plane forms a ring-like profile. The device includes a rotor unit arranged between stationary guide vanes (nozzle vanes) and stationary diverging vanes. Stages are formed with rows of stationary nozzle vanes, rotor blades, and diverging vanes. Through these the fluid flow propagates successively according to a flow path established on the basis of an essentially helical trajectory. In this embodiment, the fluid flow circulates through the rotating rotor blade cascade several times, propagating between an inlet and an outlet inside the device. A similar ring-shaped embodiment is described in US Pat. No. 9,494,038 to Bushuev.

[0108] In another exemplary configuration, as outlined in U.S. Patent No. 9,234,140 to Seppala et al., the rotating machine 100 may be configured as an essentially tubular, axial-type turbomachine. In such a configuration, the machine includes an elongated (elongated) rotor hub along which a plurality of rotor blades are arranged in several successive rows. The rotor is enclosed within a casing, the inner surface of which includes stationary (stator) vanes and diffuser vanes. The stationary and diffuser vanes are positioned longitudinally (from inlet to outlet along the length of the rotor shaft) along the rotor hub, alternating with the blades / vanes of the stator, rotor cascade, and diffuser cascade. The blades of the rotor cascade at a particular location longitudinally along the rotor form a stage together with adjacent pairs of stationary guide (nozzle) vanes and diffuser vanes, respectively.

[0109] In the described configuration, subsequent stages have blade / vane-free spaces between them.

[0110] In yet another exemplary configuration outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 10,744,480 to Xu and Rosic, the rotary machine 100 may be configured as a radial turbomachine. Radial turbomachines generally follow the design for centrifugal compressors or centrifugal pumps. The term "centrifugal" implies that the fluid flow inside the machine is radial, and thus the machine may be referred to as a "radial flow machine" in this disclosure. The machine includes several rotor units mounted on an elongated shaft. Each rotor unit is preceded by a fixed guide vane. A vaneless section of duct (e.g., a U-bend or S-bend) shaped in a manner that allows for energy conversion is disposed after the rotor units. Additionally, the configuration may include a separate diffuser device (vaned or vaneless) disposed downstream of the rotor.

[0111] In all the above forms, the rotating machine 100 functions in the same way in the method disclosed herein. During operation, an amount of input energy directed into at least one rotating machine incorporated in a thermal energy production and storage facility is converted into mechanical energy of the rotor. Conditions in the rotating machine are adjusted to create flow conditions. In this flow condition, the amount of kinetic energy imparted to the fluid medium flow by the rotating blades of the rotor is sufficient to raise the temperature of the fluid medium to a predetermined value when said fluid medium flow leaves at least one rotor blade row and enters a subsequent or the same rotor blade row by passing through a duct and / or a diffuser region. The rotor blade row may be preceded by a fixed guide vane. Conditions that can be adjusted thus include at least adjusting the fluid medium flow propagating between an inlet and an outlet inside the casing of the rotating machine. Adjusting the flow may include adjusting an operation-related parameter of such a machine, such as temperature, mass flow rate, pressure, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the flow conditions can be adjusted by changing the shape of a duct formed inside the casing.

[0112] In some exemplary configurations, the rotating device can be configured to achieve fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet along a flow path established based on any one of an essentially helical orbit formed inside an essentially toroidal shaped casing as discussed in either one of U.S. Patent No. 9,494,038 to Bushuev and U.S. Patent No. 9,234,140 to Seppala et al., an essentially helical orbit formed inside an essentially tubular casing as discussed in U.S. Patent No. 9,234,140 to Seppala et al., an essentially radial orbit as discussed in U.S. Patent No. 10,744,480 to Xu and Rosic, and a flow path established by a fluid medium flow in the form of two spirals rolled up as side-to-side vortex rings as discussed in U.S. Patent No. 7,232,937 to Bushuev. The aerodynamic design of the rotating device can be varied.

[0113] The rotating device utilizes a drive engine. In general, the device may utilize a variety of drive engine tools, such as an electric motor, or the device may be directly driven by a gas or steam turbine, or any other suitable drive device. For purposes of this disclosure, any suitable type of electric motor (i.e., a device capable of transferring energy from a power source to a mechanical load) may be utilized. Suitable couplings disposed between the motor drive shaft and the rotor shaft, as well as various appliances, such as power converters, controllers, and the like, are not described herein.

[0114] The rotary heater unit (100) may include, for example, several rotator units arranged in parallel, which may be connected (directly or indirectly, for example through several heat exchangers) to a common thermal energy storage medium, for example a furnace.

[0115] In some configurations, several rotating equipment units can be connected to several thermal energy storage media. Different configurations are possible, for example n+x rotating equipment units can be connected to n storage media, where n is equal to or greater than zero and x is equal to or greater than 1. Thus, in some configurations, the installation 1000, and specifically the rotary heater unit 100, can include, for example, 1, 2, 3 or 4 parallel rotating equipment units connected to a common storage medium. A number of rotating equipment greater than 4 is not excluded. When several rotating equipment units are connected in parallel to a common thermal energy storage medium, one or more of the units 100 can have different types of drive engines, for example an electric motor-driven reactor can be combined with equipment driven by a steam turbine, a gas turbine and / or a gas engine.

[0116] Electric power (defined as the rate of energy transfer per unit time) can be provided into the rotating device through the supply of electrical current to an electric motor used to drive the rotating shaft of the device. The supply of electrical power into the rotating device can be achieved from an external source (to the rotating heater unit / device 100 and / or the thermal energy production and storage system 1000). Additionally or alternatively, electrical energy can be produced within the system 1000.

[0117] The external source includes various support facilities provided for sustainable energy production. Thus, the power can be provided from a power generation system utilizing at least one renewable energy source, or a combination of power generation systems utilizing different renewable energy sources. The external source of renewable energy can be provided as solar power, wind power, and / or hydroelectric power. Thus, power can be received into the process from at least one of the following units: a solar power generation system, a wind power generation system, and a hydroelectric power generation system. In some exemplary examples, a nuclear power plant can be provided as an external power source. Nuclear power plants are generally considered to be emission-free. "Nuclear power plant" should be interpreted as using traditional nuclear power, and additionally or instead of nuclear fusion power.

[0118] Electricity can be provided from a power plant that utilizes a turbine as a kinetic energy source to drive a generator. In some cases, the power for driving at least one device 100 can be provided from at least one gas turbine (GT), for example provided as a separate unit or within a cogeneration unit and / or within a combined cycle power plant. The power can thus be provided from at least one of the following units: a combined cycle gas turbine plant (CCGT), and / or a cogeneration unit configured for electricity production combined with heat recovery and utilization through combined heat and power (CHP). In some examples, the CHP plant can be a biomass combustion plant to increase the share of renewable energy in the described process. Additionally or alternatively, the supply of power can be realized from a spark ignition engine, for example a gas engine, and / or a compression engine, for example a diesel engine, optionally provided as part of an engine power plant. Additionally, any conventional power plant configured to produce electrical energy from fossil feedstocks such as coal, oil, natural gas, gasoline, and the like, typically mediated through the use of steam turbines, may be used to generate electrical energy as an input energy for the rotating machine 100. Hydrogen may also be utilized as a renewable energy source and reconverted, for example, to electricity using fuel cells.

[0119] Any combination of the above mentioned power sources implemented as external and internal sources is conceivable. Capturing low emission electricity from another (external) source improves the energy efficiency of the thermal energy production and storage facility.

[0120] The introduction of input energy, including electrical power, into the driving engine of the rotating equipment may be further accompanied by directing mechanical shaft power from a power turbine to the driving engine, optionally utilizing thermal energy generated elsewhere in the plant 1000 or external to the plant. Shaft power is defined as the mechanical power transferred from one rotating element to another, calculated as the sum of the shaft torque and the rotational speed. Mechanical power is defined as the amount of work or energy (measured in watts) per unit time.

[0121] In practice, the shaft power from, for example, the electric motor and the power turbine may be split so that either one of them may provide the total shaft power or a portion thereof.

[0122] 2 and 3A-3C show an exemplary layout of a rotating device 100 forming a rotary heater unit inside the installation 1000 with respect to a preheater unit 102, a temperature booster section 103 and a heat recovery unit 104. The following reference symbols are used for the components: 100, 100A, 100B - rotary heater unit (rotating device), 101 - heat storage unit, 102 - preheater unit, 103 - additional heating device (booster heater), 105 - heat exchange device for indirect heating.

[0123] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a basic embodiment of a rotating device 100 configured to inject heat into a fluid medium stream (feed stream 1) conducted through the rotating device. The heated streams leaving the device 100 are respectively indicated with the reference number 2. In the basic embodiment, the rotor system of the rotating device 100 is aerodynamically configured so that a volume of fluid is heated to a predetermined temperature while propagating along a flow path formed between an inlet and an outlet in the casing of the device 100 (so-called "one-pass" embodiment). The device 100 allows a temperature increase (delta T, ΔT) in one stage in the range of about 10° C. to about 120° C., in some embodiments up to about 500° C. Thus, in the case of multi-stage embodiments, the fluid can be heated up to 1000° C. in a "one-pass" implementation (a temperature increase of 100° C. per stage in the case of a 10-stage device). Since the residence time that the fluid medium spends passing through the device stages is on the order of a few seconds, for example on the order of about 0.01 to 1.0 milliseconds, already in the basic form a fast and efficient heating can be achieved. The temperature increase can be optimized as needed.

[0124] 3A illustrates the basic concept involved in so-called booster heating, which is any method of heating a fluid medium, e.g., a process gas, beyond the capabilities of a stand-alone heating device 100.

[0125] The temperature boost can be considered thermal, chemical, or both. In the first configuration, also called "thermal boost", an additional rotating heater device (shown as 100B in Figs. 3A, 3B, and 3C) is placed downstream of the "primary" rotating heater device (shown as 100A in Figs. 3A, 3B, and 3C). The devices 100A, 100B are generally recognized within the scope of this disclosure as a rotating heater unit 100. The production of a heated fluid medium can thus be achieved by providing at least two rotating devices 100A, 100B connected in series. A fluid medium stream (feed stream 1) is heated to a predetermined temperature in at least the first rotating device (100A) in the series, referred to here as the primary heater. The fluid medium flow (see flow 2) is then further heated in at least the second rotating device (100B) in the series by injecting an additional amount of thermal energy into the fluid medium flow (see flow 3) propagating through the second rotating device 100B, "preheated" in the first rotating device 100A. The device 100B is therefore called a booster heater. The devices 100A, 100B may be identical or may vary in terms of size or internal design. A train of two or more booster devices, for example 100B, may be arranged after the primary heater 100A. The booster devices may be arranged in parallel or in series, or in any combination that allows the optimization of their rotational speed and aerodynamic characteristics.

[0126] In a second additional or alternative configuration (also referred to as "chemical boost"), an additional heating device, designated 103 (FIGS. 1, 2B), is configured to receive a reactive component 5, such as a combustible fuel, into the fluid medium stream propagating therethrough, thereby providing heat by exothermic reaction prior to directing said fluid medium stream to the thermal store 101. In this configuration, a temperature boost can be achieved by introducing (e.g. injecting) a reactive chemical 5 into the fluid medium stream directed through the additional heater unit / heating device 103. Note that stream 5 in FIG. 2B corresponds to stream 8 shown in FIG. 1.

[0127] The reactive chemical-based booster heater unit 103 may be placed after the thermal booster heater unit 100, 100B (FIG. 3A) or immediately after the primary heater 100, 100A (FIG. 1). The reactive chemicals (reactants) 5 (FIG. 3A) may include combustion gases, such as hydrogen gas, hydrocarbons, ammonia, oxygen, air, other gases and / or any other suitable reactive compounds, optionally with a catalyst. In the unit 103, by exothermic reactions, the fluid stream can be heated to a level that typically cannot be achieved by a single rotating device that does not participate in chemical-mediated heating (see stream 4). For example, a fuel gas, such as hydrogen, can be introduced into an oxygen-containing process gas, such as air. At high temperatures, hydrogen and oxygen enter into an exothermic reaction to produce water molecules (hydrogen combustion).

[0128] The temperature of the gas may be increased by injecting the fuel gas together with air (or enriched oxygen) through a burner into the booster heater unit 103. Heat may also be generated by injecting any other reactive gas if feasible.

[0129] The additional heater 103 configured for chemical boosting may be formed as a piece of pipe or as a chamber in which an exothermic reaction takes place and / or may include at least one rotating device 100 arranged to receive a reactive compound for supporting an exothermic reaction to produce additional heat energy. The booster section 103 may thus include at least one rotating device 100. Optionally, the reactive chemical may be injected directly into the heat consuming process 101 (not shown). Additionally or alternatively, reactive chemical mediated boosting may also be implemented in a single device 100, 103 modified accordingly.

[0130] In a configuration involving booster heating, the temperature of a fluid medium stream preheated to a predetermined temperature in a first rotating device (100A) can be further increased to a maximum limit in a subsequent heater unit (100B, 103). As an example, the temperature of a fluid medium stream preheated to about 1700° C. in the primary heater (100A) can be further increased to 2500° C. or more in a subsequent heater unit (100B, 103).

[0131] The above concepts can be used separately or in combination to introduce reactive chemicals 5 into any one of the parallel or series (in series) connected devices 100. A booster heater is optional.

[0132] Additionally or alternatively, pre-heating and additional heating may be performed in the same apparatus 100 (not shown). This may be accomplished in a multi-stage configuration, which includes several rotor units (e.g., 1-5 rotor blade rows arranged consecutively on / along the rotor shaft) alternating with a common diffuser region (vaned or vaned).

[0133] Additionally or alternatively, booster heating may be used when the temperature of a fluid once heated within the rotating device 100 needs to be increased again after the fluid has transferred its heat to a thermal storage unit / process 101 (not shown).

[0134] A rotating device assembly can be established when at least two rotating devices, e.g. 100A, 100B and optionally 103 (if 103 is implemented as a rotating device 100), are connected in parallel or in series (see e.g. Figs. 3A-3C). The connection between the rotating devices 100 realized as "primary" heaters 100A or "booster" heaters 100B, 103 can be mechanical and / or functional. A functional connection (e.g. in terms of achievable heat input) can be established when there is coordination between at least two individual, physically integrated or not integrated, individual equipment units. In the latter case, the coordination between the at least two rotating devices can be established via some auxiliary equipment (not shown). In some forms, the assembly includes at least two devices connected in a mirror-like manner to each other. Thereby, said at least two devices are at least functionally connected via their central (rotor) axis. Such a mirrored configuration may be further defined as having at least two rotating devices 100 mechanically connected in series (in series), while the functional connection may be considered as a parallel (array) connection. In some cases, the "mirrored" array may be further modified to include at least two inlets and a common exhaust (ejection) module located essentially at the center of the array.

[0135] The rotating devices (see 100A, 100B, 103 in FIG. 3A) can be assembled on the same (rotor) shaft. Each rotating device can optionally be equipped with a separate drive (motor) allowing independent optimization of the device. If two or more separate rotating devices are used, the construction costs (materials, etc.) can be optimized in terms of operating temperatures and pressures.

[0136] Additionally or alternatively, at least one rotating device within the assembly can be designed to increase the pressure of the fluid flow, and thus at least one rotating device within the assembly can be assigned a combination of heater and blower functions.

[0137] Additionally or alternatively, a stream containing a reactive or inert gas (e.g., stream 6 in FIG. 1) can be fed to the rotating apparatus 100 or to any equipment (not shown) located downstream of said apparatus.

[0138] FIG. 3B shows a rotating device 100 with indirect process heating. The rotating device can be used to indirectly heat a fluid in a heat exchanger 105. The type of heat exchanger can be selected as needed for optimal heat transfer. The heating gas (see streams 1-3) can be selected to be optimal for heating and safety (e.g. steam, N 2 , air). The gas heated in the rotating device 100 may thus be used to transfer its heat to a "cold" heat transfer fluid stream 11 entering the heat exchanger from elsewhere, thereby generating a heated heat transfer fluid stream 12 to be further used in the heat storage unit 101 (not shown). Alternatively, the heat storage unit 101 may be formed as a "heat exchanger" (see FIG. 1) to receive the heated gas flowing from the rotating device (1-4) and the heat transfer fluid as a separate stream 7.

[0139] The gas heated in the rotary device 100 can be close to atmospheric pressure or the pressure can be increased to improve heat transfer. The use of a rotary device allows for optimization of the temperature difference in the downstream heat exchanger. This also allows for minimizing the size of the heat exchanger and avoiding undesirable reactions (fouling, coking) that can occur on the heat exchanger surface due to excessively high surface temperatures. In process heaters, high surface temperatures can cause excessive fouling in the process heater. By using indirect heating, it is possible to replace process heaters, for example in oil refineries for the evaporation of heavy streams, where the operating pressure is also usually low.

[0140] FIG. 3C shows the rotary heater apparatus 100 (100A) with a preheater 102 and recycled process fluid (stream 4) recycled from a thermal energy storage medium 101 (not shown). The preheater can be electric, combustion, combustion engine, gas turbine, etc., and it can be a heat exchanger to recover excess heat from any hot stream in the process. The presence of the preheater 102 is optional. The concept can include an optional booster heater 100B located downstream of the apparatus 100A. Thermal or chemical booster heating can be used. Stream 1′ represents the (feed) fluid sent to the preheater 102. The fluid is further propagated through the rotary apparatus 100A, 100B, where the feed is heated and sent to the regenerator in stream 3.

[0141] Any one of the rotating devices 100A, 100B may include a fluid recycle device (see flow 4 in FIG. 3C). Any combination of rotating devices and fluid recycle devices is contemplated. Recirculation of the fluid media stream through at least one rotating device allows for recycling of the fluid stream.

[0142] In some configurations, the rotary device 100 can utilize low oxygen content flue gas possibly produced in and discharged from the thermal energy storage process (101). In such cases, hot flue gas discharged from the combustion heater is mixed with recycle gas (stream 4 in FIG. 3C) and used for heating in the rotary heater 100, 100A. The oxygen content in the flue gas used in the described case is preferably below the flammability limit to allow safe heating.

[0143] 4-8 illustrate the use of the rotating device 100 in a high temperature thermal energy storage application.

[0144] As used herein, "thermal energy storage" is the process of first transferring thermal energy (heat) from a heat source into a storage medium and then recovering the stored heat into a heat sink. Depending on the application, the materials and phases of the heat source, storage medium, and heat sink may differ from each other.

[0145] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a thermal energy production and storage process 400 according to the present disclosure. An energy source 402 is used to power a rotating device 100. In one embodiment, the energy source 402 is renewable and may only be available intermittently. The rotating device 100 receives a heat transfer gas 404, such as air or another gas, and heats the steam heat transfer gas 404. The heated gas 406 is delivered to a thermal energy storage unit 101 that includes a thermal energy storage medium 408, which transfers heat from the heated gas 406 to the thermal energy storage medium 408. The thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage medium 408 may be released at a later point in the industrial process 410.

[0146] Thermal storage media suitable for major industrial applications include low-cost materials that can withstand high temperatures, including temperatures up to 1000° C. Such media allow high-capacity, high-temperature thermal storage facilities to be built at reduced cost. Some exemplary embodiments of suitable low-cost storage media include rock, sand, concrete, and / or molten salt.

[0147] To incorporate the rotating machine 100 into the process of thermal energy production and storage, it is necessary that the heat carrier (heat transfer fluid HTF) is a gaseous heat carrier. Inert gases, such as air, nitrogen or steam, can be heated by the rotating machine and subsequently transport the heat produced by the rotating machine into the thermal energy storage medium. Any other gas may also be utilized if appropriate.

[0148] One embodiment of a heat sink is high-temperature, high-pressure steam. This steam can deliver thermal energy to, for example, a compressor or a steam turbine that powers an electric generator. One embodiment of a low-temperature heat sink is district heating, where high thermal energy requirements are often not matched with the availability of renewable electricity. Thermal energy storage of the thermal energy produced by renewable electricity is a useful improvement to existing systems.

[0149] In sensible high temperature heat storage (SHTHS), for example, the temperature of a liquid or solid heat storage medium (e.g., sand, pressurized water, molten salt, oil, ceramic, rock) is increased, imparting thermal energy to the heat storage medium. This thermal energy may then be released for use in high temperature applications requiring temperatures above 100° C. The amount of thermal energy stored in the medium is proportional to the medium's density, specific heat, volume, and temperature change.

[0150] In some implementations, the rotating device 100 can act as a heater for the thermal energy storage medium (101 in FIG. 1 , 408 in FIG. 4 ) by blowing heated gas onto the thermal energy storage medium, causing thermal energy transfer to the thermal energy storage medium. In one implementation, the rotating device 100 is configured to generate thermal energy for transfer and storage in hot rock, sand, or concrete. In some implementations, the rotating device 100 utilizes electricity produced from renewable sources (wind, sun) as input energy. This makes the use of that electricity commercially viable, especially during peak electricity demand hours. By utilizing the rotating devices described herein, (high temperature) thermal energy storage can act as a buffer between low-cost intermittent renewable electricity and sustained thermal energy flows required, for example, by process industry applications.

[0151] In some embodiments, the rotating machine 100 can produce fluids that reach high temperatures (up to 1700° C.). This allows for a greater amount of thermal energy to be transferred to the thermal storage medium per specific volume of the thermal storage medium. The thermal energy can then be recovered at higher temperatures. By producing and storing more excess thermal energy, applications such as high pressure steam generation or conversion of thermal energy to electricity via steam turbines become easier and more cost effective to achieve.

[0152] In some embodiments, the rotating device 100 is further configured to increase the pressure of the gaseous medium entering the rotating device as the thermal energy increases. The higher temperature and pressure gaseous medium passes more easily through larger sized or denser beds, layers, or volumes of thermal storage material.

[0153] In some embodiments, the rotating device 100 is configured to provide thermal energy to a gaseous heating medium (heat transfer medium) after said gaseous medium releases its thermal energy into the heat storage medium. Recycling of the gaseous medium accordingly improves the thermal efficiency of the system. Since the thermal energy transfer from the gaseous heat transfer medium (heated in the device 100) to the heat storage medium is often incomplete, the recycled gaseous heat transfer medium contains residual thermal energy, thus allowing the recovery of the heat stored in such a heat carrier once used. The amount of energy required to heat the recycled gas can be correspondingly reduced.

[0154] In some embodiments, the rotating machine 100 is configured to selectively utilize renewable electricity for thermal energy production, such as high temperature heat production, depending on the rate of renewable electrical generation and the overall electrical energy demand. This allows the rotating machine to prioritize renewable electricity during times when the renewable energy is at its peak production rate, i.e., when availability is highest and electricity prices are lowest. By allowing such selective utilization, the economic benefits of renewable energy production can be maximized while high temperature heat production can be maintained at a level required for a particular application.

[0155] The thermal energy transfer process from the gaseous heat transfer medium produced by the rotating device 100 to the heat storage medium and from the heat storage medium to a heat sink, e.g., steam, varies depending on the nature of the heat storage medium and its phase. When the heat storage medium is a mobile medium, e.g., a fluid (e.g., molten salt) or a fluidized sand bed, the heat storage medium can be divided into a hot and a cold storage. During the thermal energy exchange between the gaseous heat transfer medium (flowing from the device 100) and the fluid heat storage material, the fluid heat storage medium flows from the cold storage to the hot storage and is heated in a direct or indirect heat exchanger positioned between the hot and cold storages. During the release / recovery of thermal energy, the heat storage medium flows from the hot storage to the cold storage and transfers its heat to a heat sink in a direct or indirect heat exchanger. If the heat storage medium is an immobile medium, such as concrete, a fixed sand bed, or a rock bed, the transfer of thermal energy from the heat source to the heat sink can be accomplished in a heat transfer tube immersed in the bed, or by passing hot and cold gases directly through the bed during the heat charge and heat release phases, respectively.

[0156] 5-8 show heat charge and discharge cycles corresponding to a mobile (fluid) heat storage medium and a non-mobile heat storage medium.

[0157] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary thermal energy production and storage cycle 500. An energy source 502 provides electricity to the rotating machine 100. In some embodiments, the energy source 502 is a renewable energy source. In some embodiments, the energy source 502 is comprised of electrical energy from multiple sources, e.g., renewable energy and electricity from a local grid. As noted above, the amount of renewable energy relied upon in generating thermal energy may vary depending on the rate and efficiency of renewable energy production. Thus, the energy source 502 may include various electrical energy sources in various ratios and may vary based on secondary factors, e.g., time of day, situational energy demand of the local grid, weather (in situations where solar and / or wind energy is available).

[0158] The rotating device 100, powered by an energy source 502, receives a gaseous heating medium 504 and a recycled gaseous heating medium 506. In some embodiments, the gaseous heating medium is air or (water) steam. In other embodiments, the gaseous heating medium is waste gas or recycled gas from a thermal energy production process. Through the heating operation performed in the rotating device 100, as described above, a heated gaseous medium 508 is produced. The heated gaseous medium 508 is further referred to as a heat carrier or heat transfer fluid. In some embodiments, the temperature of the heated gaseous medium 508 is about 1000° C., although the temperature of the heated gaseous medium may vary depending on the available energy source, the temperature of the recycled gaseous medium, the needs of a specific application, or the like.

[0159] The heated gaseous medium 508 passes to a heat exchanger 510. The heat exchanger 510 is thermally connected to a cold storage 512 and a hot storage 514, and the fluid heat storage flows from the cold storage 512 through the heat exchanger 510 to the hot storage 514. Thus, during a heating cycle, the thermal energy of the gaseous heating medium 508 is transferred through the heat exchanger 510 to the fluid heat storage 512, 514. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 510 is a conventional radiator-style exchanger, where the fluid heat storage is in tubes with large surface area and the gaseous heating medium passes through these tubes.

[0160] During the thermal energy transfer from the gaseous heating medium to the fluid heat storage medium, the temperature of the cold storage portion 512 may be, for example, about 500° C., and the temperature of the hot storage portion 514 may be, for example, about 800° C. After the thermal energy transfer, the heated gaseous medium exits the heat exchanger 510 having a reduced temperature, for example, about 900° C., and is recycled to the rotating device 100.

[0161] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary thermal energy release cycle 600 for a high temperature thermal energy storage system with a mobile (fluid) thermal storage medium. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the release cycle 600 may include the release of thermal energy after the thermal energy production and storage process 500 illustrated in FIG. 5. Feedwater 602 is passed through a heat exchanger 604. The feedwater 602 may be any suitable water source. In an exemplary embodiment, the feedwater 602 is a boiler feedwater having a pressure of about 60 bar to about 100 bar and a temperature of about 270° C. The heat exchanger 604 is positioned between the low temperature storage section 512 and the high temperature storage section 514, and operates similarly to the heat exchanger 510 of FIG. 5. As the feedwater 602 passes through the heat exchanger 604, thermal energy stored in the fluid thermal storage medium in the high temperature storage section 514 is transferred to the feedwater, vaporizing it. Superheated steam 606 exits the heat exchanger. In an exemplary embodiment, the superheated steam 606 has a pressure between about 60 bar and about 100 bar and a temperature of about 450°C.

[0162] 5 and 6, the hot and cold storage may be in the form of, for example, molten salt, fluidized sand, or any other suitable thermal storage material. In the example provided, thermal storage sections 512 and 514 collectively represent thermal storage unit 101 (FIG. 1).

[0163] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary thermal energy production and storage cycle 700 utilizing a non-moving thermal storage medium. An energy source 702 provides electricity to the rotating machine 100. In some embodiments, the energy source 702 is a renewable energy source. In some embodiments, the energy source 702 is comprised of electrical energy from multiple sources, e.g., renewable energy and electricity from a local grid. As noted above, the amount of renewable energy relied upon in generating thermal energy may vary depending on the rate and efficiency of renewable energy production. Thus, the energy source 702 may include various electrical energy sources in various ratios and may vary based on secondary factors, e.g., time of day, situational energy demand of the local grid, weather (in situations where solar and / or wind energy is available).

[0164] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the rotating device 100 powered by an energy source 702 receives a recycled gaseous heating medium 704 and a recycled gaseous heating medium 704. In some embodiments, the gaseous heating medium is air. In other embodiments, the gaseous heating medium is exhaust gas or recycled gas from a thermal energy production process. Through the heating operation performed in the rotating device 100, as described above, a heated gaseous medium 706 is produced. In some embodiments, the temperature of the heated gaseous medium 706 is about 1000° C., although the temperature of the heated gaseous medium may vary depending on the available energy source, the temperature of the recycled gaseous medium, the needs of a particular application, or the like.

[0165] The heated gaseous medium 706 passes to an immobile thermal storage medium 708, which is characterized by being non-flowable, unlike the fluid thermal storage medium shown in Figures 5 and 6. The immobile thermal storage medium 708 is heated by the heated gaseous medium 706. In some embodiments, the immobile thermal storage medium 708 includes a heat transfer piping network distributed throughout the volume of the immobile thermal storage medium, allowing for efficient thermal energy transfer from the heated gaseous medium. In other embodiments, the immobile thermal storage medium is porous, so that the heated gaseous medium may flow directly over the immobile thermal storage medium itself.

[0166] Upon transfer of thermal energy from the heated gaseous medium 706 to the immobile thermal storage medium 708, the immobile thermal storage medium 708 may change temperature, for example, from about 500° C. to about 800° C. After thermal energy transfer, the recycled gaseous medium 704 exits the immobile thermal storage medium 708 having a reduced temperature, for example, about 900° C., and is recycled to the rotating device 100.

[0167] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary thermal energy release cycle 800 for a high temperature thermal energy storage system with an immobile thermal storage medium. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the release cycle 800 may include the release of thermal energy after the thermal energy production and storage process 700 illustrated in FIG. 7. Feedwater 802 is passed through an immobile thermal storage medium 804. The feedwater 802 may be any suitable water source. In an exemplary embodiment, the feedwater 802 is a boiler feedwater having a pressure of about 60 bar to about 100 bar and a temperature of about 270° C. The immobile thermal storage medium 804 operates similarly to the immobile thermal storage medium 708 of FIG. 7. As the feedwater 802 crosses or passes through the immobile thermal storage medium 708, the thermal energy stored within the immobile thermal storage medium is transferred to the feedwater, vaporizing it. Superheated steam 806 exits the immobile thermal storage medium. In an exemplary embodiment, the superheated steam 806 has a pressure of about 60 bar to about 100 bar and a temperature of about 450° C. In some embodiments, as a result of the thermal energy transfer, the non-moving thermal storage medium is changed in temperature from about 800° C. to about 500° C.

[0168] 7 and 8, the immobile thermal storage medium may be in the form of, for example, a sand bed, a rock bed, concrete, or any other suitable thermal storage material. In the examples presented, thermal storage sections 708 (FIG. 7) and 804 (FIG. 8) represent thermal storage unit 101 (FIG. 1).

[0169] As is clear to those skilled in the art, with the development of technology the basic idea of ​​the invention can be realized and combined in various ways, the invention and its embodiments are thus not limited to the above examples, which may vary widely within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for producing and storing thermal energy, the method comprising generating a heated fluid medium by at least one rotating device incorporated within the thermal energy production and storage facility, the at least one rotating device comprising a casing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a rotor including at least one row of rotor blades disposed around a rotor hub mounted on a rotor shaft, a plurality of fixed vanes arranged upstream of at least the at least one row of rotor blades so as to form an assembly, and the method comprising - introducing an amount of input energy into the at least one rotating device incorporated within the thermal energy production and storage facility, wherein the input energy includes electrical energy, - operating the at least one rotating device incorporated within the thermal energy production and storage facility to effect thermal energy production such that an amount of thermal energy is imparted to a fluid medium flow guided along a flow path formed within the casing between the inlet and the outlet by a series of energy conversions occurring as the fluid medium flow passes through the fixed vanes and the at least one row of rotor blades respectively, thereby generating a flow of heated fluid medium heated to a temperature essentially equal to or exceeding about 500 °C, and - supplying a flow of the heated fluid medium formed by the at least one rotating device into at least one thermal energy storage unit provided within the thermal energy production and storage facility. A method further comprising.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal energy storage unit includes a thermal energy storage medium configured to store thermal energy within the thermal energy production and storage facility, and wherein the amount of thermal energy is transferred from the heated fluid medium generated by the at least one rotating device to the thermal energy storage medium.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal energy storage medium provided within the at least one thermal energy storage unit is any one of a sensible heat storage (SHS) medium, a latent heat storage (LHS) medium, or a thermochemical heat storage (TCS) medium.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the thermal energy storage medium comprises a stable phase material or a phase change material (PCM).

5. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the thermal energy storage medium is provided in any one of a solid phase, a liquid phase, a gas phase, or a combination thereof.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the thermal energy storage medium comprises a dissociating solid, a liquid, or a gaseous compound.

7. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the thermal energy storage medium is mobile and comprises a fluid.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the thermal energy storage medium comprises a molten salt or a fluidized sand bed.

9. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the thermal energy storage medium is immobile and the thermal energy storage medium comprises any one of a metal, a stone, a concrete, a sand, a ceramic, or a combination thereof.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the thermal energy storage medium comprises a fixed sand bed or a rock bed.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising generating the heated fluid medium within the rotating device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the fluid medium entering the rotating device is an essentially gaseous medium.

13. The heated fluid medium generated within the rotating device comprises any one of air, nitrogen (N ２ ), steam (H ２ O), or any combination thereof. The method according to claim 11.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the heated fluid medium generated within the rotating device is a recycled gas recycled from off-gases generated during production and storage of thermal energy within the thermal energy production and storage facility.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an amount of thermal energy is transferred from the heated fluid medium generated by the at least one rotating device to a heat transfer fluid provided within the at least one thermal energy storage unit.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the heat transfer fluid comprises a synthetic oil or a molten salt.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an amount of thermal energy is transferred from the heated fluid medium generated by the at least one rotating device to the at least one thermal energy storage unit via a heat exchanger.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein an amount of the thermal energy is transferred from the heated fluid medium generated by the at least one rotating device to the thermal energy storage medium provided in the at least one thermal energy storage unit and / or to a heat transfer fluid.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the thermal energy is transferred from the heated fluid medium generated by the at least one rotating device to the thermal energy storage medium via a heat transfer tube network immersed in the thermal energy storage medium, and the thermal energy storage medium is immobile.

20. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating the fluid medium heated to a temperature essentially equal to about 500 °C or exceeding about 500 °C, preferably essentially equal to about 1200 °C or exceeding about 1200 °C, more preferably essentially equal to about 1700 °C or exceeding about 1700 °C.

21. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising adjusting the velocity and / or pressure of the fluid medium flow propagating through the rotating device to create the conditions when the heated fluid medium is generated.

22. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heated fluid medium is generated by at least one rotating device including two or more rotor blade rows continuously arranged along the rotor shaft.

23. The heated fluid medium is generated by at least one rotating device further including a diffuser region disposed downstream of at least one rotor blade row. The method includes operating the at least one rotating device incorporated into the thermal energy production and storage facility such that an amount of thermal energy is imparted to the fluid medium flow guided along the flow path formed inside the casing between the inlet and the outlet by a series of energy conversions occurring when the fluid medium flow successively passes through the stationary vanes, the rotor blades, and the diffuser region, thereby generating a flow of the heated fluid medium.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein in the rotating device, the diffuser region is formed with or without stationary diffuser vanes.

25. The amount of the thermal energy added to the fluid medium flow propagating through the rotating device is controlled by adjusting the amount of the input energy guided into the at least one rotating device incorporated in the thermal energy production and storage facility, according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

26. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising that when a reactive compound or a mixture of reactive compounds is introduced into the fluid medium flow propagating through the heating device, immediately a certain amount of thermal energy is added to the fluid medium flow through an exothermic reaction.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the reactive compound or the mixture of reactive compounds is introduced into the fluid medium flow preheated to a predetermined temperature.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the reactive compound or the mixture of reactive compounds is introduced into the fluid medium flow preheated to a temperature essentially equal to or exceeding about 1700 °C.

29. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heated fluid medium is generated by at least two rotating devices incorporated in the thermal energy production and storage facility, and the at least two rotating devices are connected in parallel or in series.

30. The heated fluid medium is generated by at least two continuously connected rotating devices, the fluid medium flow is preheated to a predetermined temperature in at least a first rotating device within the continuum, and the fluid medium flow is further heated in at least a second rotating device within the continuum by introducing an additional amount of thermal energy into the preheated fluid medium flow propagating through the second rotating device, according to the method of claim 29.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein in at least the first rotating device within the continuum, the fluid medium flow is preheated to a temperature essentially equal to or exceeding about 1700 °C.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein by introducing the reactive compound or the mixture of reactive compounds into the flow, the additional amount of thermal energy is added to the fluid medium flow propagating through at least the second rotating device in sequence.

33. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising increasing the pressure in the fluid medium flow propagating through the rotating device.

34. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amount of electrical energy guided as input energy into the at least one rotating device incorporated in the thermal energy production and storage facility is in the range of about 5 percent to 100 percent.

35. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amount of electrical energy guided as input energy into the at least one rotating device incorporated in the thermal energy production and storage facility can be obtained from a renewable energy source, or various different energy sources, optionally a combination of renewable energy sources.

36. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one rotating device is incorporated into the thermal energy production and storage facility together with at least one heater device operable with non-electrical energy, and is used to balance fluctuations in the amount of electrical energy, optionally the amount of renewable electrical energy, such as supply excess and deficiency.

37. Use of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the energy efficiency of the thermal energy production and storage facility is improved and / or the greenhouse gas emissions and particulate emissions in the thermal energy production and storage facility are reduced.

38. A thermal energy production and storage facility, comprising at least one rotating device configured to generate a heated fluid medium and at least one thermal energy storage unit, wherein the at least one rotating device is incorporated into the thermal energy production and storage facility, and a casing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a rotor including at least one row of rotor blades arranged around a rotor hub mounted on a rotor shaft, a plurality of fixed vanes arranged to form an assembly at least upstream of the at least one row of rotor blades, and comprising, the at least one rotating device being - configured to receive an amount of input energy including electrical energy - By a series of energy conversions that occur when the fluid medium flow passes through the fixed guide vanes and the at least one rotor blade row respectively, a certain amount of thermal energy is imparted to the fluid medium flow guided along the flow path formed inside the casing between the inlet and the outlet, so that a flow of fluid medium heated to a temperature essentially equal to or exceeding about 500 °C is generated, and - To supply the flow of heated fluid medium into the at least one thermal energy storage unit provided inside the thermal energy production and storage facility, is formed, Thermal energy production and storage facility.

39. The thermal energy production and storage facility according to claim 38, wherein the at least one thermal energy storage unit includes a thermal energy storage medium formed to store thermal energy within the thermal energy production and storage facility, and the at least one rotating device is connected to the at least one thermal energy storage unit such that the certain amount of thermal energy is transferred from the heated fluid medium generated by the at least one rotating device to the thermal energy storage medium.

40. The thermal energy production and storage facility according to claim 38, which is formed to implement a process related to the production and storage of thermal energy through the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

41. The thermal energy production and storage facility according to claim 38 or 39, wherein at least two rotating devices are arranged to form an assembly and are connected in parallel or in series.

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