Plant and method for accumulation of energy in thermal form
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage systems, particularly electrochemical batteries, are inefficient and costly, with limited capacity, short lifespan, and environmental risks, making it difficult to maintain energy supply continuity from renewable sources like wind and solar.
Innovation Solution
A plant using a bed of fluidizable solid particles to accumulate thermal energy, which can be converted into electric or thermal energy as needed, utilizing electric resistors, heat pumps, and heat exchangers to store excess energy from renewable sources or industrial waste, allowing flexible energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If electrochemical batteries are used for energy storage, then energy accumulation capability is improved, but system reliability and safety deteriorate due to short lifespan, fire risk, and environmental contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrochemical batteries with a thermal energy storage system using a bed of solid particles (stones) heated to high temperatures. This substitution eliminates chemical reactions and associated safety risks while providing long-term, reliable energy storage through purely thermal and mechanical processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the storage medium from electrochemical materials to thermal energy stored in heated solid particles. By maintaining particles at temperatures above 600°C, the system achieves high energy density without the degradation and safety issues inherent in electrochemical systems.
2Quantity of substance
If electrochemical batteries are used for energy storage, then energy accumulation is improved, but investment cost and operational complexity increase due to conditioning requirements and disposal needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive, readily available solid particles (stones) as the storage medium. These particles require no special conditioning, have no disposal requirements, and can be简单地 replaced if needed, eliminating the complex infrastructure required for battery maintenance and end-of-life management.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal energy storage system is self-regulating and requires no active management. The heated particles naturally retain heat and can be directly utilized when needed, eliminating the need for complex conditioning plants, monitoring systems, and disposal infrastructure required by electrochemical batteries.
3Quantity of substance
If electrochemical batteries are used, then energy storage is achieved, but energy availability and performance depend on environmental temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores energy as thermal energy in solid particles at high temperatures (above 600°C), a parameter range where environmental temperature variations have negligible impact. This thermal storage approach provides consistent performance across all environmental conditions, unlike electrochemical batteries whose performance degrades in extreme temperatures.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If renewable energy sources are used, then environmental sustainability is improved, but energy supply continuity deteriorates due to discontinuous wind and solar availability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing and storing thermal energy from renewable sources when available (during periods of excess wind or solar generation). This stored thermal energy is then released during periods of low renewable availability, effectively decoupling energy production from consumption and ensuring continuous supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention recovers excess renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted during periods of high generation. By capturing this excess energy as thermal energy in the particle bed, the system transforms intermittent renewable output into reliable, on-demand energy supply, eliminating the need for fossil fuel backup.
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 provides efficient, flexible, and sustainable energy storage and supply, capable of storing significant amounts of energy for continuous use, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and stabilizing the electricity grid.
Implementation Method 1
The accumulation device can include one or more electric resistors configured to heat the bed of particles
Implementation Method 2
The accumulation device can include one or more heat pumps configured to heat the bed of particles
Implementation Method 3
The accumulation device can include heat exchangers arranged to transfer thermal energy from the bed of particles to a fluid or directly to users
Implementation Method 4
a fluidization system configured to supply and distribute a fluidization gas through the bed of particles
Data Source
AI summary
A plant for the accumulation and transfer of thermal energy, which plant has an accumulation device of the kind with a bed of fluidizable solid particles. The plant further has for each accumulation deviceelectric resistor means arranged within the casing and thermally connected with the bed of particles, which electric resistors are configured for transmitting thermal energy generated by Joule effect to the particles and they are fed by exceeding electric energy from wind or photovoltaic source; andheat exchange means, also thermally connected with the bed of particles and which can be selectively actuated to receive thermal energy therefrom,the overall configuration being such that the thermal energy is transferred from the resistor means to the fluidizable solid particles of the bed and from the fluidizable solid particles to the heat exchange means.