Metallic Shell Vessel With Insulating Lining For High-Temperature Heat Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat storage and release apparatuses face issues with tightness, embrittlement of materials, and cooling requirements due to high pressure and temperature, especially in natural and excavated caverns, which affect the efficiency and durability of energy storage and release systems.
Innovation Solution
A metallic shell vessel with an internal thermally insulating lining and a modular structure, designed to house a heat storage and release device, allowing for efficient heat transfer and reduced material thickness while maintaining high resistance and safety at high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If concrete walls are used for heat storage and release apparatus, then the structure can withstand high pressure and temperature, but the walls are subject to embrittlement and require cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a metallic shell (providing mechanical strength and pressure resistance) combined with a thermally insulating lining material (protecting the metal from thermal embrittlement and corrosion). This composite approach allows the vessel to withstand high pressure and temperature while avoiding the embrittlement issues that plague concrete walls, and eliminates the need for complex cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a metallic shell with thermally insulating lining that can be made thinner than concrete walls while maintaining equivalent or superior performance. The metallic shell provides flexibility and ductility compared to concrete, allowing it to better handle thermal stresses and pressure variations without embrittlement, while the insulating lining protects the metal from direct thermal exposure.
2Temperature
If high-temperature air is injected into the apparatus, then heat storage efficiency is improved, but the walls require forced water circulation cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The thermally insulating lining acts as an intermediary layer between the high-temperature air and the metallic shell. This lining material protects the metal structure from direct thermal exposure, allowing the apparatus to operate at high temperatures without requiring forced water circulation cooling systems. The insulating lining absorbs and manages the thermal stress, eliminating the need for complex active cooling mechanisms.
3Volume of stationary object
If natural caverns or excavated caverns are used for compressed air storage, then large storage capacity is achieved, but tightness problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a carefully engineered metallic shell with insulating lining that provides superior tightness compared to natural or excavated caverns. The metallic construction allows for precise manufacturing tolerances and reliable welding joints, eliminating the leakage and tightness problems inherent in cavern-based storage systems while maintaining large storage capacity through optimized vessel geometry.
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 solution enhances the efficiency and durability of heat storage and release systems by maintaining high tightness and resistance, reducing material thickness, and avoiding cooling and corrosion issues, enabling safe operation at high temperatures with simpler, less expensive materials like carbon steel.
Implementation Method 1
By providing the shell with an internal lining of thermally insulating material at least where hot gas flows
Implementation Method 2
the shell is configured to internally house a heat storage and release device and to guide through this device flows of high-pressure gas
Data Source
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AI summary
The vessel of a heat storage and release apparatus is provided with a shell made of metallic material with an internal cavity for containing a heat storage and release device and for guiding gas-flow, a first opening through the shell for a flow of gas at high temperature and high pressure in and out of the cavity, a second opening through the shell for a flow of gas at low temperature and high pressure in and out of the cavity, and a lining of thermally insulating material covering only partially the internal surface of the cavity; the lining is located at least in the region where the first opening is located, i.e., where the temperature is higher; in this way, the temperature of the shell can be controlled. Such heat storage and release apparatus can be provided in an energy production plant as a component of an energy storage and release system to be used for compensating differences between energy produced and energy demanded.