Heat Storage Blocks With Evaporator Tubes for Dense Thermal Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage solutions, particularly in heat storage, face challenges in meeting the requirements of high efficiency, large storage capacity per volume, and cost-effectiveness, especially in bridging the gap between energy production and consumption peaks.
Innovation Solution
A general-purpose heat accumulator design featuring a two-part container with a vapor collection chamber and dosing chamber, incorporating nozzle-shaped control elements for even condensate distribution, and a combustion chamber for flue gas channels to enhance heat transfer, using refractory materials for high-temperature storage blocks and granulate options for improved thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional heat storage tanks are used, then storage capacity is achieved, but storage capacity per volume unit is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storage system is divided into multiple heat storage blocks with embedded evaporation tubes, replacing the conventional single-tank design. This segmentation allows for more efficient space utilization and higher storage capacity per volume unit by distributing the storage medium throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
Evaporation tubes are embedded within the heat storage blocks, creating a nested structure where the tubes are integrated into the blocks. This nesting approach maximizes the use of available space, allowing the storage medium to be contained within the blocks while maintaining high thermal efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If simple heat storage designs are used, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but efficiency and heat transfer performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Evaporation tubes serve as intermediary elements between the heat storage blocks and the storage medium. These tubes facilitate efficient heat transfer by providing a direct thermal pathway, improving heat exchange performance without requiring complex external heat exchanger systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat storage blocks are designed with specific local properties, including the strategic placement of evaporation tubes within the blocks. This local optimization ensures that heat transfer occurs at the most effective locations, maximizing thermal efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple overall system design.
3Device complexity
If uniform condensate distribution is not implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Nozzle-shaped control elements are provided above the evaporation tubes to distribute condensate. This partial addition of complexity at a specific location ensures uniform condensate distribution across the heat storage blocks, optimizing heat transfer efficiency without requiring a completely complex distribution system throughout the entire apparatus.
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 design achieves efficient energy storage and retrieval with minimal losses, allowing for flexible energy decoupling and high-temperature storage, meeting the criteria of large storage capacity, quick assembly, and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
whereby steam forms in the evaporator tubes
Implementation Method 2
heatable by the energy storage evaporation tubes
Implementation Method 3
the vapor produced in the evaporator tubes condenses within a vapor space on a heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
AI summary
The invention relates to an all-purpose heat store for storing different types of energy such as renewable energy, wind or solar energy, off-peak hour electric current, and electric energy in general, energy from solid, gaseous, and/or liquid fuels, energy from biomass, and waste heat from industry. The energy is stored preferably in rectangular heat storage blocks (2) in which evaporator pipes (17, 31, 62), which can be heated, are embedded and into which a liquid condensate is capable of dripping, as a result of which steam, the heat content of which can be used for various purposes such as heating or generating secondary energy, is formed in the evaporator pipes (17, 31, 62). The liquid condensate is preferably water, such that water vapor is formed during evaporation; the condensate is conducted in a circuit. Nozzle-shaped control elements, which distribute the condensate uniformly over the evaporator pipes (17, 31, 62), are provided above the evaporator pipes (17, 31, 62). The steam, formed in the evaporator pipes (17, 31, 62), condenses on the heat exchanger (4), and the heat emitted can be transferred to a heating plant.