Counter-Current Thermal Energy Storage Heat Exchanger
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal energy storage systems lack flexibility and efficiency due to complex mechanical arrangements and direct connections between energy storage and generation components, making them unsuitable for effectively matching intermittent renewable energy production with demand.
Innovation Solution
A thermal energy storage device employing a counter current principle within a heat exchanger arrangement, where the direction of heat transfer medium flow changes based on operational modes (charging and discharging) to optimize energy storage and retrieval efficiency, combined with adjustable heat exchanger configurations and thermal insulation for enhanced flexibility and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a direct mechanical connection is made between energy storage system and wind turbine with all energy storage equipment placed in the wind turbine, then energy storage functionality is achieved, but the system becomes complex and inflexible
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the energy storage equipment from the wind turbine structure and places it in separate ground-level storage stations. The wind turbine only retains its core function of generating electricity, while the thermal energy storage system operates independently with its own heat exchangers and insulation containers, thereby simplifying the wind turbine design and increasing overall system flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: wind turbines for electricity generation, heat exchangers for thermal energy transfer, and ground-level storage stations for thermal energy storage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables flexible configuration and operation of the overall system
2Productivity
If thermal energy storage systems use complex mechanical arrangements and direct connections, then energy storage capability is provided, but efficiency and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical energy storage mechanisms with a thermal energy storage system that uses heat exchangers and thermally insulated containers. Thermal energy is stored and retrieved through heat transfer processes rather than mechanical operations, eliminating the need for complex moving parts and mechanical arrangements while improving efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Heat exchangers serve as intermediary devices between the wind turbine electrical system and the thermal energy storage system. These heat exchangers enable efficient thermal energy transfer without requiring direct mechanical connections, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high energy storage and retrieval efficiency
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 approach allows for highly efficient thermal energy storage and retrieval, enabling the heat transfer medium to reach nearly the same temperature as the inlet during discharge, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the energy storage process and allowing for flexible adaptation to operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger arrangement, which is configured for guiding a flow of a heat transfer medium between a first end of the heat exchanger arrangement and a second end of the heat exchanger arrangement
Implementation Method 2
a heat storage material, which surrounds the heat exchanger arrangement... in which the heat storage material is supposed to receive thermal energy from the heat transfer medium
Implementation Method 3
the heat exchanger arrangement is adapted to transport the heat transfer medium from the second end to the first end, if the thermal energy storage device is in a second operational mode, in which the heat storage material is supposed to release thermal energy to the heat transfer medium
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
It is described a thermal energy storage device (100) comprising a heat exchanger arrangement (110), which is configured for guiding a flow of a heat transfer medium between a first end (112a) of the a heat exchanger arrangement (110) and a second end (114a) of the heat exchanger arrangement (110), and a heat storage material (108), which surrounds the heat exchanger arrangement (110). The heat exchanger arrangement (110) is adapted to (a) transport the heat transfer medium from the first end (112a) to the second end (114a), if the thermal energy storage device (100) is in a first operational mode, in which the heat storage material (108) is supposed to receive thermal energy from the heat transfer medium and (b) transport the heat transfer medium from the second end (114a) to the first end (112a), if the thermal energy storage device (100) is in a second operational mode, in which the heat storage material (108) is supposed to release thermal energy to the heat transfer medium. It is further described a thermal energy storing and recovering system comprising such a thermal energy storage device and a method for operating such a thermal energy storage device.