Horizontal Heat Storage System for Compressed Air Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat storage and recovery systems for compressed air energy storage are complex, expensive, and pose challenges in handling and visual bulk due to their vertical arrangement, requiring significant lifting equipment and being visually obtrusive.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal cylindrical heat storage and recovery system with a bed of heat storage particles separated into distinct volumes, utilizing thermal insulation and distribution means to maintain thermal performance while reducing height and improving handling, featuring reversible fluid injection/withdrawal means to minimize head losses and facilitate installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vertical arrangement of heat storage particles is used, then the system achieves effective heat storage and recovery, but the system becomes visually obtrusive and requires significant lifting equipment for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the vertical arrangement of heat storage particles into a horizontal arrangement. This dimensional change allows the system to maintain effective heat storage and recovery while reducing the need for lifting equipment and minimizing visual bulk. The horizontal configuration enables the system to be installed in spaces with limited vertical clearance and reduces the height requirement from tens of meters to a manageable level.
2Reliability
If a vertical arrangement of heat storage particles is used, then the system achieves effective heat storage and recovery, but the visual bulk becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent redistributes the heat storage particles from a vertical column to a horizontal configuration. This dimensional transformation maintains the functional effectiveness of heat storage while dramatically reducing the vertical height from tens of meters to a manageable level, thereby minimizing visual bulk and allowing installation in urban or space-constrained environments.
3Ease of operation
If a horizontal arrangement is used, then handling and installation are simplified, but thermal gradients and head losses may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates local quality variations through distribution means positioned at multiple locations within the horizontal particle bed. These distribution means create localized zones of optimized fluid flow, ensuring that thermal gradients and head losses are minimized at each local level. This approach allows the horizontal arrangement to maintain both ease of installation and energy 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 system effectively reduces visual bulk, simplifies handling and installation, maintains thermal performance, and achieves a cost-effective energy storage/recovery compromise by distributing heat storage over a wider area with reduced height, minimizing head losses and thermal gradients.
Implementation Method 1
the heat is stored by means of static solids contained in one or more containers. For example, the heat is stored in a material in the form of particles, known as 'heat storage particles'
Implementation Method 2
the heat resulting from the compression of the air is recovered, stored and restored to the air before expanding it
Implementation Method 3
utilizing thermal insulation and distribution means to maintain thermal performance
Implementation Method 4
During the compression, the temperature of the air increases. In order to limit the cost of the storage tanks and to minimize the consumption of electricity of the compressor, the air can be cooled between each compression stage
Data Source
AI summary
A heat storage and recovery system and process includes at least one cylindrical external wall, at least one first volume, at least one second volume and at least two fluid injection/withdrawal devices. The first and second volumes are separated by at least one heat storage system comprising at least one bed of heat storage particles. Furthermore, the storage system and the first and second volumes extend substantially over the entire axial length of the cylindrical external wall. The longitudinal axis of the said cylindrical external wall is horizontal.A system and a process for the storage and recovery of energy by compressed gas include such a heat storage means.