Heat Accumulator Maintaining Temperature Stratification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat accumulators face challenges in maintaining a desired temperature distribution during longer rest periods, leading to inefficient operational management due to temperature equalization, which affects the reproducibility and efficiency of thermal energy storage and retrieval.
Innovation Solution
The heat accumulator structure incorporates at least two accumulator elements with a medium flushing device that generates a cold medium flushing flow, which is introduced into the cold end of one storage element and a hot medium flushing flow emerging from the hot end of another, maintaining temperature stratification by reversing energy flow between storage elements during idle periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the heat accumulator is left in idle state without intervention, then the structure is simple and operation is easy, but the temperature distribution becomes uniform leading to loss of thermal stratification and reduced operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own thermal energy to maintain stratification by circulating medium between upper and lower storage zones. The heat accumulator serves itself by using stored thermal energy to drive the flushing process that maintains its own temperature distribution, eliminating the need for external energy input or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The medium flushing device operates periodically to redistribute thermal energy between storage zones. By intermittently circulating the medium between upper and lower zones, the system maintains temperature stratification through periodic thermal exchange rather than continuous operation, reducing energy consumption while preserving thermal structure.
2Reliability
If a medium flushing device is added to maintain temperature stratification, then temperature distribution stability is improved, but device complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters of the storage medium by periodically reversing flow direction between upper and lower zones. This parameter change approach allows the same physical infrastructure to serve multiple functions - both storage and stratification maintenance - without adding complex equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The medium flushing device serves multiple functions: it maintains temperature stratification, redistributes thermal energy, and prepares the storage zones for subsequent charging or discharging operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and justifies the added complexity through enhanced operational reliability.
3Productivity
If temperature stratification is not maintained during rest periods, then the system operates simpler without flushing devices, but the outlet temperature becomes variable reducing downstream process efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The medium flushing device performs preliminary action by maintaining temperature stratification during idle periods before actual charging or discharging operations begin. This preliminary maintenance of thermal structure ensures that when operations start, the system is already in optimal condition for efficient heat exchange, eliminating the need for warm-up or re-stratification periods.
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 ensures reproducible temperature conditions, maintaining optimal operational efficiency by preventing temperature uniformity and ensuring constant outlet temperatures during charging and discharging, allowing for efficient heat utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a medium flushing device (98) is provided which generates at least one cold medium flushing flow (Fk) in a flushing operation of the heat accumulator and introduces it into the cold end (22) of at least one of the storage elements (30-33)
Implementation Method 2
each form a hot end (23) and a cold end (22) through temperature stratification
Implementation Method 3
The hot medium flushing flow emerging from the hot end of this storage element is introduced into the hot end of at least one further storage element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The accumulator (2) has a heat accumulator structure exhibiting two accumulator elements that are flowed via a medium. Hot ends (23) and cold ends (22) of the accumulator elements are formed by temperature stratification. A medium rinsing device produces a cold medium rinsing stream in a rinsing operation of the accumulator. A hot medium rinsing stream withdrawing from one of the hot ends of one of accumulator elements enters into another hot end of another accumulator element over a rinsing path in a loaded condition. An independent claim is also included for a method for storing heat in a heat accumulator.