Modular Concrete Heat Storage Enclosure for High-Pressure CAES
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heat storage systems for compressed air energy storage (CAES) face challenges in operating at high pressures and temperatures while being cost-effective and efficient, particularly in maintaining structural integrity and reducing manufacturing complexities.
Innovation Solution
A heat storage and release system comprising a concrete envelope surrounded by a thermally insulating layer and a steel shell, with concrete modules arranged vertically to form a cylindrical enclosure, allowing for high-pressure operation up to 300 bars and moderate temperatures, and featuring equal pressure holes to manage internal pressure without airtight constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thick cylindrical concrete walls are used to withstand high temperatures and pressures, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The concrete shell is divided into multiple pre-fabricated concrete modules that can be manufactured separately and then assembled on-site to form the complete cylindrical structure. This segmentation allows each module to be produced in controlled factory conditions with standardized procedures, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining the required structural integrity through proper modular design and connection details.
2Strength
If on-site construction using prestressed concrete is used, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The concrete modules are pre-fabricated off-site in controlled factory conditions before being transported and assembled at the installation location. This preliminary action allows for optimized manufacturing processes, quality control, and parallel preparation of multiple modules, significantly reducing on-site construction time while maintaining structural strength through proper pre-stressing techniques applied during factory production.
3Stress or pressure
If airtight constraints are imposed on the enclosure, then pressure containment is improved, but thermal expansion management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure structure incorporates localized non-pressurized zones or expansion joints at specific positions where thermal expansion occurs, while maintaining airtight constraints in the majority of the structure for effective pressure containment. This local quality approach allows differential thermal expansion in designated areas without compromising the overall pressure containment capability of the heat storage system.
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 manages thermal expansion, reduces manufacturing costs, and simplifies assembly, enabling efficient heat storage and release while maintaining structural integrity under high-pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
surrounded by a thermally insulating layer
Implementation Method 2
storing air at a high temperature due to compression... the heat generated during compression is also stored separately in a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a container (200) for a heat storage and release system, comprising an enclosure with means for injecting and withdrawing a gas to be cooled or heated. The enclosure is delimited by a first concrete shell (203) surrounded by a thermally insulating layer (206), itself surrounded by a steel shell (204). The enclosure comprises at least two concrete modules (210) arranged one above the other and centered to form the first concrete shell (203), each concrete module comprising a volume delimited by a concrete side wall (211) and a perforated concrete bottom (205), the volume containing a fixed bed of particles of a heat storage and release material (207).