Buffer Storage Tank Inflow Damper for Stratified Thermal Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buffer storage tank inflow systems suffer from turbulence and exergy losses due to mixing of fluid layers with different temperatures, leading to inefficient energy storage, as they are complex and costly to manufacture and install.
Innovation Solution
A buffer storage container with a distribution zone on the inflow damper, featuring multiple openings that distribute the charging mass flow evenly, minimizing turbulence by ensuring the same flow speed through each opening, and utilizing a container wall or separate elements to enclose the distribution zone, simplifying the structure and reducing assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If radial diffusers with flow resistance are used to distribute charging mass flow evenly, then turbulence is reduced and temperature layers are maintained, but manufacturing cost and installation complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution zone is segmented into multiple separate openings instead of using a complex radial diffuser system. The charging mass flow is divided into multiple separate streams through these openings, achieving even distribution without requiring expensive diffuser components with flow resistance elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution zone is merged with the container wall structure itself, eliminating the need for separate internal components. The container wall serves dual purposes: structural containment and distribution zone formation, thereby simplifying installation while maintaining energy efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If a riser pipe with feed tube opening is used to introduce charging mass flow, then installation is simpler, but high volume flows create suction effects causing undesirable mixing of temperature layers
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a single riser pipe opening, the system uses multiple separate openings in the distribution zone. This segmentation prevents the formation of strong suction effects that occur with single-point injection, thereby avoiding turbulent mixing while maintaining installation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The openings are strategically positioned and sized to create local flow conditions that prevent suction effects. By controlling the local geometry and distribution characteristics at each opening, the system avoids the harmful mixing that occurs with conventional riser pipes while maintaining ease of installation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If partition walls are used to prevent mixing between temperature layers, then temperature stratification is maintained, but the system becomes structurally complex and creates additional turbulence in separating layers
Solution Approach 1:
The partition walls are completely removed from the system. Instead of using physical barriers to prevent mixing, the invention relies on carefully designed opening geometry and distribution zone configuration to naturally maintain temperature stratification without structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution zone openings act as intermediaries that control flow distribution without requiring physical partitions. The openings mediate between the charging mass flow and the stored layers, enabling gentle integration that maintains stratification without the turbulence and complexity associated with partition walls.
4Productivity
If the distribution zone is arranged inside the container away from the wall, then flow distribution is improved, but additional components and assembly steps are required increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution zone is merged with the container wall structure, eliminating the need for separate internal components positioned away from the wall. This integration maintains effective flow distribution while dramatically simplifying manufacturing and assembly operations.
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
The solution allows for gentle and low-turbulence feeding of the charging mass flow, minimizing exergy losses and maintaining temperature layers, while being easier to manufacture and assemble, thus enhancing the efficiency of thermal energy storage.
Implementation Method 1
the charging mass flow supplied to the distribution zone is divided among all openings and then flows through each opening at essentially the same flow rate into the interior of the container... ensures that the charging mass flow from the distribution zone flows into the container at a number of separate points. The flow speed that is essentially the same at all openings ensures that the charging mass flow flows out at the lowest possible flow speed, so that the disruptive turbulence known from the prior art is minimized.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an inflow damper (1) for use on buffer storage tanks (2), wherein the inflow damper (1) has at least two openings (4) through which storage medium can flow into the interior of the tank in such a way that the inflow velocity at each opening (4) is essentially the same.