Flexible Outer Layer Compresses Heat Storage Barrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat-storage systems face challenges in maintaining the integrity and close contact of flexible fluid-impermeable layers under high temperature and pressure conditions, leading to potential non-uniform temperature distribution and channel formation during thermal energy storage and retrieval.

Innovation Solution

A flexible outer layer, either in the form of a mesh or overlapping sheet-metal plates, applies areal forces to the fluid-impermeable layer, ensuring it remains in close contact with the heat-storage material and maintains the system's volume, using mechanisms like sand layers, anchoring devices, hydraulic cylinders, or tension cables to manage pressure and temperature fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a flexible fluid-impermeable layer is used to isolate heat-storage material from the environment, then pressure-tight isolation is achieved, but the layer becomes vulnerable to damage from large and rapid temperature fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure-tight isolationVSAvoidresistance to temperature fluctuations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible fluid-impermeable layer (film) to provide pressure-tight isolation of the heat-storage material from the environment. This flexible layer can accommodate volume changes of the heat-storage material during thermal cycling while maintaining isolation integrity, resolving the contradiction between providing pressure-tight isolation and withstanding temperature fluctuations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible fluid-impermeable layer acts as an intermediary between the heat-storage material and the external environment, protecting the material while allowing for thermal expansion and contraction. This mediator layer absorbs the stress of temperature fluctuations rather than transmitting them directly to the heat-storage material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the flexible fluid-impermeable layer maintains close contact with heat-storage material, then volume stability is achieved, but the layer is exposed to harmful thermal stresses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume stabilityVSAvoidthermal stresses

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible fluid-impermeable layer maintains close contact with the heat-storage material to ensure volume stability and prevent channel formation, while its flexibility allows it to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction without transmitting damaging thermal stresses to the material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Temperature

If high temperatures are used for thermal energy storage, then high steam parameters are achieved, but the heat-storage material and fluid-impermeable layer are subjected to increased thermal stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteam parametersVSAvoidintegrity under thermal stress

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible fluid-impermeable layer enables the system to operate at high temperatures for high steam parameters while maintaining integrity under thermal stress through its ability to flex and accommodate thermal expansion without compromising the heat-storage material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 configuration ensures high steam parameters are maintained, preventing undesired effects such as non-uniform temperature distribution and channel formation, while ensuring the fluid-impermeable layer remains impermeable and in close contact with the heat-storage material, optimizing energy storage and retrieval efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAreal force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The solid storage material of the heat-storage system is heated and used for temporary energy storage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy storage: Thermal Energy Storage

Implementation Method 3

A heated fluid—for example electrically heated air—is used as heat-transfer medium and passed into the heat-storage system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

By way of example, with the aid of the heated air the thermal energy extracted is converted to electrical energy by way of a steam circuit and with use of a steam turbine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy conversion: Heat Engine

Data Source

PatentUS11486654B2Arrangement for storing thermal energy

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

An arrangement for storing thermal energy, which has a three-dimensionally configured heat accumulator is provided. The latter contains a solid natural material for heat storage. The heat-storage material is enclosed by a fluid-impermeable, flexible layer such that the heat-storage material is insulated at least in a pressure-tight manner with regard to the environment of the heat accumulator. A flexible cover layer is provided, which is coupled to the fluid-impermeable flexible layer such that the flexible cover layer applies a surface force to the fluid-impermeable flexible layer. As a result, the fluid-impermeable flexible layer is pressed areally onto the heat-storage material. The flexible cover layer (i) has the form of a mesh or (ii) is configured in the form of sheet-metal plates overlapping one another in an imbricated manner.