Heat storage tank

Abstract

To provide a heat storage tank which can increase a heat storage amount and a heat release amount, and which can extend a heat release operation time.SOLUTION: According to one embodiment, a heat storage tank executes: a heat storage operation in which the potential heat of fluid is absorbed in first to n-th solid sensible heat storage materials (n being an integral number of 2 or more) to store the heat; and a heat release operation in which the potential heat of the first to n-th solid sensible heat storage materials is absorbed into the fluid to release the heat. Further, the first solid sensible heat storage material is incorporated in the first region closest to an outlet of inlet of the fluid during heat storage operation. Still further, the first solid sensible heat storage material has a grain size smaller than the n-th solid sensible heat storage material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a heat storage tank.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, power generation using natural energy such as solar power generation and wind power generation has been increasing. Depending on the season and time zone, there are areas where the amount of power generation exceeds the power demand. Also, depending on the season and time zone, the power demand may increase, and the amount of power generation may not meet the power demand, resulting in a power shortage. There is a conventional technique for performing power adjustment using heat storage, which will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 to 20.

[0003] FIG. 18 is an overall configuration diagram of a power adjustment system 100 including a heat storage system 200 in the prior art.

[0004] A power adjustment system 100 including a heat storage system 200 in the prior art includes a heat storage tank 1, an electric heater 2, a first blower 3, a second blower 4, a condensate pump 8, a boiler 9, a steam turbine 10, a condenser 11, and a plurality of valves 12 to 15. The heat storage system 200 includes the heat storage tank 1, the electric heater 2, the first blower 3, the second blower 4, the valves 12 to 15, and the boiler 9 which is a heat supply destination. FIG. 18 further shows air 5, water 6, and steam 7 circulating within the power adjustment system 100 including the heat storage system 200.

[0005] When power is surplus, the power adjustment system 100 including the heat storage system 200 stops the condensate pump 8, the steam turbine 10, and the second blower 4, opens the valves 12 and 13 and closes the valves 14 and 15, and operates the electric heater 2 and the first blower 3 using the surplus power. Also, the heat storage system 200 circulates the air 5 between the electric heater 2 and the heat storage tank 1 by the first blower 3. The air 5 is heated by the heat generated by the electric heater 2, transports the heat to the heat storage tank 1, and heats the heat storage material in the heat storage tank 1. The heat storage material is a solid sensible heat storage material 23, for example, rock. The solid sensible heat storage material 23 absorbs all or part of the retained heat of the air 5, and thereby stores heat in the heat storage tank 1.

[0006] FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 in the prior art and a diagram showing the temperature distribution during the heat storage operation.

[0007] The upper part of FIG. 19 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation in the prior art. The heat storage tank 1 is often arranged horizontally with a long object in the flow direction. The solid line arrow in the heat storage tank 1 indicates the air flow direction 32 during the heat storage operation.

[0008] When the power is not surplus, the power regulation system 100 including the heat storage system 200 stops the electric heater 2 and the first blower 3, closes the valves 12 and 13, opens the valves 14 and 15, and operates the condensate pump 8 and the second blower 4. Further, the power regulation system 100 including the heat storage system 200 circulates the air 5 between the heat storage tank 1 and the boiler 9 by the second blower 4. The air 5 is heated from the heat storage material in the heat storage tank 1 and transports the heat to the boiler 9. The solid sensible heat storage material 23 absorbs heat from the retained heat and dissipates heat to the air 5. In the boiler 9, the water carried in by the condensate pump 8 is heated by the heat from the air 5 to produce steam, and the air 5 flows out with a temperature drop. Thus, the heat dissipation operation is carried out. The steam 7 flows through the steam turbine 10 while becoming low temperature and low pressure, rotates and drives the steam turbine 10 which is an impeller, and a generator (not shown) mechanically connected to the steam turbine 10 generates electricity. The steam discharged from the steam turbine 10 is cooled by cooling water, for example, seawater, in the condenser 11 and changes to water and circulates. Thereby, steam is generated and electricity is generated by the heat stored in the heat storage material in the heat storage tank 1. Thus, power is used when the power is surplus, and power generation is performed when the power is not surplus, thereby implementing power regulation.

[0009] During the heat storage operation, the heat storage tank 1 forms a first temperature jump layer 26 showing a steep temperature gradient in the flow direction, and it moves from the upstream side to the downstream side during the heat storage operation. When the temperature of the air 5 flowing out of the heat storage tank 1 rises to the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, the heat storage operation ends.

[0010] The lower part of Fig. 19 shows the temperature distribution diagram during the heat storage operation of the heat storage tank 1 in the prior art. The horizontal axis indicates the position in the heat storage tank 1, and the vertical axis is the heat storage temperature of the solid sensible heat storage material 23. The first heat storage temperature 24 is lower than the air 5. That is, there is a temperature difference between the inflow air temperature 50, which is the temperature of the air 5 flowing into the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, and the first heat storage temperature 24. The first temperature jump layer 26 moves with the passage of time and becomes the second temperature jump layer 27. The temperature of the outlet air, which is the air at the outlet of the heat storage tank 1, rises, and when it reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation of the heat storage system 200 at the time of the second temperature jump layer 27, the heat storage operation ends. The allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation is, for example, the heat resistance temperature of a valve (valve 13 in Fig. 18) installed downstream of the heat storage tank 1 or a blower (the first blower 3 in Fig. 18). It is desired to increase the heat storage amount in this heat storage tank 1.

[0011] Fig. 20 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 in the prior art and the temperature distribution during the heat dissipation operation.

[0012] The upper part of Fig. 20 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 in the prior art. The solid line arrow in the heat storage tank 1 indicates the air flow direction 33 during the heat dissipation operation.

[0013] During the heat dissipation operation, the heat storage tank 1 forms a third temperature jump layer 29 showing a steep temperature gradient in the flow direction, which moves from the upstream side to the downstream side during the heat dissipation operation, and the heat dissipation operation ends until the temperature of the air 5 flowing out of the heat storage tank 1 drops to the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation.

[0014] The lower part of Fig. 20 shows the temperature distribution diagram during the heat dissipation operation of the heat storage tank 1 in the prior art. The temperature of the outflowing air is lower than that of the solid sensible heat storage material 23. That is, there is a temperature difference between the first outflow air temperature 25, which is the temperature of the air 5 flowing out of the heat storage tank 1 in the prior art during the heat dissipation operation, and the first heat storage temperature 24. The third temperature jump layer 29 moves with the passage of time and becomes the fourth temperature jump layer 30. The first outflow air temperature 25 decreases and reaches the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation of the heat storage system 200 at the time of the fourth temperature jump layer 30, and the heat dissipation operation ends. The allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation is, for example, the allowable temperature on the heat demand side such as the minimum temperature required for the operation of the boiler 9. In this heat storage tank 1, it is desired to increase the heat storage amount, increase the heat dissipation temperature, extend the heat dissipation operation time, and increase the heat dissipation amount.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0015]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0016] Therefore, an embodiment of the present invention provides a heat storage tank that can increase the heat storage amount, increase the heat dissipation temperature, extend the heat dissipation operation time, and increase the heat dissipation amount.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0017] According to one embodiment, the heat storage tank is a heat storage tank that absorbs and stores the retained heat of the fluid in the first to n solid sensible heat storage materials (n is an integer of 2 or more) during the heat storage operation, and absorbs and dissipates the retained heat of the first to n solid sensible heat storage materials into the fluid during the heat dissipation operation. Further, the first solid sensible heat storage material is built in the first region closest to the outlet or inlet of the fluid during the heat storage operation. Further, the first solid sensible heat storage material has a smaller particle size than the nth solid sensible heat storage material.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment does not limit the present invention. The drawings are schematic or conceptual, and the ratios of each part are not necessarily the same as those in reality. In the specification and drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as those described above with respect to the previous drawings, and detailed descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0020] (First Embodiment) The first embodiment corresponding to claims 1, 2, and 9 will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 in the first embodiment and the temperature distribution during heat storage operation.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis that are perpendicular to each other. The X direction and the Y direction correspond to the horizontal directions (lateral directions) perpendicular to the gravitational direction, and the Z direction corresponds to the vertical direction (vertical direction) parallel to the gravitational direction. Also, the +Z direction corresponds to the upward direction, and the -Z direction corresponds to the downward direction. FIG. 19 in the prior art corresponds to FIG. 1 in this embodiment.

[0022] Also, in this example, the heat storage tank 1 uses the high-temperature heat source fluid as air 5, but other gases may also be used, or it may be a liquid instead of a gas. Air 5 is an example of a fluid that is a heat medium.

[0023] In the following embodiments, during the heat storage operation and the heat release operation, the air 5 flows only in the ±X direction. However, as long as the air 5 in the heat storage tank 1 mainly flows in the ±X direction, it may flow not only in the ±X direction but also in the ±Y direction and the ±Z direction. For example, even if the air 5 has a velocity component in the Y direction or the Z direction in the solid sensible heat storage material 23 in the heat storage tank 1, it suffices that the air 5 has a sufficient velocity component in the X direction. The flow of the air 5 in such a mode is also included in the flow of the air 5 in the X direction. Since the overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, the description thereof is omitted. The upper part of FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, and the lower part of FIG. 1 shows the temperature distribution of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, and shows the temperature at the corresponding position in the upper schematic diagram.

[0024] Unlike the prior art, the heat storage tank 1 in FIG. 1 incorporates a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23. In the present embodiment, an example in which the heat storage tank 1 includes two solid sensible heat storage materials 23 of different types will be described. However, the number of types of the solid sensible heat storage materials 23 included in the heat storage tank 1 is not limited to this. The heat storage tank 1 may include any n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of solid sensible heat storage materials 23.

[0025] In the present embodiment, two solid sensible heat storage materials 23 of different types are referred to as the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Further, the region of the heat storage tank 1 in which the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is incorporated is referred to as the first region 34, and the region in which the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 is incorporated is referred to as the second region 35. As described above, the heat storage tank 1 may include any n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23. In that case, the nth solid sensible heat storage material is referred to as the nth solid sensible heat storage material, and the region of the heat storage tank 1 in which the nth solid sensible heat storage material is incorporated is referred to as the nth region.

[0026] In this embodiment, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is built into the outermost outlet side of the heat storage tank 1 where air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation. The second solid sensible heat storage material 18 is built into the upstream side of the air 5 during the heat storage operation compared to the first solid sensible heat storage material 19. That is, the first region 34 becomes the region closest to the outlet of the air 5 during the heat storage operation in the heat storage tank 1, and the second region 35 becomes the region upstream of the first region 34.

[0027] The heat storage tank 1 of this embodiment stores heat by absorbing heat from the air 5 into the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 during the heat storage operation, and releases heat by allowing the air 5 to absorb the stored heat of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 during the heat release operation.

[0028] Also, in this embodiment, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is a heat storage material with a smaller particle size than the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. When the heat storage tank 1 contains n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is a heat storage material with a smaller particle size than the nth solid sensible heat storage material arranged on the upstream side during the heat storage operation.

[0029] For example, rock is used for the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. It is desirable that the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 are heat storage materials of the same material or heat storage materials with similar physical properties.

[0030] Between the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, in addition to a mesh member such as a wire mesh, a partition is provided by a member through which air 5 can pass during the heat storage operation and the heat release operation.

[0031] Since the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a small particle size, it has a larger surface area per unit volume compared to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Also, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a larger total surface area per unit volume of the built-in region of the solid sensible heat storage material compared to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Therefore, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a larger contact area with the high-temperature air during the heat storage operation compared to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, is more likely to transfer heat, and absorbs more heat. Therefore, the temperature drop of the air 5 becomes larger.

[0032] In the prior art, during the heat storage operation, when the outlet air reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, the temperature jump layer is the second temperature jump layer 27, whereas in the present embodiment at that time, the temperature jump layer is the seventh temperature jump layer 38. Since the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is easier to transfer heat and has a steeper temperature jump layer compared to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, the seventh temperature jump layer 38 is formed closer to the inlet side of the heat storage tank 1 than the second temperature jump layer 27. Therefore, the outlet air has not reached the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, and the heat storage operation can be continued. In the present embodiment, after the heat storage operation of the heat storage tank 1 is continued, the outlet air reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, but the temperature jump layer at that time becomes the eighth temperature jump layer 39. Comparing the temperature profiles, which are the relationships between the elapsed time and the temperature inside the heat storage tank 1, for FIG. 19 of the prior art and FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 in the first embodiment is in a higher temperature state. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the heat storage capacity is increased compared to the prior art.

[0033] By the way, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 with a small particle size has a large pressure loss of the air 5 during the heat storage operation and the heat dissipation operation when the air 5 is flowing. Therefore, if all of the solid sensible heat storage materials 23 in the heat storage tank 1 are the first solid sensible heat storage materials 19, the load on the blower (the first blower 3 during the heat storage operation and the second blower 4 during the heat dissipation operation) will become sufficiently large, and the power consumption will increase. Since the heat storage system is a system that stores and uses energy, it is desired to reduce the energy consumption. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by arranging the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 only in a part of the region in the heat storage tank 1, the heat storage capacity is increased while suppressing the load on the blower.

[0034] Generally, the smaller the flow cross-sectional area of the air 5, the higher the flow velocity, and the air 5 flows with little temperature change. As a result, the solid sensible heat storage material 23 further downstream is also heated, and the smaller the amount of the solid sensible heat storage material 23 per cross-section perpendicular to the air flow direction, the easier it is for the temperature to rise. Therefore, the slope of the temperature jump layer becomes gentler.

[0035] Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is desirable that the flow path cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as or larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the second region 35 in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the second region 35. If the flow path cross-sectional area in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the second region 35 is smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area of the second region 35, the temperature jump layer becomes gentler, and the effect of increasing the heat storage amount due to the steepness of the temperature jump layer may be reduced. Further, when the heat storage tank 1 contains n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, it is desirable that the flow path cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as or larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth region in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the nth region.

[0036] The built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is desirably determined such that the eighth temperature jump layer 39 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation. When there is also a temperature jump layer in a region other than the first region 34, the eighth temperature jump layer 39 existing on the first region 34 is steep, while the temperature jump layer not existing on the first region 34 remains the second temperature jump layer 27 that is not steep. Therefore, by making all of the temperature jump layers steep, the heat storage amount further increases. This built-in amount may be determined, for example, from measured values by temperature measurement or may be determined by numerical calculation.

[0037] Further, the heat storage system 200 of the present embodiment is configured to use the heat released as a heat source for the steam turbine 10, but it may be used for applications such as air conditioning. The same applies to all subsequent embodiments regarding the application.

[0038] According to the present embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 contains a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, and the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, which is the solid sensible heat storage material built in the most on the outlet side during the heat storage operation, is a heat storage material having a smaller particle size than the second solid sensible heat storage material. Thereby, the heat storage tank 1 suppresses the temperature rise of the outlet air, lengthens the heat storage operation time until the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation is reached, and can increase the heat storage amount in the first region 34.

[0039] Also, if all the heat storage materials are replaced with the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, the pressure loss of the air 5 increases sufficiently. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, only a part of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is used, and the rest is the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Therefore, by suppressing the pressure loss of the heat storage material, it is possible to increase the heat storage amount while suppressing the load of the blower and the power consumption.

[0040] Also, according to the present embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 can be configured such that the flow path cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as or larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the second region 35 in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the second region 35. By adopting such a structure, it is possible to suppress the temperature jump from becoming gentle and prevent the effect of increasing the heat storage amount due to the temperature jump becoming steep from being reduced.

[0041] (Second Embodiment) The second embodiment corresponding to claims 1, 2, 3, and 10 will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 in the second embodiment and a diagram showing the temperature distribution during the heat storage operation.

[0042] The overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The upper part of FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, the lower part of FIG. 2 shows the temperature distribution of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, and the temperature at the corresponding position in the upper schematic diagram is shown.

[0043] Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23 built in the heat storage tank 1 are used. In this embodiment, an example in which the heat storage tank 1 incorporates two types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23 will be described, but the number of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23 built in the heat storage tank 1 is not limited to this. The heat storage tank 1 may include any n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of solid sensible heat storage materials 23.

[0044] In the first embodiment, it was explained that it is desirable to determine the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that the eighth temperature jump layer 39 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation. However, in FIG. 1, a temperature region that is not the eighth temperature jump layer 39, that is, the temperature region that is the first heat storage temperature 24, exists on the first region 34. Now, since the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a larger pressure loss of the air 5 compared to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, the load on the blower (the first blower 3 during the heat storage operation and the second blower 4 during the heat dissipation operation) increases and the power consumption increases. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 to reduce the pressure loss.

[0045] Therefore, in the present embodiment, at the end of the heat storage operation, it is determined so that a temperature region that is not the eighth temperature jump layer 39 does not exist on the first region 34, and the first region 34 is minimized. In the present embodiment, for comparison, the region when it is assumed that the first region 34 is not the minimum region is represented as the first region 34'.

[0046] In the prior art, the temperature jump layer at the time when the outlet air reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation is the second temperature jump layer 27. On the other hand, in FIG. 2 at the same time, the temperature jump layer becomes the ninth temperature jump layer 60 in the second region 35 and the tenth temperature jump layer 61 in the first region 34 which is the minimum region. Since the heat storage tank 1 has not reached the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, the heat storage operation is continued. After that, the outlet air reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, and the temperature jump layer at that time is the eighth temperature jump layer 39, which is the same as the state in the lower part of FIG. 1 in the first embodiment. Therefore, even if the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is reduced to the built-in amount in the minimum region, the same heat storage amount can be obtained.

[0047] Therefore, if the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is set to "the built-in amount such that a temperature region that is not a temperature jump layer existing on the temperature distribution of the solid sensible heat storage material does not exist on the temperature distribution of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 at the end of the heat storage operation during the heat storage operation", the same effect can be obtained compared to the case where the built-in amount is larger, and on the condition that this condition is satisfied, the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 can be reduced.

[0048] According to this embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 determines the minimum area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that a temperature region other than the eighth thermocline 39 does not exist above the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation. Thereby, the heat storage tank 1 can reduce the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, suppress the pressure loss of the air 5 due to the heat storage material, suppress the load of the blower, and suppress the power consumption, while obtaining the same heat storage amount as the heat storage tank 1 of the first embodiment. That is, while maintaining the same increase in the heat storage amount as in the first embodiment, the power consumption of the blower can be suppressed as much as possible.

[0049] (Third Embodiment) The third embodiment corresponding to claims 4, 7, and 9 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank in the third embodiment.

[0050] Since the overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, the description thereof is omitted.

[0051] In this embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into a plurality of parts. In this example, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into two. The heat storage tank on the side where the air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation is called the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the heat storage tank on the side where the air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation is called the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. The number of divisions of the heat storage tank 1 is not limited to two. The heat storage tank 1 can include any m (m is an integer of 2 or more) heat storage tanks. In this case, the heat storage tank into which the air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation is called the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the other heat storage tanks are called the low-temperature side heat storage tanks 49.

[0052] Also, the heat storage tank arranged on the most downstream side during the heat storage operation is also called the first divided heat storage tank, and the m-th heat storage tank on the upstream side counted from the first divided heat storage tank is also called the m-th divided heat storage tank. In this example, the first divided heat storage tank corresponds to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, and the second divided heat storage tank corresponds to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. Also, the first divided heat storage tank and the second divided heat storage tank are connected in series with each other. The first to m divided heat storage tanks are also connected in series with each other.

[0053] Also, in the example of FIG. 3, the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 incorporates the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 incorporates the first solid sensible heat storage material 19. Also, in the example of FIG. 3, the heat storage material incorporated in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19. However, only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 may be incorporated only on the outlet side where the air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation, and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 may be incorporated on the more upstream side inside the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. The heat storage materials incorporated in each of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 may be of multiple types. If the heat storage materials incorporated in each of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 are of one type, there is no need to provide a partition plate in the heat storage tank, a simple structure can be achieved, and the maintainability can be improved. Also, in this example, the heat storage tank 1 uses the high-temperature heat source fluid as the air 5, but other gases may also be used, or it may be a liquid instead of a gas. The air 5 is an example of a fluid that is a heat transfer medium.

[0054] Also, when the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 contains n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is a heat storage material having a smaller particle size than the nth solid sensible heat storage material arranged on the upstream side during the heat storage operation.

[0055] Also, it is desirable that the flow channel cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as or larger than the flow channel cross-sectional area of the nth region near the boundary between the first region 34 and the nth region.

[0056] When the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 incorporates a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, it is desirable to determine the amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 incorporated such that the eighth temperature jump layer 39 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation.

[0057] According to this embodiment, as described above, the heat storage tank 1 incorporates a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, and the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, which is the solid sensible heat storage material 23 incorporated closest to the outlet side during the heat storage operation in the first divided heat storage tank, is a heat storage material with a smaller particle size than the second solid sensible heat storage material. As a result, the heat storage tank 1 suppresses the temperature rise of the outlet air, lengthens the heat storage operation time until the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation is reached, and can increase the heat storage amount in the first region 34.

[0058] Also, if all the heat storage materials are replaced with the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, the pressure loss of the air 5 increases sufficiently. However, according to this embodiment, only a part of the heat storage materials is the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, and the rest are the second solid sensible heat storage materials 18. Therefore, by suppressing the pressure loss of the heat storage materials, it is possible to suppress the load on the blower and suppress the power consumption while increasing the heat storage amount.

[0059] (Fourth Embodiment) The fourth embodiment corresponding to claims 4, 5, 7, and 9 will be described. FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation in the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat dissipation operation in the fourth embodiment.

[0060] The overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, so the description thereof is omitted.

[0061] Also, in this embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into a plurality of parts in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. In this example, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into two parts. The heat storage tank on the side where the air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation is called the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the heat storage tank on the side where the air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation is called the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. The number of divisions of the heat storage tank 1 is not limited to two. The heat storage tank 1 can include any m (m is an integer of 2 or more) heat storage tanks. In this case, the heat storage tank on the side where the air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation is called the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, and the other heat storage tanks are called the high-temperature side heat storage tanks 48.

[0062] Also, the heat storage tank arranged on the most downstream side during the heat storage operation is also referred to as the first divided heat storage tank, and the m-th heat storage tank on the upstream side, counted from the first divided heat storage tank, is also referred to as the m-th divided heat storage tank. In this example, the first divided heat storage tank corresponds to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, and the second divided heat storage tank corresponds to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. Also, the first divided heat storage tank and the second divided heat storage tank are connected in series with each other. The first to m-th divided heat storage tanks are similarly connected in series with each other.

[0063] Also, in the example of FIG. 4, the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 incorporates the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 incorporates the first solid sensible heat storage material 19. Also, in the example of FIG. 4, the heat storage material incorporated in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, but it may be of multiple types, such as incorporating only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 only on the outlet side where air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation, and incorporating the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 on the more upstream side inside the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49.

[0064] Also, when the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 contains n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is a heat storage material with a smaller particle size than the n-th solid sensible heat storage material arranged on the upstream side during the heat storage operation.

[0065] Also, it is desirable that the flow path cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as or larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the n-th region in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the n-th region.

[0066] When the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 incorporates multiple types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, it is desirable to determine the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that the eighth temperature jump layer 39 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation.

[0067] In the above-described embodiment, since the heat storage tank 1 incorporates the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, the rise in the temperature of the outlet air is suppressed, the heat storage operation time until the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation is reached becomes longer, and it has been explained that the heat storage amount can be increased in the first region 34. On the other hand, in the first region 34, since the pressure loss of the flow of the air 5 is large during the heat storage operation and the heat dissipation operation, the power consumption of the blower increases, so it is desired to suppress the pressure loss. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the heat storage tank 1 of the present embodiment includes a low-temperature side bypass flow path 64 that bypasses the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and valves 45 to 47. Further, in FIG. 4, the valve 47 shown in white indicates that it is in the "open" state, and each of the valves 45 to 46 shown in black indicates that it is in the "closed" state. When the heat storage tank 1 includes an m-divided heat storage tank, the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64 is connected so as to bypass the first divided heat storage tank (that is, the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49).

[0068] Also, in this example, the valves are arranged one by one at the inlet and outlet during the heat storage operation in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and one is arranged in the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64, but the number of valves is not limited to this. The heat storage tank 1 only needs to be provided with one or a plurality of bypass valves that switch between the flow path of the air 5 to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 side and the flow path of the air to the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64 side. The valve that bypasses the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is also called a low-temperature side bypass valve. Valves 45 to 47 are examples of low-temperature side bypass valves.

[0069] At the start of the heat storage operation, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the heat storage tank 1 closes the valves 45 and 46 and opens the valve 47. The air 5 flows through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 as the high-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 44 and then flows through the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64 without flowing into the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. As the heat storage operation proceeds and when the first temperature jump layer 26 can move to the inlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the heat storage tank 1 opens the valves 45 and 46 and closes the valve 47. The air 5 flows through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 as the low-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 43 without flowing into the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64. The first solid sensible heat storage material 19 in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is heated, the first temperature jump layer 26 moves to the downstream side, and then, when the outlet temperature reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, the heat storage operation ends.

[0070] When the first temperature jump layer 26 moves to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, the opening and closing timings of the valves can be determined by calculation from the start time of the heat storage operation. Thus, it is also possible to install a temperature sensor near the outlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 or the like, and use the time when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature. Also, the control of each valve may be manually performed by an operator, or may be automatically performed using information from sensors and timers.

[0071] At the start of the heat dissipation operation, as shown in Fig. 5(a), the heat storage tank 1 opens the valves 45 and 46 and closes the valve 47. The air 5 flows through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 as the low-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 43, and then flows through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 as the high-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 44. As the heat dissipation operation progresses, when the seventh temperature jump layer 38 (the third temperature jump layer 29) has finished moving to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, as shown in Fig. 5(b), the heat storage tank 1 closes the valves 45 and 46 and opens the valve 47. The air 5 does not flow into the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and flows through the low-temperature side bypass passage 64. Thereafter, when the outlet temperature reaches the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, the heat dissipation operation ends.

[0072] When the seventh temperature jump layer (the third temperature jump layer 29) moves to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, the opening and closing timings of the valves can be determined by calculation from the start time of the heat dissipation operation. Thus, it is also possible to install a temperature sensor near the outlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 or the like, and use the time when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature. Also, the control of each valve may be manually performed by an operator, or may be automatically performed using information from sensors and timers.

[0073] According to this embodiment, when the heat storage tank 1 bypasses the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 during the heat storage operation and the heat release operation, air 5 does not flow through the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 that increases the pressure loss. Therefore, the pressure loss caused by the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 can be made zero. As a result, the heat storage tank 1 suppresses the temperature rise of the outlet air, increases the heat storage operation time until reaching the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, and can increase the heat storage amount in the first region 34. In addition, during the air 5 flow in the heat storage operation and the heat release operation, by suppressing the pressure loss, the load of the blower can be suppressed and the power consumption can be suppressed.

[0074] (Fifth Embodiment) The fifth embodiment corresponding to claims 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 will be described. FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage operation of the heat storage tank 1 in the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the heat release operation of the heat storage tank 1 in the fifth embodiment.

[0075] Since the overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, the description thereof is omitted.

[0076] Also, in this embodiment, similar to the above-described embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into a plurality of parts. In this example, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into two. The heat storage tank on the side where air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation is called the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the heat storage tank on the side where air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation is called the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. The number of divisions of the heat storage tank 1 is not limited to two. The heat storage tank 1 can include any m (m is an integer of 2 or more) heat storage tanks. In this case, the heat storage tank on the side where air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation is called the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, and the other heat storage tanks are called the high-temperature side heat storage tanks 48.

[0077] Also, the heat storage tank arranged on the most downstream side during the heat storage operation is also referred to as the first divided heat storage tank, and the m-th heat storage tank on the upstream side, counted from the first divided heat storage tank, is also referred to as the m-th divided heat storage tank. In this example, the first divided heat storage tank corresponds to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, and the second divided heat storage tank corresponds to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. Also, the first divided heat storage tank and the second divided heat storage tank are connected in series with each other. The first to m-th divided heat storage tanks are similarly connected in series with each other.

[0078] Also, in the example of FIG. 6, the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 incorporates the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 incorporates the first solid sensible heat storage material 19. Also, in the example of FIG. 6, the heat storage material incorporated in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, but only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is incorporated on the outlet side where the air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation, and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 may be incorporated on the more upstream side inside the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. The heat storage materials incorporated in each of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 may be of multiple types.

[0079] Also, when the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 contains n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is a heat storage material having a smaller particle size than the n-th solid sensible heat storage material arranged on the upstream side during the heat storage operation.

[0080] Also, it is desirable that the flow path cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as or larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the n-th region in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the n-th region.

[0081] When the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 incorporates a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, it is desirable to determine the amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 incorporated so that the eighth temperature jump layer 39 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation.

[0082] In the above-described fifth embodiment, it was explained that by incorporating the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 in the heat storage tank 1, the heat storage temperature becomes high in the first region 34, and the heat storage amount can be increased in the first region 34. On the other hand, when air 5 is flowing through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 in the fifth embodiment, the pressure loss due to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 is not suppressed. Therefore, even if the pressure loss of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is suppressed, the total pressure loss of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is large, and it is also desired to suppress the pressure loss at this time. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the heat storage tank 1 of the present embodiment includes a high-temperature side bypass flow path 63 that bypasses the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and valves 40 to 42. When the heat storage tank 1 includes an m-divided heat storage tank, the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63 is connected so as to bypass the second to m-divided heat storage divided layers (that is, the entire high-temperature side heat storage tank 48). Also, one or a plurality of high-temperature side bypass flow paths 63 may be connected so as to divide the second to m-divided heat storage divided layers respectively.

[0083] Also, in this example, the valves are arranged one by one at the inlet and outlet during the heat storage operation in the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and one is arranged in the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63. However, the number of valves is not limited to this. The heat storage tank 1 only needs to be provided with one or a plurality of valves that switch between the flow path of air 5 to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 side and the flow path of air 5 to the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63 side. The valve that bypasses the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 is also called a high-temperature side bypass valve. Valves 40 to 42 are examples of high-temperature side bypass valves.

[0084] Also, in this example, the valves are arranged one by one at the inlet and outlet during the heat storage operation in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and one is arranged in the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64. However, the number of valves is not limited to this. The heat storage tank 1 only needs to be provided with one or a plurality of valves that switch between the flow path of air 5 to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 side and the flow path of air to the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64 side. The valve that bypasses the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is also called a low-temperature side bypass valve. Valves 45 to 47 are examples of low-temperature side bypass valves.

[0085] At the start of the heat storage operation, as shown in Fig. 6(a), the heat storage tank 1 opens valves 40 and 41 and closes valve 42. Also, the heat storage tank 1 closes valves 45 and 46 and opens valve 47. The air 5 flows through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 as the high-temperature side heat storage tank inlet air 44, and then flows through the low-temperature side bypass passage 64 without flowing into the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. The first solid sensible heat storage material 19 in the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 is heated. When the third temperature jump layer 29 has moved to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, after passing through the state shown in Fig. 6(c) described later, as shown in Fig. 6(b), the heat storage tank 1 closes valves 40, 41, and 47 and opens valves 42, 45, and 46. The air 5 flows through the high-temperature side bypass passage 63 without flowing into the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and also flows through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 as the low-temperature side heat storage tank inlet air 43 without flowing into the low-temperature side bypass passage 64. The second solid sensible heat storage material 18 in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is heated, and the seventh temperature jump layer 38, in which the third temperature jump layer 29 has changed, advances to the downstream side. Then, when the outlet temperature reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, the heat storage operation ends.

[0086] Since the first temperature jump layer 26 is inclined, as shown in Fig. 6(c), when the third temperature jump layer 29 reaches the outlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 after the start of the heat storage operation, valves 40, 41, 45, and 46 are opened and valves 42 and 47 are closed so that it flows through both the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. At this time, the first temperature jump layer 26 exists near the outlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and near the inlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. And when the third temperature jump layer 29 has passed through the outlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, valve 42 is closed, valves 40 and 41 are opened, and it is made to flow through the high-temperature side bypass passage 63 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49.

[0087] The opening and closing timing of each valve when the first temperature jump layer 26 moves to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 can be determined by calculating from the start time of the heat storage operation of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, so it may be done in that way, or a temperature sensor may be installed near the outlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 or the like, and the time when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature may be used. Also, the control of each valve may be carried out manually by an operator, or may be carried out automatically using information from sensors and timers.

[0088] At the start of the heat dissipation operation, as shown in Fig. 7(a), the heat storage tank 1 closes valves 40 and 41 and opens valve 42. Also, the heat storage tank 1 opens valves 45 and 46 and closes valve 47. The air 5 flows through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 as the low-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 43 and then flows through the high-temperature side bypass passage 63 without flowing into the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. As the heat dissipation operation progresses and the seventh temperature jump layer 38 moves to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, after passing through the state shown in Fig. 7(c) described later, as shown in Fig. 7(b), the heat storage tank 1 opens valves 40 and 41 and closes valve 42. Also, the heat storage tank 1 closes valves 45 and 46 and opens valve 47. The air 5 flows through the low-temperature side bypass passage 64 without flowing into the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and then flows through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 as the high-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 44. Then, when the outlet temperature reaches the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, the heat dissipation operation ends.

[0089] Since the seventh temperature jump layer 38 is inclined, as shown in Fig. 7(c), when the seventh temperature jump layer 38 reaches the outlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 after the start of the heat dissipation operation, valves 40, 41, 45, and 46 are opened and valves 42 and 47 are closed to allow it to flow through both the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. At this time, the third temperature jump layer 29 exists near the outlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and near the inlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. When the seventh temperature jump layer 38 has passed through the outlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, valves 45 and 46 are closed, valve 47 is opened, and it is made to flow through the low-temperature side bypass passage 47 and the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48.

[0090] The opening and closing timing of each valve when the seventh temperature jump layer 38 moves to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 can be determined by calculation from the start time of the heat dissipation operation, so it may be done in that way, or a temperature sensor may be installed near the outlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, etc., and the time when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature may be used. Also, the control of each valve may be manually performed by the operator or automatically performed using information from sensors and timers.

[0091] According to the present embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 is provided with a low-temperature side bypass flow path 64. When bypassing the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 during the heat storage operation and the heat release operation, air 5 does not flow through the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 that increases the pressure loss. Therefore, the pressure loss caused by the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 can be made zero. Thus, when air 5 is not flowing through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, the total pressure loss of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is not only smaller compared to the case where no bypass flow path is provided as in the third embodiment, but also smaller compared to the case where only the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64 is provided as in the fifth embodiment. As a result, the heat storage tank 1 can suppress the temperature rise of the outlet air, and the heat storage operation time until reaching the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation becomes longer. In addition to the effect of increasing the heat storage amount in the first region 34, furthermore, in the flow of air 5 during the heat storage operation and the heat release operation, by suppressing the pressure loss, the load on the blower can be suppressed and the power consumption can be suppressed.

[0092] Also, according to the present embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 is provided with a high-temperature side bypass flow path 63. When bypassing the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 during the heat storage operation and the heat release operation, air 5 does not flow through the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Therefore, the pressure loss caused by the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 can be made zero. Thus, even when air 5 is not flowing through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, the total pressure loss of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is smaller compared to the case where no bypass flow path is provided as in the third embodiment. As a result, the heat storage tank 1 can suppress the temperature rise of the outlet air, and the heat storage operation time until reaching the heat-resistant temperature of the valve and the blower becomes longer. The heat storage amount can be increased in the first region 34, and furthermore, the pressure loss can be suppressed in the flow of air 5 during the heat storage operation and the heat release operation.

[0093] (Sixth Embodiment) The sixth embodiment corresponding to claims 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 will be described. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 in the sixth embodiment and a diagram showing the temperature distribution during the heat storage operation.

[0094] The overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The upper part of FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, and the lower part of FIG. 8 shows the temperature distribution of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, indicating the temperatures at corresponding positions in the upper schematic diagram.

[0095] Also in this embodiment, as in the third embodiment, a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23 incorporated in the heat storage tank 1 are used. In this embodiment, an example in which the heat storage tank 1 incorporates two types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23 will be described, but the number of types of the solid sensible heat storage materials 23 incorporated in the heat storage tank 1 is not limited thereto. The heat storage tank 1 may include any n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of solid sensible heat storage materials 23.

[0096] In the third embodiment, it was described that it is desirable to determine the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that the eighth temperature jump layer 39 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation. Since the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a larger pressure loss of the air 5 compared to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, the load on the blower (the first blower 3 during the heat storage operation and the second blower 4 during the heat dissipation operation) increases and the power consumption increases. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 to reduce the pressure loss.

[0097] Therefore, in this embodiment, the first region 34 is defined such that the eighth temperature jump layer 39 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation. In this embodiment, further, a temperature region other than the eighth temperature jump layer 39 is defined so as not to exist on the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation, and the first region 34 is minimized. In this embodiment, for comparison, the region when the first region 34 is not the minimum region is represented as the first region 34'.

[0098] When the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is filled with the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, the temperature jump layer at the time when the outlet air reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation is the second temperature jump layer 27. On the other hand, in FIG. 8, at the same time, the temperature jump layer becomes the ninth temperature jump layer 60 in the second region 35 and the tenth temperature jump layer 61 in the first region 34 which is the minimum region. Since the heat storage tank 1 has not reached the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, the heat storage operation is continued. After that, the outlet air reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, and the temperature jump layer at that time is the eighth temperature jump layer 39, which is the same as the state in the lower part of FIG. 1 in the first embodiment. Therefore, even if the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is reduced to the built-in amount in the minimum region, the same heat storage amount can be obtained. The technology of this embodiment can be applied to the third to fifth embodiments. In the example of FIG. 3, the heat storage material built in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19. In this case, the size of the heat storage tank 48 is determined so that the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is such that a temperature region other than the eighth temperature jump layer 39 does not exist above the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation.

[0099] Therefore, if the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is such that "during the heat storage operation, the temperature jump layer existing on the temperature distribution of the solid sensible heat storage material exists only on the temperature distribution of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 at the end of the heat storage operation", the same effect can be obtained compared with the case where the built-in amount is larger, and on the condition that this condition is satisfied, the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 can be reduced.

[0100] Also, in the heat storage tank 1 described in the fourth and fifth embodiments, the same configuration as the heat storage tank 1 described in this embodiment can be adopted. That is, even when the heat storage tank 1 is provided with the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63 and the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64, the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is determined so that the eighth temperature jump layer 39 exists only above the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation, and the same effect as this embodiment can be obtained.

[0101] According to this embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 determines the minimum region of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that a temperature region other than the eighth thermocline 39 does not exist above the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation. Thereby, the heat storage tank 1 can reduce the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, suppress the pressure loss of the air 5 due to the heat storage material, suppress the load of the blower, and suppress the power consumption while obtaining the same heat storage amount as the heat storage tank 1 of the first embodiment. That is, while maintaining the same increase in heat storage amount as in the third embodiment, the power consumption of the blower can be suppressed as much as possible. When determining the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that a temperature region other than the eighth thermocline 39 does not exist in the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation, it is desirable to simultaneously determine that the eighth thermocline 39 exists only above the first region 34. However, when prioritizing power consumption reduction due to pressure loss reduction over maximizing the heat storage amount increase effect, it may be determined such that a temperature region other than the eighth thermocline 39 does not exist above the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation while the eighth thermocline 39 exists other than above the first region 34.

[0102] (Seventh Embodiment) The seventh embodiment corresponding to claims 12, 13, and 20 will be described. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 in the seventh embodiment and a diagram showing the temperature distribution during the heat storage operation.

[0103] The overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, so the description is omitted. The upper part of FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, the lower part of FIG. 9 shows the temperature distribution of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, and the temperature at the corresponding position is shown in the upper schematic diagram.

[0104] Unlike the prior art, the heat storage tank 1 in FIG. 9 incorporates a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23. In this embodiment, an example will be described where the heat storage tank 1 contains two solid sensible heat storage materials 23 of different types, but the number of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23 included in the heat storage tank 1 is not limited to this. The heat storage tank 1 may contain any n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of solid sensible heat storage materials 23. Also, in this example, the high-temperature heat source fluid in the heat storage tank 1 is air 5, but it may be other gases or even a liquid instead of a gas. Air 5 is an example of a fluid that is a heat transfer medium.

[0105] In this embodiment, two solid sensible heat storage materials 23 of different types are referred to as the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Also, the region of the heat storage tank 1 in which the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is incorporated is called the first region 34, and the region in which the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 is incorporated is called the second region 35. As described above, the heat storage tank 1 may contain any n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23. In that case, the nth type of solid sensible heat storage material is called the nth solid sensible heat storage material, and the region of the heat storage tank 1 in which the nth solid sensible heat storage material is incorporated is called the nth region.

[0106] In this embodiment, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is incorporated in the outermost outlet side of the heat storage tank 1 where air 5 flows out during the heat dissipation operation. The second solid sensible heat storage material 18 is incorporated upstream of the air 5 during the heat dissipation operation compared to the first solid sensible heat storage material 19. That is, the first region 34 is the region closest to the inlet of the air 5 during the heat storage operation within the heat storage tank 1, and the second region 35 is the region downstream of the first region 34 during the heat storage operation.

[0107] The heat storage tank 1 of this embodiment absorbs heat from the air 5 into the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 during the heat storage operation for heat storage, and absorbs the stored heat of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 into the air 5 for heat dissipation during the heat dissipation operation.

[0108] In addition, in the present embodiment, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is a heat storage material having a smaller particle size than the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Further, when the heat storage tank 1 contains n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is a heat storage material having a smaller particle size than the nth solid sensible heat storage material arranged on the upstream side during the heat storage operation.

[0109] For the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, for example, rock is used. It is desirable that the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 are heat storage materials of the same material or heat storage materials having similar physical properties.

[0110] Between the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, in addition to a mesh member such as a wire mesh, a partition is provided by a member through which air 5 can pass during the heat storage operation and the heat dissipation operation.

[0111] Since the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a small particle size, the surface area per unit volume is larger than that of the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Further, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a larger total surface area per unit volume of the built-in region of the solid sensible heat storage material than the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Therefore, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a larger contact area with the high-temperature air during the heat storage operation and is more likely to transfer heat than the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. As a result, in the first region 34, the difference between the temperature of the air 5 and the heat storage temperature becomes smaller.

[0112] The difference between the inflow air temperature 50 and the second heat storage temperature 51 is smaller than the difference between the inflow air temperature 50 and the first heat storage temperature 24, so the second heat storage temperature 51 is higher than the first heat storage temperature 24. Therefore, in the first region 34, the heat storage amount per unit volume has increased, and the heat storage amount is larger than that of the prior art.

[0113] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 in the seventh embodiment and a diagram showing the temperature distribution during the heat dissipation operation.

[0114] The upper part of Fig. 10 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1, and the lower part of Fig. 10 shows the temperature distribution of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat dissipation operation, indicating the temperatures at corresponding positions in the upper schematic diagram. Fig. 20 in the prior art corresponds to Fig. 10 in the present embodiment.

[0115] Hereinafter, for the sake of explanation, in the present embodiment, the temperature of the outflow air flowing out of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat dissipation operation is referred to as the second outflow air temperature 52. Since the first outflow air temperature 25 and the second outflow air temperature 52 are the temperatures at which the heat held by the solid sensible heat storage material is absorbed by the air 5, they are lower than the first heat storage temperature 24 and the second heat storage temperature 51, respectively.

[0116] During the heat dissipation operation, in the prior art, when the first outflow air temperature 25 reaches the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, the temperature jump layer is the fourth temperature jump layer 30, while in the present embodiment, at the same time, it becomes the sixth temperature jump layer 37 in the first region 34. Since the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a large surface area per unit volume, the sixth temperature jump layer 37 is steeper than the fourth temperature jump layer 30. At this time, since the second outflow air temperature 52 has not reached the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, the heat dissipation operation can be continued without ending. In the present embodiment, after the heat storage tank 1 continues the heat dissipation operation, the second outflow air temperature 52 decreases in temperature and reaches the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, and the temperature jump layer at that time becomes the fifth temperature jump layer 36. Therefore, the heat storage tank 1 has a longer heat dissipation operation time. That is, the time for supplying heat to the heat demand destination becomes longer.

[0117] Also, when comparing the temperature profile of the heat storage tank 1 in the prior art (the graph line including the temperature jump layer 30) with the temperature profile of the heat storage tank 1 in the present embodiment (the graph line including the temperature jump layer 36), the heat storage tank 1 in the present embodiment has less remaining heat. Due to the fact that the remaining heat amount at the end of the heat dissipation operation is less and the heat amount stored is more in the present embodiment, the heat dissipation amount in the present embodiment is increased compared to the prior art.

[0118] During the heat dissipation operation, since the second heat storage temperature 51 near the outlet is higher than the first heat storage temperature 24, the second outlet air temperature 52 becomes higher compared to the first outlet air temperature 25. Also, since the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a larger contact area with the air 5 during the heat dissipation operation compared to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, heat transfer is easier, and the difference between the temperature of the air 5 and the second heat storage temperature 51 becomes smaller. The difference between the second outlet air temperature 52 and the second heat storage temperature 51 is smaller than the difference between the first outlet air temperature 25 and the first heat storage temperature 24. Therefore, due to this effect as well, the second outlet air temperature 52 becomes higher. Thus, the heat storage tank 1 of the present embodiment has a higher heat dissipation temperature.

[0119] By the way, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 with a small particle size has a large pressure loss of the air 5 during the heat storage operation and the heat dissipation operation when the air 5 is flowing. Therefore, if all of the solid sensible heat storage materials 23 in the heat storage tank 1 are the first solid sensible heat storage materials 19, the load on the blower (the first blower 3 during the heat storage operation and the second blower 4 during the heat dissipation operation) will become sufficiently large, resulting in a large power consumption. Since the heat storage system is a system that stores and uses energy, it is desired to reduce the energy consumption. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by arranging the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 only in a part of the region in the heat storage tank 1, while suppressing the load on the blower, the heat storage amount and the heat dissipation amount are increased.

[0120] Generally, the smaller the cross-sectional area of the flow path of the air 5, the higher the flow velocity, and the air 5 flows while having little temperature change. As a result, the solid sensible heat storage material 23 further downstream is also heated, and the smaller the amount of the solid sensible heat storage material 23 per cross-section perpendicular to the air flow direction, the easier it is to increase the temperature. Therefore, the slope of the thermocline becomes gentler.

[0121] Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is desirable that the flow channel cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as or larger than the flow channel cross-sectional area of the second region 35 in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the second region 35. If the flow channel cross-sectional area in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the second region 35 is smaller than the flow channel cross-sectional area of the second region 35, the temperature jump layer becomes gentler, and the effect of increasing the heat storage amount and the heat dissipation amount due to the steepness of the temperature jump layer may be reduced. Further, when the heat storage tank 1 includes n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, it is desirable that the flow channel cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as or larger than the flow channel cross-sectional area of the nth region in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the nth region.

[0122] The built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is desirably determined such that the fifth temperature jump layer 36 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation. When there is also a temperature jump layer in a region other than the first region 34, the fifth temperature jump layer 36 existing on the first region 34 is steep, while the temperature jump layer not existing on the first region 34 remains the third temperature jump layer 29 that is not steep. Therefore, by making all of the temperature jump layers steep, the heat storage amount and the heat dissipation amount are further increased. This built-in amount may be determined, for example, from measured values by temperature measurement or by numerical calculation.

[0123] Further, the heat storage system 200 of the present embodiment is configured to use the heat dissipated as a heat source for the steam turbine 10, but it may be used for applications such as air conditioning. The same applies to all subsequent embodiments regarding the application.

[0124] According to this embodiment, as described above, the heat storage tank 1 incorporates a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, and the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, which is the solid sensible heat storage material 23 incorporated closest to the outlet side during the heat dissipation operation, is a heat storage material with a smaller particle size than the second solid sensible heat storage material. As a result, in the heat storage tank 1, due to the increase in the surface area per unit volume and the resulting increase in the gradient of the heat storage temperature, the heat storage temperature becomes higher in the first region 34, and both the heat storage capacity and the heat dissipation amount can be increased, and the heat dissipation operation time until the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation is reached can be extended.

[0125] Also, if all the heat storage materials are replaced with the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, the pressure loss of the air 5 increases sufficiently. However, according to this embodiment, only a part of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is used, and the rest is the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Therefore, by suppressing the pressure loss of the heat storage material, while suppressing the load of the blower and reducing the power consumption, the heat storage capacity and the heat dissipation amount can be increased.

[0126] Also, according to this embodiment, the flow channel cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 can be configured to be the same as or larger than the flow channel cross-sectional area of the second region 35 in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the second region 35. By adopting such a structure, the heat storage tank 1 can suppress the gentle inclination of the thermocline. As a result, the heat storage tank 1 can suppress the reduction in the effect of increasing the heat storage capacity and the heat dissipation amount respectively, and can extend the heat dissipation operation time.

[0127] (Eighth Embodiment) The eighth embodiment corresponding to claims 12, 13, 14, and 21 will be described. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 in the eighth embodiment and a diagram showing the temperature distribution during the heat dissipation operation.

[0128] The overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The upper part of FIG. 11 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, and the lower part of FIG. 11 shows the temperature distribution of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, and shows the temperature at the corresponding position in the upper schematic diagram.

[0129] Also in this embodiment, as in the seventh embodiment, a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23 built in the heat storage tank 1 are used. In this embodiment, an example in which the heat storage tank 1 incorporates two types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23 will be described, but the number of types of the solid sensible heat storage materials 23 built in the heat storage tank 1 is not limited to this. The heat storage tank 1 may include any n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of solid sensible heat storage materials 23.

[0130] In the seventh embodiment, it was described that it is desirable to determine the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that the fifth temperature jump layer 36 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation. Since the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a larger pressure loss of the air 5 compared to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, the load on the blower (the first blower 3 during the heat storage operation and the second blower 4 during the heat dissipation operation) increases and the power consumption increases. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 to reduce the pressure loss.

[0131] Therefore, in this embodiment, at the end of the heat dissipation operation, it is determined so that a temperature region other than the fifth temperature jump layer 36 does not exist on the first region 34, and the first region 34 is minimized.

[0132] In the prior art, as shown in FIG. 20, the temperature jump layer at the time when the first outlet air temperature 25 reaches the allowable temperature is the fourth temperature jump layer 30, whereas in the seventh embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, at the same time, in the second region 35, it is the fourth temperature jump layer 30, and in the first region 34, it is the sixth temperature jump layer 37. The heat storage temperature at this time is the second heat storage temperature 51. Since the second outlet air temperature 52 has not dropped to the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, the heat dissipation operation is continued without ending. Thereafter, the second outlet air temperature 52 reaches the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, and the temperature jump layer at that time is the fifth temperature jump layer 36.

[0133] In the eighth embodiment, the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is reduced up to the first region 34, which is the minimum region shown in the upper part of FIG. 11. As shown in the lower part of FIG. 11, when the second outlet air temperature 52 reaches the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, the temperature jump layer becomes the fifth temperature jump layer 36, which is the same as in the seventh embodiment. Therefore, even if the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is reduced to the minimum region, the effect remains unchanged.

[0134] Therefore, if the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is such that "in the temperature region that is not the temperature jump layer existing in the temperature distribution of the solid sensible heat storage material during the heat dissipation operation, it does not exist in the temperature distribution of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 at the end of the heat dissipation operation", the same effect can be obtained as compared with the case where the built-in amount is larger, and on the condition that this condition is satisfied, the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 can be reduced.

[0135] In the heat storage tank 1 described in the seventh and eighth embodiments, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is built in the region closest to the outlet side during the heat dissipation operation. However, as described in the first and second embodiments, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 may also be built in the region closest to the outlet side during the heat storage operation at the same time. That is, the technologies of the first and second embodiments and the technologies of the seventh and eighth embodiments may be applied simultaneously.

[0136] According to the present embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 determines the minimum region of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that a temperature region that is not the fifth temperature jump layer 36 does not exist on the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation. Thereby, the heat storage tank 1 reduces the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 while maintaining the same effect of making the temperature jump layer steep, suppresses the pressure loss of the air 5 due to the heat storage material, suppresses the load of the blower, and suppresses the power consumption, and can obtain the same heat storage amount, heat dissipation amount, heat dissipation time, and heat dissipation temperature as the heat storage tank 1 of the seventh embodiment. That is, while obtaining an improvement in the heat storage amount, heat dissipation amount, heat dissipation time, and heat dissipation temperature equivalent to those of the third embodiment, the power consumption of the blower can be suppressed as much as possible.

[0137] (Ninth Embodiment) A ninth embodiment corresponding to claims 15, 18, and 20 will be described. FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram of a heat storage tank in the ninth embodiment.

[0138] Since the overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0139] In this embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into a plurality of parts. In this example, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into two. The heat storage tank on the side where air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation is called the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the heat storage tank on the side where air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation is called the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. The number of divisions of the heat storage tank 1 is not limited to two. The heat storage tank 1 can include any m (m is an integer of 2 or more) heat storage tanks. In this case, the heat storage tank into which air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation is called the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the other heat storage tanks are called the low-temperature side heat storage tanks 49.

[0140] Also, the heat storage tank arranged on the most upstream side during the heat storage operation is also called the first divided heat storage tank, and the mth heat storage tank on the downstream side counted from the first divided heat storage tank is also called the mth divided heat storage tank. In this example, the first divided heat storage tank corresponds to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the second divided heat storage tank corresponds to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. Also, the first divided heat storage tank and the second divided heat storage tank are connected in series with each other. The first to mth divided heat storage tanks are also connected in series with each other.

[0141] In the example of FIG. 12, the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 incorporates the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 incorporates the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Also, in the example of FIG. 12, the heat storage material incorporated in the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 is only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19. However, only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 may be incorporated on the inlet side where the air 5 flows during the heat storage operation, and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 may be incorporated on the more downstream side inside the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. The heat storage materials incorporated in each of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 may be of multiple types. If the heat storage materials incorporated in each of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 are of one type, there is no need to provide a partition plate in the heat storage tank, and a simple structure can be achieved, and the maintainability can also be improved. Also, in this example, the heat storage tank 1 uses the high-temperature heat source fluid as the air 5, but other gases may also be used, or it may be a liquid instead of a gas. The air 5 is an example of a fluid that is a heat transfer medium.

[0142] Also, when the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 contains n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is a heat storage material having a smaller particle size than the nth solid sensible heat storage material arranged on the downstream side during the heat storage operation.

[0143] Also, it is desirable that the flow path cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as or larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth region in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the nth region.

[0144] Also, when the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 incorporates a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, it is desirable that the amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 incorporated is determined such that the fifth temperature jump layer 36 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation.

[0145] According to the present embodiment, in the first divided heat storage tank, the heat storage tank 1 has a larger surface area per unit volume, and as a result, the temperature jump layer becomes steeper. Therefore, the heat storage temperature becomes higher in the first region 34, and both the heat storage amount and the heat dissipation amount can be increased, and the heat dissipation time can also be lengthened. Also, the heat dissipation temperature can be increased.

[0146] Further, according to the present embodiment, when the built-in amount of the first sensible heat storage material 19 of the heat storage tank 1 is determined such that the temperature jump layer existing on the temperature distribution of the solid sensible heat storage material during the heat dissipation operation exists only on the temperature distribution of the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 at the end of the heat dissipation operation in the first divided heat storage tank, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss of the air 5 and the load of the blower while keeping the temperature jump layer steep.

[0147] Also, if all the heat storage materials are replaced with the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, the pressure loss of the air 5 increases sufficiently. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, only a part of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is used, and the rest is the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Therefore, by suppressing the pressure loss of the heat storage material, it is possible to suppress the load of the blower and the power consumption, while improving the heat storage amount, the heat dissipation amount, the heat dissipation time, and the heat dissipation temperature.

[0148] (10th Embodiment) The 10th embodiment corresponding to claims 15, 16, 18, and 20 will be described. FIG. 13 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage operation of the heat storage tank 1 in the 10th embodiment, and FIG. 14 shows a schematic diagram of the heat dissipation operation of the heat storage tank 1 in the 10th embodiment.

[0149] Since the overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, the description thereof is omitted.

[0150] Also, in the present embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into a plurality of parts in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. In this example, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into two parts. The heat storage tank on the side where the air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation is called the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the heat storage tank on the side where the air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation is called the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. The number of divisions of the heat storage tank 1 is not limited to two. The heat storage tank 1 can include any m (m is an integer of 2 or more) heat storage tanks. In this case, the heat storage tank into which the air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation is called the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the other heat storage tanks are called the low-temperature side heat storage tanks 49.

[0151] Also, the heat storage tank arranged on the most upstream side during the heat storage operation is also referred to as the first divided heat storage tank, and the m-th heat storage tank on the downstream side, counted from the first divided heat storage tank, is also referred to as the m-th divided heat storage tank. In this example, the first divided heat storage tank corresponds to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the second divided heat storage tank corresponds to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. Also, the first divided heat storage tank and the second divided heat storage tank are connected in series with each other. The first to m-th divided heat storage tanks are similarly connected in series with each other.

[0152] Also, in this embodiment, similar to the ninth embodiment, the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 incorporates the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 incorporates the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Also, in the example of FIG. 13, the heat storage material incorporated in the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 is only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, but it incorporates the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 only on the inlet side where air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation, and in the interior of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, it may be of multiple types such as incorporating the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 on the more downstream side.

[0153] Also, when the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 contains n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is a heat storage material having a smaller particle size than the n-th solid sensible heat storage material arranged on the downstream side during the heat storage operation.

[0154] Also, it is desirable that the flow path cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as, or larger than, the flow path cross-sectional area of the n-th region in the vicinity of the boundary between the first region 34 and the n-th region.

[0155] When the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 incorporates a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, it is desirable to determine the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 such that the fifth temperature jump layer 36 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation.

[0156] In the above-described embodiment, since the heat storage tank 1 incorporates the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, the heat storage temperature becomes high in the first region 34, and both the heat storage amount and the heat dissipation amount can be increased, and it has been explained that the heat dissipation time can be extended. On the other hand, in the first region 34, since the pressure loss of the air 5 flow is large during the heat storage operation and the heat dissipation operation, the power consumption of the blower increases, so it is desired to suppress the pressure loss. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the heat storage tank 1 of the present embodiment includes a high-temperature side bypass flow path 63 that bypasses the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and valves 40 to 42. Further, in FIG. 13, each of the valves 40 to 42 shown in white indicates that it is in the "open" state, and each of the valves 40 to 42 shown in white indicates that it is in the "closed" state. When the heat storage tank 1 includes an m-divided heat storage tank, the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63 is connected so as to bypass the first divided heat storage tank (that is, the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48).

[0157] Also, in this example, the valves are arranged one by one at the inlet and outlet during the heat storage operation in the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and one is arranged in the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63, but the number of valves is not limited to this. The heat storage tank 1 only needs to be provided with one or a plurality of valves that switch between the flow path of the air 5 to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 side and the flow path of the air 5 to the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63 side.

[0158] At the start of the heat storage operation, as shown in FIG. 13(a), the heat storage tank 1 opens the valves 40 and 41 and closes the valve 42. The air 5 flows through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 as the high-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 44 and then flows through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 as the low-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 43. When the heat storage operation progresses and the temperature jump layer (a temperature jump layer steeper than the first temperature jump layer 26 in the prior art) has finished moving to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, as shown in FIG. 13(b), the heat storage tank 1 closes the valves 40 and 41 and opens the valve 42. The air 5 does not flow into the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and flows through the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63. Thereafter, the air 5 flows through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 as the low-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 43. The second solid sensible heat storage material 18 in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is heated, the temperature jump layer changes to the first temperature jump layer 26 and advances to the downstream side, and then the outlet temperature reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation and the heat storage operation ends.

[0159] When the thermocline moves to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, the opening and closing timings of the respective valves can be determined by calculation from the start time of the heat storage operation, so this may be done in this way, or a temperature sensor may be installed near the outlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 or the like, and the time when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature may be used. Also, the control of each valve may be manually performed by an operator, or may be automatically performed using information from sensors and timers.

[0160] At the start of the heat dissipation operation, as shown in FIG. 14(a), the heat storage tank 1 closes the valves 40 and 41 and opens the valve 42. The air 5 flows through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 as the low-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 43 and then flows through the high-temperature side bypass passage 63 without flowing into the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. As the heat dissipation operation progresses and when the third thermocline 29 can move to the inlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, as shown in FIG. 14(b), the heat storage tank 1 opens the valves 40 and 41 and closes the valve 42. The air 5 flows through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 as the low-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 43 and then flows through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 as the high-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 44. Thereafter, when the second outflow air temperature 52 reaches the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, the heat dissipation operation ends.

[0161] When the third thermocline 29 moves to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, the opening and closing timings of the respective valves can be determined by calculation from the start time of the heat dissipation operation, so this may be done in this way, or a temperature sensor may be installed near the outlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 or the like, and the time when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature may be used. Also, the control of each valve may be manually performed by an operator, or may be automatically performed using information from sensors and timers.

[0162] In the heat storage tank 1 which is divided into a plurality of parts and provided with the high-temperature bypass passage 63 described in the tenth embodiment, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is incorporated in the region on the most outlet side during the heat dissipation operation, but as described in the fourth embodiment, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 may also be incorporated in the region on the most outlet side during the heat storage operation at the same time. That is, the technology of the fourth embodiment and the technology of the tenth embodiment may be simultaneously applied.

[0163] According to the present embodiment, when the heat storage tank 1 bypasses the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 during the heat storage operation and the heat release operation, air 5 does not flow through the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 that increases the pressure loss. Therefore, the pressure loss caused by the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 can be made zero. As a result, in addition to the effect that the heat storage tank 1 can increase the heat storage temperature, the heat storage amount, the heat release amount, and the heat release time, the heat storage tank 1 can further suppress the pressure loss in the flow of air 5 during the heat storage operation and the heat release operation, thereby suppressing the load of the blower and suppressing the power consumption.

[0164] (11th Embodiment) The 11th embodiment corresponding to claims 15, 16, 17, 18, and 20 will be described. FIG. 15 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage operation of the heat storage tank 1 in the 11th embodiment, and FIG. 16 shows a schematic diagram of the heat release operation of the heat storage tank 1 in the 11th embodiment.

[0165] Since the overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0166] Also, in the present embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into a plurality of parts in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. In this example, the heat storage tank 1 is divided into two parts. The heat storage tank on the side where air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation is called the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the heat storage tank on the side where air 5 flows out during the heat storage operation is called the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. The number of divisions of the heat storage tank 1 is not limited to two. The heat storage tank 1 can include any m (m is an integer of 2 or more) heat storage tanks. In this case, the heat storage tank into which air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation is called the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the other heat storage tanks are called the low-temperature side heat storage tanks 49.

[0167] In addition, the heat storage tank arranged on the most upstream side during the heat storage operation is also referred to as the first divided heat storage tank, and the m-th heat storage tank on the downstream side, counted from the first divided heat storage tank, is also referred to as the m-th divided heat storage tank. In this example, the first divided heat storage tank corresponds to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and the second divided heat storage tank corresponds to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. Also, the first divided heat storage tank and the second divided heat storage tank are connected in series with each other. The first to m-th divided heat storage tanks are similarly connected in series with each other.

[0168] In addition, in this embodiment, similar to the ninth embodiment, the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 incorporates the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 incorporates the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Also, in the example of FIG. 18, the heat storage material incorporated in the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 is only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, but the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 may be incorporated only on the inlet side where the air 5 flows in during the heat storage operation, and the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 may be incorporated on the more downstream side inside the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. The heat storage materials incorporated in each of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 may be of multiple types.

[0169] Also, when the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 contains n types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is a heat storage material having a smaller particle size than the n-th solid sensible heat storage material arranged on the downstream side during the heat storage operation.

[0170] Also, it is desirable that the flow path cross-sectional area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is the same as or larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the n-th region near the boundary between the first region 34 and the n-th region.

[0171] In the above-described tenth embodiment, by incorporating the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 in the heat storage tank 1, the heat storage temperature becomes high in the first region 34, and both the heat storage amount and the heat dissipation amount can be increased, and it has been explained that the heat dissipation time can be lengthened. On the other hand, when air 5 is flowing through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 in the tenth embodiment, the pressure loss due to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 is not suppressed. Therefore, even if the pressure loss of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is suppressed, the total pressure loss of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is large, and the pressure loss is also desired to be suppressed at this time. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, the heat storage tank 1 of the present embodiment includes a low-temperature side bypass flow path 64 that bypasses the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and valves 45 to 47. When the heat storage tank 1 includes an m-divided heat storage tank, the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64 is connected so as to bypass the second to m-divided heat storage divided layers (that is, the entire low-temperature side heat storage tank 49). Also, one or a plurality of low-temperature side bypass flow paths 64 may be connected so as to divide the second to m-divided heat storage divided layers respectively.

[0172] Also, in this example, the valves are arranged one by one at the inlet and outlet during the heat storage operation in the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, and one is arranged in the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63. However, the number of valves is not limited to this. The heat storage tank 1 only needs to be provided with one or a plurality of valves that switch between the flow path of air 5 to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 side and the flow path of air 5 to the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63 side.

[0173] Also, in this example, the valves are arranged one by one at the inlet and outlet during the heat storage operation in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, and one is arranged in the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64. However, the number of valves is not limited to this. The heat storage tank 1 only needs to be provided with one or a plurality of valves that switch between the flow path of air 5 to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 side and the flow path of air 5 to the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64 side.

[0174] At the start of the heat storage operation, as shown in Fig. 15(a), the heat storage tank 1 opens valves 40 and 41 and closes valve 42. Also, the heat storage tank 1 closes valves 45 and 46 and opens valve 47. The air 5 flows through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 as the high-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 44 and then flows through the low-temperature side bypass passage 64 without flowing into the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. The first solid sensible heat storage material 19 in the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 is heated. When the temperature jump layer has moved to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, after passing through the state shown in Fig. 15(c) described later, as shown in Fig. 15(b), the heat storage tank 1 closes valves 40, 41, and 47 and opens valves 42, 45, and 46. The air 5 flows through the high-temperature side bypass passage 63 without flowing into the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and also flows through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 as the low-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 43 without flowing into the low-temperature side bypass passage 64. The second solid sensible heat storage material 18 in the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is heated, the temperature jump layer changes to the first temperature jump layer 26 and advances downstream, and then when the outlet temperature reaches the allowable temperature 28 during the heat storage operation, the heat storage operation ends.

[0175] Since the temperature jump layer is inclined, as shown in Fig. 15(c), when the temperature jump layer reaches the outlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 after the start of the heat storage operation, valves 40, 41, 45, and 46 are opened and valves 42 and 47 are closed so that it flows through both the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. At this time, the temperature jump layer exists near the outlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and near the inlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49. And when the temperature jump layer has passed through the outlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, valve 42 is closed, valves 40 and 41 are opened, and it is made to flow through the high-temperature side bypass passage 63 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49.

[0176] The opening and closing timing of each valve when the first temperature jump layer 26 moves to the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 can be determined by calculation from the start time of the heat storage operation of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, so it may be done in that way, or a temperature sensor may be installed near the outlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 etc., and the time when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature may be used. Also, the control of each valve may be carried out manually by the operator or automatically using information from sensors and timers.

[0177] At the start of the heat dissipation operation, as shown in Fig. 16(a), the heat storage tank 1 closes valves 40 and 41 and opens valve 42. Also, the heat storage tank 1 opens valves 45 and 46 and closes valve 47. The air 5 flows through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 as the low-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 43 and then flows through the high-temperature side bypass passage 63 without flowing into the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. As the heat dissipation operation progresses and the third temperature jump layer 29 moves to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, as shown in Fig. 16(b), the heat storage tank 1 opens valves 40 and 41 and closes valve 42. Also, the heat storage tank 1 closes valves 45 and 46 and opens valve 47. The air 5 flows through the low-temperature side bypass passage 64 without flowing into the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and then flows through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 as the high-temperature side heat storage tank inflow air 44. Thereafter, when the second outflow air temperature 52 reaches the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, the heat dissipation operation ends.

[0178] Since the third temperature jump layer 29 is inclined, as shown in Fig. 16(c), when the third temperature jump layer 29 reaches the outlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 after the start of the heat storage operation, valves 40, 41, 45, and 46 are opened and valves 42 and 47 are closed to allow it to flow through both the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. At this time, the third temperature jump layer 29 exists near the outlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 and near the inlet of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48. When the third temperature jump layer 29 has passed through the outlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, valves 45 and 46 are closed and valve 47 is opened to allow it to flow through the low-temperature side bypass passage 47 and the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48.

[0179] The opening and closing timing of each valve when the third temperature jump layer 29 moves to the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 can be determined by calculation from the start time of the heat dissipation operation, so it may be done in that way, or a temperature sensor may be installed near the outlet of the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, etc., and the time when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature may be used. Also, the control of each valve may be manually performed by the operator or automatically performed using information from sensors and timers.

[0180] In the heat storage tank 1 described in the 11th embodiment, which is divided into a plurality of parts and includes a low-temperature bypass flow path 64 and a high-temperature bypass flow path 63, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is incorporated in the region closest to the outlet side during the heat dissipation operation. However, as described in the 5th embodiment, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 may also be incorporated in the region closest to the outlet side during the heat storage operation. That is, the technology of the 5th embodiment and the technology of the 11th embodiment may be applied simultaneously.

[0181] According to the present embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 is provided with a high-temperature side bypass flow path 63. During the heat storage operation and the heat dissipation operation, when bypassing the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, the air 5 does not flow through the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 that increases the pressure loss. Therefore, the pressure loss caused by the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 can be made zero. Thus, when the air 5 does not flow through the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48, the total pressure loss of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is not only smaller compared to the case where no bypass flow path is provided as in the 9th embodiment, but also smaller compared to the case where only the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64 is provided as in the 10th embodiment. As a result, in addition to the effect of increasing the heat storage temperature, heat storage amount, heat dissipation amount, and heat dissipation time, the heat storage tank 1 can further suppress the pressure loss caused by the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 in the flow of the air 5 during the heat storage operation and the heat dissipation operation, thereby suppressing the load on the blower and suppressing the power consumption.

[0182] Also, according to the present embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 is provided with a low-temperature side bypass flow path 64. During the heat storage operation and the heat dissipation operation, when bypassing the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, the air 5 does not flow through the second solid sensible heat storage material 18. Therefore, the pressure loss caused by the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 can be made zero. Thus, even when the air 5 does not flow through the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49, the total pressure loss of the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 and the low-temperature side heat storage tank 49 is smaller compared to the case where no bypass flow path is provided as in the 9th embodiment. As a result, the heat storage tank 1 can increase the heat storage temperature, heat storage amount, heat dissipation amount, and heat dissipation time, and can further suppress the pressure loss caused by the second solid sensible heat storage material 18 in the flow of the air 5 during the heat storage operation and the heat dissipation operation.

[0183] (Embodiment 12) The 12th embodiment corresponding to claims 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 22 will be described. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 in the 12th embodiment and a diagram showing the temperature distribution during the heat dissipation operation.

[0184] Since the overall configuration diagram of the power conditioning system 100 including the heat storage system 200 is the same as that in FIG. 18, the description thereof will be omitted. The upper part of FIG. 17 shows a schematic diagram of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, the lower part of FIG. 17 shows the temperature distribution of the heat storage tank 1 during the heat storage operation, and the temperature at the corresponding position in the upper schematic diagram is shown.

[0185] Also in this embodiment, as in the 7th embodiment, a plurality of types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23 built in the heat storage tank 1 are used. In this embodiment, an example in which the heat storage tank 1 incorporates two types of solid sensible heat storage materials 23 will be described, but the number of types of the solid sensible heat storage materials 23 built in the heat storage tank 1 is not limited thereto. The heat storage tank 1 may include any n types (n is an integer of 2 or more) of solid sensible heat storage materials 23.

[0186] In the 9th embodiment, it was explained that it is desirable to determine the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that the fifth temperature jump layer 36 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation. Since the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 has a larger pressure loss of the air 5 compared to the second solid sensible heat storage material 18, the load on the blower (the first blower 3 during the heat storage operation and the second blower 4 during the heat dissipation operation) increases and the power consumption increases. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 to reduce the pressure loss.

[0187] Therefore, in this embodiment, the first region 34 is defined such that the fifth temperature jump layer 36 exists only on the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation. Further, in this embodiment, a temperature region other than the fifth temperature jump layer 36 is defined so as not to exist on the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation, and the first region 34 is minimized.

[0188] In the 12th embodiment, the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is reduced to the first region 34, which is the minimum region shown in the upper part of FIG. 17. As shown in the lower part of FIG. 17, when the second outlet air temperature 52 reaches the allowable temperature 31 during the heat dissipation operation, the temperature jump layer becomes the fifth temperature jump layer 36, which is the same as that in the 9th embodiment. Therefore, even if the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is reduced to the minimum region, the effect remains unchanged. The technology of this embodiment can be applied to the 9th to 11th embodiments. In the example of FIG. 12, the heat storage material built into the high-temperature side heat storage tank 48 is only the first solid sensible heat storage material 19. In this case, the size of the heat storage tank 48 is determined so that the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is such that a temperature region other than the fifth temperature jump layer 36 does not exist above the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation.

[0189] Therefore, if the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is such that "during the heat dissipation operation, the temperature jump layer existing on the temperature distribution of the solid sensible heat storage material exists only on the temperature distribution of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 at the end of the heat dissipation operation", the same effect can be obtained compared to the case where the built-in amount is larger, and on the condition that this condition is satisfied, the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 can be reduced.

[0190] Also, in the heat storage tank 1 described in the 10th and 11th embodiments, the same configuration as the heat storage tank 1 described in this embodiment can be adopted. That is, even when the heat storage tank 1 is provided with the high-temperature side bypass flow path 63 and the low-temperature side bypass flow path 64, the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is determined so that the fifth temperature jump layer 36 exists only above the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation, and the same effect as this embodiment can be obtained.

[0191] In the heat storage tank 1 divided into a plurality of parts described in the 9th and 12th embodiments, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 is built into the most outlet side region during the heat dissipation operation. However, as described in the 3rd and 6th embodiments, the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 may also be built into the region on the most outlet side during the heat storage operation at the same time. That is, the technologies of the 3rd and 6th embodiments and the technologies of the 9th and 12th embodiments may be applied simultaneously.

[0192] According to this embodiment, the heat storage tank 1 determines the minimum area of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that a temperature region other than the fifth temperature jump layer 36 does not exist above the first region 34 at the end of the heat dissipation operation. Thereby, while maintaining the same effect due to the steep temperature jump layer, the heat storage tank 1 reduces the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19, suppresses the pressure loss of the air 5 due to the heat storage material, suppresses the load of the blower, and suppresses the power consumption. While suppressing, it is possible to obtain a heat storage amount, a heat dissipation amount, a heat dissipation time, and a heat dissipation temperature equivalent to those of the heat storage tank 1 of the ninth embodiment. That is, while obtaining an improvement in the heat storage amount, the heat dissipation amount, the heat dissipation time, and the heat dissipation temperature equivalent to those of the ninth embodiment, it is possible to suppress the power consumption of the blower as much as possible. When determining the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material 19 so that a temperature region other than the fifth temperature jump layer 36 does not exist in the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation, at the same time, it is desirable to determine that the fifth temperature jump layer 36 exists only above the first region 34. However, if it is desired to prioritize power consumption reduction due to pressure loss reduction over maximizing the heat storage amount increase effect, while allowing the fifth temperature jump layer 36 to exist outside the first region 34, it may be determined so that a temperature region other than the fifth temperature jump layer 36 does not exist above the first region 34 at the end of the heat storage operation.

[0193] As described above, several embodiments have been described, but these embodiments are presented only as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel heat storage tank 1 described in this specification can be implemented in various other forms. Also, various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made to the form of the heat storage tank 1 described in this specification without departing from the gist of the invention. The appended claims and the equivalents thereof are intended to include such forms and modifications included in the scope and gist of the invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0194] 1: Heat storage tank, 2: Electric heater, 3: First blower, 4: Second blower, 5: Air, 6: Water, 7: Steam, 8: Condensate pump, 9: Boiler, 10: Steam turbine, 11: Condenser, 12: Valve, 13: Valve, 14; Valve, 15: Valve, 18: Second solid sensible heat storage material, 19: First solid sensible heat storage material, 20: Heat storage tank, 21: Heat storage tank, 22: Heat storage tank, 23: Solid sensible heat storage material, 24: First heat storage temperature, 25: First outlet air temperature, 26: First temperature jump layer, 27: Second temperature jump layer, 28: Allowable temperature during heat storage operation, 29: Third temperature jump layer, 30: Fourth temperature jump layer, 31: Allowable temperature during heat release operation, 32: Air flow direction during heat storage operation, 33: Air flow direction during heat release operation, 34: First region, 34’: First region, 35: Second region, 36: Fifth temperature jump layer, 37: Sixth temperature jump layer, 38: Seventh temperature jump layer, 39: Eighth temperature jump layer, 40: Valve, 41: Valve, 42: Valve, 43: Air flowing into low-temperature side heat storage tank, 44: Air flowing into high-temperature side heat storage tank, 45: Valve, 46: Valve, 47: Valve, 48: High-temperature side heat storage tank, 49: Low-temperature side heat storage tank, 50: Inlet air temperature, 51: Second heat storage temperature, 52: Second outlet air temperature, 60: Ninth temperature jump layer, 61: Tenth temperature jump layer, 63: High-temperature side bypass flow path, 64: Low-temperature side bypass flow path, 100: Power adjustment system, 200: Heat storage system

Claims

1. A heat storage tank that stores the heat held by a fluid by absorbing heat into first to n solid sensible heat storage materials (n is an integer of 2 or more) during a heat storage operation, and releases heat by absorbing the heat held by the first to n solid sensible heat storage materials into the fluid during a heat dissipation operation, wherein the first solid sensible heat storage material is built into a first region closest to the outlet of the fluid during the heat storage operation, and the heat storage tank has a smaller particle size than the nth solid sensible heat storage material.

2. The heat storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material is determined such that a thermocline generated inside the heat storage tank exists only in the first region at the end of the heat storage operation.

3. The heat storage tank according to any one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material is determined such that a temperature region that is not a thermocline generated inside the heat storage tank does not exist in the first region at the end of the heat storage operation.

4. A heat storage tank that stores the heat held by a fluid by absorbing heat into first to n solid sensible heat storage materials (n is an integer of 2 or more) during a heat storage operation, and releases heat by absorbing the heat held by the first to n solid sensible heat storage materials into the fluid during a heat dissipation operation, wherein the heat storage tank includes first to m divided heat storage tanks (m is an integer of 2 or more) that are divided in series, wherein the first solid sensible heat storage material is built into a first region closest to the outlet of the first divided heat storage tank disposed on the most downstream side of the fluid during the heat storage operation, and has a smaller particle size than the nth solid sensible heat storage material disposed on the upstream side of the fluid during the heat storage operation than the first divided heat storage tank, heat storage tank.

5. a low-temperature bypass flow path that bypasses the first divided heat storage tank, and one or more low-temperature bypass valves that switch the flow of the fluid to the first divided heat storage tank side and the flow of the fluid to the low-temperature bypass flow path side, The heat storage tank according to claim 4.

6. one or more high-temperature bypass flow paths that bypass the second to m divided heat storage tanks, and one or more high-temperature bypass valves that switch the flow of the fluid to the second to m divided heat storage tank side and the flow of the fluid to one or more high-temperature bypass flow path sides, The heat storage tank according to claim 5.

7. The heat storage tank according to claim 4, wherein the built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material is determined such that a thermocline generated inside the heat storage tank exists only in the first region at the end of the heat storage operation.

8. The built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material is determined such that a temperature region that is not a thermocline occurring inside the heat storage tank does not exist in the first region at the end of the heat storage operation, the heat storage tank according to any one of claims 4 or 7.

9. The flow path cross-sectional area in the first region is the same as, or larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth solid sensible heat storage material built in the nth region on the upstream side of the fluid during the heat storage operation than the first region, the heat storage tank according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 to 7.

10. The flow path cross-sectional area in the first region is the same as, or larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth solid sensible heat storage material built in the nth region on the upstream side of the fluid during the heat storage operation than the first region, the heat storage tank according to claim 3.

11. The flow path cross-sectional area in the first region is the same as, or larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth solid sensible heat storage material built in the nth region on the upstream side of the fluid during the heat storage operation than the first region, the heat storage tank according to claim 8.

12. A heat storage tank that stores heat by absorbing the heat held by a fluid in the first to nth solid sensible heat storage materials (n is an integer of 2 or more) during the heat storage operation, and releases heat by absorbing the heat held by the first to nth solid sensible heat storage materials into the fluid during the heat dissipation operation, wherein the first solid sensible heat storage material is built in the first region closest to the outlet of the fluid during the heat dissipation operation, and has a smaller particle size than the nth solid sensible heat storage material.

13. The built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material is determined such that a thermocline occurring inside the heat storage tank exists only in the first region at the end of the heat dissipation operation, the heat storage tank according to claim 12.

14. The built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material is determined such that a temperature region that is not a thermocline occurring inside the heat storage tank does not exist in the first region at the end of the heat dissipation operation, the heat storage tank according to claim 12 or 13.

15. A heat storage tank that stores heat by absorbing the heat held by a fluid in the first to nth solid sensible heat storage materials (n is an integer of 2 or more) during the heat storage operation, and releases heat by absorbing the heat held by the first to nth solid sensible heat storage materials into the fluid during the heat dissipation operation, wherein the heat storage tank includes first to m divided heat storage tanks (m is an integer of 2 or more) divided in series, and the first solid sensible heat storage material Built in the first region closest to the outlet of the first divided heat storage tank disposed on the most downstream side of the fluid during heat dissipation operation, The particle size is smaller than that of the nth solid sensible heat storage material disposed on the upstream side of the fluid during heat dissipation operation than the first divided heat storage tank, Heat storage tank. **Claim 16** A high-temperature bypass flow path bypassing the first divided heat storage tank, One or more high-temperature bypass valves for switching the flow of the fluid to the first divided heat storage tank side and the flow of the fluid to the high-temperature bypass flow path side are further provided, The heat storage tank according to claim 15. **Claim 17** One or more low-temperature bypass flow paths bypassing the second to mth divided heat storage tanks, One or more low-temperature bypass valves for switching the flow of the fluid to the second to mth divided heat storage tank side and the flow of the fluid to one or more low-temperature bypass flow path sides are further provided, The heat storage tank according to claim 16. **Claim 18** The built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material is determined such that the thermocline generated inside the heat storage tank exists only in the first region at the end of the heat dissipation operation. The heat storage tank according to claim 15. **Claim 19** The built-in amount of the first solid sensible heat storage material is determined such that the temperature region that is not the thermocline generated inside the heat storage tank does not exist in the first region at the end of the heat dissipation operation. The heat storage tank according to any one of claim 15 or claim 18. **Claim 20** The flow path cross-sectional area in the first region is The same as the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth solid sensible heat storage material built in the nth region on the upstream side of the fluid during heat dissipation operation than the first region, or Larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth solid sensible heat storage material, The heat storage tank according to any one of claims 12, 13, 15 to 18. **Claim 21** The flow path cross-sectional area in the first region is The same as the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth solid sensible heat storage material built in the nth region on the upstream side of the fluid during heat dissipation operation than the first region, or Larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth solid sensible heat storage material, The heat storage tank according to claim 14. **Claim 22** The flow path cross-sectional area in the first region is The same as the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth solid sensible heat storage material built in the nth region on the upstream side of the fluid during heat dissipation operation than the first region, or Larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of the nth solid sensible heat storage material, The heat storage tank according to claim 19.

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