Floating Piston Thermal Separation for Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal energy storage systems face high initial costs, large footprint, inefficiency, and scalability issues, limiting their adoption in renewable energy storage applications.
Innovation Solution
A floating piston design for thermal energy storage systems that separates hot and cold working fluids, featuring a compressible member with low porosity and a support frame, allowing for efficient thermal separation with minimal leakage and friction, enabling the use of a common working fluid and reducing system complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a separator piston is used to separate hot and cold working fluids, then thermal losses are reduced, but device complexity increases due to the need for compressible members and support frames
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible member is constructed with a porous structure that allows it to function as both a mechanical separator and a flow restrictor. The porous nature enables the member to compress and expand while maintaining thermal separation, reducing the need for additional complex components while minimizing thermal losses between hot and cold working fluids.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator piston employs composite construction combining compressible members with support frames, creating a hybrid structure that balances mechanical strength requirements with thermal isolation needs. This composite approach allows the piston to maintain structural integrity while effectively separating thermal zones, addressing both thermal loss reduction and structural complexity concerns.
2Loss of energy
If a compressible member with low porosity is used in the piston, then thermal separation efficiency is improved, but friction with the vessel wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible member is designed to dynamically adjust its compression level based on operating conditions. During normal operation, it maintains sufficient compression for thermal separation, but can expand to reduce wall contact and friction when needed. This dynamic behavior allows the system to optimize between thermal separation efficiency and friction reduction throughout different operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The porosity and compression level of the compressible member are treated as variable parameters rather than fixed properties. By adjusting compression levels, the system can modify the balance between thermal separation performance and friction characteristics, allowing optimization for different operational requirements without sacrificing either thermal efficiency or mobility.
3Loss of energy
If the piston is designed to minimize leakage, then thermal efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The porous compressible member inherently provides flow restriction capabilities without requiring precision-machined sealing surfaces. The porous structure creates tortuous flow paths that naturally limit leakage while maintaining thermal separation, thereby achieving high thermal efficiency without imposing stringent manufacturing precision requirements on the piston components.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressible member can be designed as a replaceable component with standardized dimensions, allowing for easier manufacturing and replacement. This approach prioritizes functional performance over precise manufacturing, accepting that the compressible member may require periodic replacement while maintaining cost-effective manufacturing processes.
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 floating piston design reduces thermal losses, minimizes system complexity, and allows for scalable and efficient thermal energy storage, enhancing the cost-effectiveness and scalability of thermal energy storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible member disposed in the central region of the piston and configured to engage with an inner surface of the vessel when the piston is disposed in the vessel
Implementation Method 2
floating piston design for thermal energy storage systems that separates hot and cold working fluids
Data Source
AI summary
A floating piston configured to be disposed in a vessel of a thermal energy storage system to separate a hot working fluid from a cold working fluid. The floating piston includes a piston body having a first end, a second end, and a central region. There is a compressible member which is disposed in the central region of the piston and which is configured to engage with an inner surface of the vessel when the piston is disposed in the vessel.