Storage system with process steam supply

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage system for storing thermal energy that has a charging circuit comprising a vaporizer, a compressor, a charging heat exchanger coupled to a heat accumulator, and an air regulator, connected directly or indirectly to one another. It also requires a process steam connecting line with which external systems can be supplied with process steam. The charging circuit also contains a removal air regulator and a separator between the charging heat exchanger and the air regulator, connected directly or indirectly to one another, in which the separator is connected directly or indirectly, via a process steam heat exchanger, to the process steam connecting line.

Description

DescriptionTITLEStorage System with Process Steam SupplyTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a storage system for storing thermal energy and providing process steam, in which thermal energy is stored in a heat accumulator with a charging circuit and discharged in the form of process steam.BACKGROUND

[0002] Unneeded energy is available at times that has been obtained in particular in a regenerative manner. At other times, there may not be enough of this energy available. Various storage technologies are used to balance out the acquisition of energy and the need thereof.

[0003] One means of doing so is to store excess heat and electricity in the form of thermal energy in heat accumulators. This thermal energy can then be recovered at a later point in time.

[0004] In one embodiment, a charging circuit contains a vaporizer, a compressor, the heat accumulator and an air regulator. In this case, waste heat from other processors and energy obtained regeneratively is supplied to the vaporizer. Advantageously, the compressor is also powered by energy acquired regeneratively.

[0005] If more energy is needed at another time, the energy in the heat accumulator can be recovered by using it to vaporize and superheat water, such that the steam can be used in a steam turbine to drive a generator.

[0006] Independently of the storage and later use of the stored energy, a substantially continuous supply of process steam is necessary in some systems.

[0007] With enough regeneratively obtained energy, the process steam can be generated directly, with no impact to the environment.

[0008] If no regeneratively obtained energy is immediately available, the process steam is normally generated in combustion processes or with electricity.

[0009] A disadvantage with existing embodiments is that when generating the process steam, not enough attention is given to the use of energy obtained regeneratively.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The object of the present invention is a substantially continuous provision of process steam while making the best possible use of energy obtained regeneratively.

[0011] This object is achieved with an inventive embodiment in accordance with the teachings of claim 1 . Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0012] First, a storage system for storing thermal energy that has a charging circuit is used, which contains a vaporizer, a compressor, a charging heat exchanger coupled to a heat accumulator, and an air regulator, connected to one another directly or indirectly.

[0013] It also requires a process steam connecting line with which external systems can be supplied with process steam.

[0014] According to the invention, the charging circuit also has a removal air regulator and a separator between the charging heat exchanger and the air regulator, connected directly or indirectly to one another, in which the separator is connected directly or indirectly, via a charging process steam heat exchanger, to the process steam connecting line.DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] This type of storage system is used to store thermal energy. It comprises a charging circuit and a discharge circuit.

[0016] The charging circuit contains a vaporizer, a compressor, a charging heat exchanger, and an air regulator, connected directly or indirectly to one another. The charging heat exchanger is coupled to a heat accumulator for storing thermal energy.

[0017] The charging circuit is operated when the storage system is charging. For this, water in the circuit is first vaporized in the vaporizer. The steam from the vaporizer is then compressed and thus heated. A portion of the thermal energy contained in the steam is diverted as it passes through the charging heat exchanger, and transferred to the heat accumulator. The cooled steam is then conducted through the air regulator before returning to the vaporizer.

[0018] There is also a process steam connecting line in this type of system. External systems can be supplied with process steam conveyed through this connecting line.

[0019] According to the invention, the charging circuit is expanded in that a removal air regulator and a separator are placed between the charging heat exchanger and the air regulator, connected directly or indirectly to one another. At least a portion of the steam can be removed from the discharge circuit by the separator.

[0020] As long as the removed steam has the right properties, it can be used immediately as process steam. The process steam connecting line is connected directly to the separator for this.

[0021] The steam that has been separated out can also be supplied to a charging process steam heat exchanger that is connected to the process steam connecting line. This results in an indirect transfer of the heat from the charging circuit to the process steam.

[0022] There is also an advantageous connection from the charging process steam heat exchanger back to the charging circuit in the segment between the air regulator and the vaporizer.

[0023] According to the invention, the volumetric flow is divided prior to its return to the vaporizer. The cooled steam is first conveyed through a removal air regulator.Subsequently, water contained in the volumetric flow is separated out, and a portion of the steam is conveyed to the air regulator normally contained in the system. Another portion of the steam is separated out, which is subsequently conveyed immediately as process steam in the connecting line, or it is conveyed to a process steam heat exchanger in order to transfer thermal energy to the process steam.

[0024] With the embodiment according to the invention, process steam can be generated using energy obtained regeneratively, while storing any excess energy.

[0025] A design of the storage system with which process steam can be obtained while the storage system is idle, i.e. at times in which neither the charging circuit nor the discharge circuit are being operated, is particularly advantageous.

[0026] For this, a standby heat exchanger is connected to the heat accumulator. Thermal energy can then be transferred from the heat accumulator to the process steam by the standby heat exchanger while the storage system is idle.

[0027] In a particularly advantageous variation, the process steam can be conducted directly through the standby heat exchanger.

[0028] Thermal energy can also be transferred from the standby heat exchanger to a standby process steam heat exchanger through which process steam flows.

[0029] In any case, the embodiment with the standby heat exchanger is of particular advantage because process steam can be generated therewith, substantially independently of the current availability of energy obtained regeneratively.

[0030] A discharge circuit is advantageously used for recovering the energy stored in the heat accumulator. This type of discharge circuit contains a pump, a discharge heat exchanger, a steam turbine, and a condenser, connected directly or indirectly to one another. The discharge heat exchanger is coupled to the heat accumulator in order to recover the thermal energy.

[0031] With this type of system, the discharge circuit is operated when discharging energy. For this, water is first conveyed by a pump to the discharge heat exchanger. Thermal energy from the heat accumulator is then transferred to the medium flowing through the discharge heat exchanger, thus vaporizing and heating the water. The heated steam is then sent to the steam turbine. The outlet on the steam turbine leads back to the pump through a condenser.

[0032] It is also possible to supply process steam while the discharge circuit is operating by removing a portion of the steam from the steam turbine between the intake and the outlet.

[0033] As long as the removed steam has the right properties, it can be used immediately as process steam. The process steam connecting line is connected directly to the steam turbine for this.

[0034] The removed steam can also be supplied to a discharge process steam heat exchanger that is connected to the process steam connecting line. This results in an indirect transfer of the heat from the discharge circuit to the process steam.

[0035] Accordingly, a portion of the steam is particularly advantageously removed from the steam turbine and conveyed to a process steam connecting line as process steam, or to a discharge process steam heat exchanger in order to transfer thermal energy to the process steam.

[0036] It is also fundamentally possible to operate the charging circuit and / or discharge circuit with a medium other than water and steam. By way of example, CO2 can be used with greater efficiency, although this is more difficult.

[0037] Other media that have a phase shift from liquid to gas within a technologically reasonable range can also be used. Accordingly, the use of media other than water and steam in the primary charging circuit and / or in the secondary charging circuit, and / or in the storage path, is expressly included in the invention.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary storage device 01 that has a charging circuit 11 , a discharge circuit 21 , and a process steam connecting line 31.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an alternative storage device 41 , in which thermal energy is transferred indirectly to the process steam.DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0040] A storage device 01 that has a charging circuit 11 and a discharge circuit 21 is shown schematically in Figure 1. The essential element in the storage device is the heat accumulator 02. Arrows indicate the flow directions in both circuits 11 , 21.

[0041] The charging circuit 11 contains a charging heat exchanger 12 that is coupled to the heat accumulator 02. It does not matter whether the charging heat exchanger 12 is directly on or in the heat accumulator 02 for this. It can also be separate therefrom, and the storage medium can flow from the heat accumulator 02 through the charging heat exchanger 12 and back to the heat accumulator 02.

[0042] When the charging circuit 11 is in operation, thermal energy from the charging heat exchanger 12 is used to heat the heat accumulator 02.

[0043] The embodiment according to the invention has a downstream removal air regulator 16 in the charging circuit 11. This is connected to a separator 17 with which a portion of the steam flowing through the separator 17 is diverted to a process steam connecting line in the form of process steam while the charging circuit 11 is in operation.

[0044] An air regulator 15 and a vaporizer 14 are downstream of the separator 17. Regenerative thermal energy is advantageously supplied to the vaporizer 14.

[0045] The steam generated by the vaporizer 14 is subsequently compressed by the compressor 13 and sent to the charging heat exchanger 12.

[0046] There is also a discharge circuit 21 that contains a discharge heat exchanger 22. This is coupled to the heat accumulator 02, in the same manner as the charging heat exchanger 12.

[0047] When the discharge circuit 21 is in operation, heat from the heat accumulator 02 is supplied to the discharge heat exchanger 22, such that the water is vaporized and the steam is heated.

[0048] A steam turbine 25 is connected to the charging heat exchanger 12 in the discharge circuit 21 , with which a generator can be operated, for example.

[0049] A condenser 24 cools and condenses the steam in the discharge circuit 21 , and the heat obtained in the condenser 24 therewith is preferably utilized.

[0050] A pump 23 is connected to the condenser 24, with which the water can be returned to the discharge heat exchanger 22.

[0051] There is also an outlet in the steam turbine in this example, through which steam is conveyed to the process steam connecting line 31 in the form of process steam.

[0052] An alternative embodiment of the storage system 41 according to the invention is shown in Figure 2. The charging circuit 11 and discharge circuit 21 correspond to that in Fig. 1 , for which reason reference is made to the preceding explanations in this regard.

[0053] Process steam heat exchangers 42, 43, 44 are used to separate the media from the storage system 01 and the process steam connecting line 31 , in order to transfer thermal energy from the storage system 01 to the process steam.

[0054] A charging process steam heat exchanger 42 is connected to the separator 17 for this. A return line from the charging process steam heat exchanger 42 leads back to a segment between the air regulator 15 and the vaporizer 14 in the charging circuit 11 .

[0055] A discharge process steam heat exchanger 44 is also connected to the steam turbine 24. A return line from the discharge process steam heat exchanger 44 leads back to the segment between the steam turbine 25 and the condenser 24 in the discharge circuit 21.

[0056] A standby process steam heat exchanger 43 is also connected to the standby heat exchanger 32.

[0057] The process steam heat exchangers 42, 43, 44 are connected to the process steam connecting line 31 , such that it is also possible to obtain process steam in any operating state of the storage system 31 .

Claims

Claims1. A storage system (01) for storing thermal energy that has a charging circuit (11) comprising a vaporizer (14), a compressor (13), a charging heat exchanger (12), and an air regulator (15), connected directly or indirectly to one another, wherein the charging heat exchanger (12) is coupled to a heat accumulator (02), and which has a process steam connecting line (31) with which external systems can be supplied with process steam, characterized in that the charging circuit (11) also comprises a removal air regulator (16) and a separator (17) between the charging heat exchanger (12) and the air regulator (15), connected directly or indirectly to one another, wherein the separator (17) is connected directly or indirectly, via the charging process steam heat exchanger, to the process steam connecting line (31).

2. The storage system (01) according to claim 1 , wherein a standby heat exchanger (32) is coupled to the heat accumulator (02), wherein the standby heat exchanger (32) is connected directly or indirectly, via a standby process steam heat exchanger, to the process steam connecting line (31).

3. The storage system (01) according to claim 1 or 2, which has a discharge circuit (21) comprising a pump (23), a discharge heat exchanger (22), a steam turbine (25), and a condenser (24), connected directly or indirectly to one another, wherein the discharge heat exchanger (22) is coupled to the heat accumulator (02), wherein the steam turbine (25) is connected directly or indirectly, via a discharge process steam heat exchanger, to the process steam connecting line (31).

4. A method for operating a storage system (01) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein during the charging state- water is vaporized in a vaporizer (14),- the steam is compressed by the compressor (13),- a portion of the thermal energy contained in the steam is transferred by the charging heat exchanger (12) to the heat accumulator (02),- the cooled steam is conducted through the removal air regulator (16),- at least a portion of the remaining steam is separated out by the separator (17), wherein the diverted steam is conveyed as process steam to a process steam connecting line (31), or supplied to a charging process steam heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy to the process steam.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein thermal energy is transferred directly or indirectly, via a standby process steam heat exchanger, from the heat accumulator (02) through the standby heat exchanger (32) to the process steam.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein during the discharge state- water is conveyed by a pump (23),- thermal energy is transferred from the heat accumulator (02) to the discharge heat exchanger (22), thus vaporizing the water,- the steam is supplied to a steam turbine (25), and a portion thereof is sent from the steam turbine (25) to the condenser (24), wherein a portion of the steam is separated out of the steam turbine (25) and sent to a process stream connecting line (31) as process steam, or to a discharge process steam heat exchanger in order to transfer thermal energy to the process steam.

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