Grooved Concrete Plate Thermal Storage for Low-Cost Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage solutions, such as pumped storage and batteries, are costly or environmentally challenging, and there is a need for a low-cost, modular thermal energy storage device that can efficiently store energy using common materials.
Innovation Solution
A modular energy storage device comprising concrete plates with grooves or grooves formed in the plates, which are arranged to form flow paths for a heat transfer medium, allowing heat transfer in both charging and discharging modes without the need for metal piping, using materials like concrete, micro-rebar, and insulation to enhance strength and thermal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional energy storage solutions like pumped storage and batteries are used, then energy storage capacity is achieved, but cost and environmental concerns increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the form of energy storage from electrical to thermal, using heat transfer media and thermal mass (water, rocks, or concrete) instead of electrochemical batteries or mechanical pumped storage. This parameter change enables low-cost, environmentally friendly energy storage using abundant natural materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive, readily available materials such as water, rocks, or concrete for thermal storage media, replacing expensive batteries and complex pumped storage infrastructure. These materials can be locally sourced and do not require complex manufacturing or disposal processes
2Loss of energy
If expensive salts or geologic formations are used for thermal storage, then thermal energy storage efficiency is improved, but material cost and site availability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a thermal storage system that can use multiple common materials (water, rocks, concrete) interchangeably as thermal storage media. This universality allows the system to be deployed in various locations without requiring specific geologic formations or expensive specialized materials
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes from using specialized high-performance thermal storage materials (expensive salts, specific geologic formations) to using common materials with adequate thermal properties (water, rocks, concrete), achieving a balance between efficiency and accessibility
3Power
If metal piping is used for heat transfer, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but system cost and material expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive metal piping with inexpensive concrete structures that serve as both structural elements and heat transfer pathways. The concrete plates or walls with embedded channels provide sufficient heat transfer capability without the cost and complexity of metal piping systems
4Ease of manufacture
If concrete plates with grooves are used instead of metal piping, then system cost is reduced, but heat transfer efficiency may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses concrete as a composite material that combines structural support functions with heat transfer functions. The concrete plates or walls incorporate grooves or embedded channels that allow heat transfer media to flow through, creating an integrated structure that provides both mechanical strength and thermal exchange capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the structural function (concrete plates/walls) with the heat transfer function (piping channels) into a single integrated component. The concrete structure itself becomes the heat exchanger, eliminating the need for separate metal piping and reducing overall system cost while maintaining adequate heat transfer 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
The device achieves efficient thermal energy storage with low-cost materials, eliminating the need for expensive salts or geologic formations, and operates efficiently between 60 °C and 315 °C, providing a cost-effective solution for grid stability.
Implementation Method 1
A portion of heat in the heat transfer medium is transferred to the plates in a charging mode of operation when the heat transfer medium is passed along the grooves or a portion of heat in the plates is transferred to the heat transfer medium in a discharging mode of operation when the heat transfer medium is passed along the grooves
Implementation Method 2
an inlet plenum configured to receive a heat transfer medium from a source and distribute the heat transfer medium through the grooves; and an outlet plenum configured to receive the heat transfer medium from the grooves and dispense the heat transfer medium to a return destination
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An energy storage device includes a plurality of plates, each having a first and second surface, with at least one of the surfaces having a plurality of grooves formed therein. The device further includes inlet and outlet plenums for providing or receiving a heat transfer medium to or from the grooves. At least one of the first surface and the second surface having the plurality of grooves formed therein of a first plate is disposed in direct contact with the other one of the at least first surface and second surface of an adjacent second plate. Heat from the transfer medium is transferred to the plates in a charging mode of operation or transferred from the plates to the transfer medium in a discharging mode of operation when the heat transfer medium is passed along the grooves.