Osmotic Intermediate Power Storage for Long-Duration Renewable Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage systems, including batteries and thermal storage, face limitations in cost, efficiency, and long-term storage capabilities, necessitating the development of alternative hybrid systems that combine different energy storage concepts to address the variability of renewable energy sources.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid osmotic pumped storage system utilizing an osmosis device with a permeate and concentrate reservoir, and a control device to manage energy storage and release through reverse and forward osmosis processes, leveraging osmotic pressure for efficient energy buffering in power generation plants like wind and photovoltaic systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If thermal storage systems are used to store energy, then energy storage capacity is improved, but energy loss increases since heat cannot be fully converted back into electrical work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal energy storage with a mechanical energy storage system based on osmotic pressure. Instead of storing energy as heat that cannot be fully converted back to electricity, the system stores energy mechanically by pumping mixed liquid against osmotic pressure during charging and releasing it during discharge through reverse osmosis, enabling near-complete energy recovery without thermal conversion losses.
2Quantity of substance
If chemical storage systems are used to store energy, then energy storage capacity is improved, but energy loss increases since chemical reactions generate heat that is partially lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes chemical energy storage with a mechanical osmotic system. Rather than relying on chemical reactions that generate unavoidable heat losses, the system uses physical osmotic pressure differences to store and release energy mechanically, eliminating the heat loss inherent in chemical storage processes while maintaining high energy storage capacity.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If rechargeable batteries are used for long-term storage, then energy storage duration is improved, but specific costs increase limiting them to small-scale applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters from electrochemical battery systems to osmotic pressure-based mechanical systems. This parameter change enables long-term energy storage at significantly lower specific costs, making the system economically viable for large-scale and long-duration storage applications where batteries become prohibitively expensive.
4Reliability
If renewable energy sources are expanded to generate 100% of electricity and heat, then energy sustainability is improved, but energy supply variability increases necessitating energy storage systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an osmotic energy storage system as an intermediary between variable renewable energy sources and the electrical grid. This intermediary system absorbs excess energy during periods of high renewable generation by pumping mixed liquid, and releases energy during periods of low generation through reverse osmosis, thereby stabilizing the energy supply while accommodating high renewable penetration.
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 system enables effective energy storage and release, reducing storage costs and transportation losses by integrating mechanical and chemical storage technologies, providing a high energy density solution that can balance fluctuating renewable energy sources, facilitating a climate-neutral energy supply.
Implementation Method 1
In the loading process, the mixed water (especially salt water) is pumped, for example, from a reservoir at the loading pressure to the osmosis device using the energy of the power generation plant (or the power grid), which is then operated in a reverse osmosis mode.
Implementation Method 2
In the unloading process, the equipment is operated in forward osmosis and the osmotic pressure of the mixed concentrate and permeate is provided for power generation.
Implementation Method 3
The provided osmotic pressure can be utilized, for example, to generate electricity.
Data Source
AI summary
An intermediate power store for at least one power generating system, including: an osmosis device, a permeate store, a concentrate store and a control device. The osmosis device is designed to separate, in a charging operation, a liquid mixture with a charging pressure into a permeate and a concentrate, or, in a discharging operation, to mix the permeate with the concentrate while applying an osmotic pressure to the liquid mixture. The permeate store is fluidically connected to the osmosis device and is designed to store the permeate. The concentrate store is fluidically connected to the osmosis device and is designed to store the concentrate. The control device is designed to control the following functions: the charging operation using electrical power from the at least one power generating system, or the discharging operation while providing electrical power.