Pressure Storage Power Plant With Piston-Damped Explosion Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage power plants using compressed air for energy storage face inefficiencies and environmental concerns due to the release of explosive gases, and lack effective mechanisms for controlled pressure build-up and efficient energy utilization.

Innovation Solution

A storage power plant design incorporating a gas generator chamber with a movable piston and damping means, utilizing explosive gases generated by fuel explosion to create high pressure, which is then stored in pressure accumulators for efficient energy conversion and emission-free operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a fuel is detonated in the gas generator chamber to generate high pressure, then energy storage efficiency is improved, but the force acting on the generator chamber walls and valves increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy storage efficiencyVSAvoidforce on chamber walls and valves
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

A damping means (20) is arranged in the gas generator chamber (2) to dampen the sudden pressure increase during fuel explosion. The damping means includes a piston (18) that can move within the chamber, and a restoring means (20) such as a spring that is pre-tensioned to provide a damping effect before the explosion occurs, thereby reducing the peak force on chamber walls and valves while maintaining energy storage efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Stress or pressure

If explosive gases are released into the environment, then pressure build-up is achieved, but environmental harm and emissions occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure build-upVSAvoidenvironmental emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful explosive gases generated during fuel detonation into a beneficial resource by channeling them through a valve assembly (17) into pressure accumulators (5, 7, 8) for energy storage. The explosive gases that would otherwise be harmful emissions are instead captured and stored as compressed energy, eliminating environmental harm while achieving the necessary pressure build-up for power generation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Force

If a movable piston is added to dampen pressure increase, then force on chamber walls is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce on chamber wallsVSAvoidchamber structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The piston (18) and damping means (20) are designed to perform multiple functions: they dampen the sudden pressure increase during explosion, reduce peak force on chamber walls and valves, and can be integrated with the existing valve assembly (17) and pressure accumulator system. This multi-functionality minimizes the increase in device complexity while achieving the force reduction goal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enables controlled pressure build-up, efficient energy storage and utilization, and emission-free operation by using explosive gases to power turbines, while minimizing environmental impact through the use of a damping mechanism and pressure accumulator system.

Implementation Method 1

arranging a damping means (20) in the gas generator chamber (2), which comprises a movable piston (18), by whose movement a volume of the gas generator chamber (2) can be changed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

the restoring means can be pre-tensioned in order to provide a damping effect. For example, a storage power plant according to the invention can have a movable piston with a pre-tensioned helical spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

the gas generator chamber is configured to act as an explosion chamber in which a fuel used to operate the storage power plant is detonated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDetonation: Detonation

Implementation Method 4

the at least one pressure accumulator of the pressure storage device is configured to receive an explosive gas generated in the gas generator chamber by the explosion of the fuel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP4331076B1Storage power plant, in particular pressure storage power plant, and method for operating a storage power plant
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 PFAFF CHRISTOF
  • EP4331076B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP4331076B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2d
  • EP4331076B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a storage power plant (1-1c), in particular a pressure storage power plant, which has a gas generator chamber (2-2b) and a pressure store device (6; 6b) which is fluidically connected to the gas generator chamber and which comprises at least one pressure store (5-5b, 7-7b, 8-8b; 8c), the generator chamber (2-2b) being designed to act as an explosion chamber in which an operating substance (3-3b) with which the storage power plant is operated is caused to explode. The at least one pressure store (5-5b, 7-7b, 8-8b; 8c) of the pressure store device (6; 6b) is expediently designed to receive an explosion gas (21) that is generated in the gas generator chamber (2-2b) as a result of the explosion of the operating substance (3-3b). A gas pressure generated in the explosion can advantageously be directly utilized, for example to operate the turbine for the purposes of generating electrical current. The invention also relates to a method for operating the storage power plant (1-1c).