Atmospheric Thermal Storage Load-Lock System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power generation systems utilizing thermal energy storage, such as pebble-bed fission reactors and concentrated solar thermal, operate at high pressures and temperatures, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for multiple heat exchangers and potential thermal leakage in solid thermal storage systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a load-lock system that allows thermal storage media to remain at atmospheric pressure during storage and transfer, using pressure seals to equilibrate or prevent pressure equilibration between storage containers and heat exchangers, enabling efficient high-temperature and high-pressure heat transfer without the need for multiple heat exchangers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If thermal storage medium is stored at high pressure in direct-contact heat exchangers, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but system safety and cost increase due to high-pressure containment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the thermal storage function into two separate pressure environments: atmospheric pressure storage containers and high-pressure heat exchangers. The thermal storage medium is segmented between these two environments, allowing each component to operate at its optimal pressure without compromising safety or efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
A load-lock chamber serves as an intermediary component between the atmospheric pressure storage container and the high-pressure heat exchanger. This mediator allows the thermal storage medium to be transferred from low-pressure storage to high-pressure operation, enabling efficient heat transfer while maintaining safe storage conditions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple heat exchangers are used to transfer heat to high pressure gas, then high pressure storage is avoided, but thermal efficiency decreases due to high approach temperatures and wasted heat
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the thermal transfer process into distinct pressure zones, using a load-lock chamber as a transition zone. This allows direct-contact heat exchange to occur at high pressure in the heat exchanger while the storage medium remains at atmospheric pressure, eliminating the need for multiple indirect heat exchangers and improving thermal efficiency
3Reliability
If pressure vessel containment systems are surrounded by secondary containment systems, then radiation containment and safety are improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the high-pressure operation requirement from the thermal storage medium and relocates it to the heat exchanger environment. By doing so, the storage container can operate at atmospheric pressure, eliminating or reducing the need for expensive secondary pressure containment systems while maintaining safety through the load-lock transfer mechanism
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution improves safety and reduces costs by maintaining thermal media at atmospheric pressure, enhancing thermal efficiency and reducing waste heat, while allowing for efficient transfer and storage of thermal energy across varying temperature and pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
when the first pressure seal is open, pressure may equilibrate between the holding section and the storage container and thermal medium may be transferred between the storage container and the holding section
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger may be employed to transfer heat between a thermal storage material to a working fluid
Implementation Method 3
Thermal energy may also be stored in solids, for example in thermocline storage
Data Source
AI summary
A heat engine system with pressure-regulating load-locks disposed between thermal medium storage containers and heat exchangers is disclosed. A load-lock connects one or more storage containers at atmospheric pressure to one or more heat exchangers at greater than or less than atmospheric pressure.