Process and system for hot and/or cold energy transfer, transport and/or storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal energy storage technologies face challenges at high temperatures, particularly above 1100° F, due to limited options, high costs, and reduced reliability, with existing methods like molten salts experiencing issues with viscosity, corrosion, and side reactions, and lacking efficiency in heat transfer and storage.
Innovation Solution
A system and process involving a two-phase thermal media created by mixing fine particles with a carrier gas, allowing for direct contact heat transfer and storage, which can operate over a wide temperature range from subzero to 2,100° F, using materials like carbon, plastic, and metals, and separating particles from the gas for efficient energy absorption, transport, and recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If molten salts are used for thermal energy storage at high temperatures, then the operating temperature range can be extended to 1020° F., but viscosity increases and corrosion problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the heat transfer medium from liquid (molten salt) to solid particles suspended in gas. This parameter change enables operation at temperatures up to 2100° F. while avoiding the viscosity and corrosion problems associated with molten salts, as solid particles in gas phase do not exhibit these detrimental properties
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite system consisting of solid particles (alumina, silica, zirconia, or carbon) suspended in a carrier gas (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or air). This composite approach combines the advantages of solid particles (high temperature stability, no corrosion) with gas phase heat transfer (low viscosity, high流动性), achieving reliable operation at temperatures exceeding 1020° F.
2Productivity
If organic liquids are used for thermal energy storage, then heat transfer can be achieved, but volatilization and degradation reactions occur at temperatures above 750° F.
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition and physical state parameters by replacing organic liquids with inorganic solid particles in gas phase. This eliminates the volatilization and degradation reactions that plague organic liquids at high temperatures, while maintaining effective heat transfer capability through the solid-gas suspension system
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses inexpensive solid particles (such as alumina, silica, zirconia, or carbon) that can withstand high temperatures without degradation. These particles serve as durable heat transfer carriers that do not volatilize or degrade like organic liquids, enabling sustained operation at temperatures above 750° F. without the harmful effects of volatilization
3Temperature
If nitrate salt mixtures are used for thermal storage, then high temperatures up to 1020° F. can be achieved, but side reactions with carbon dioxide and oxygen occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses an inert carrier gas (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or air) as the medium for suspending and transporting solid particles. This inert atmosphere prevents side reactions between the heat transfer medium and carbon dioxide or oxygen in the environment, eliminating the chemical degradation problems associated with nitrate salt mixtures while maintaining high temperature capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the reactive components (nitrate ions) from the heat transfer system and replaces them with chemically inert solid particles. This extraction eliminates the source of side reactions with carbon dioxide and oxygen, while the solid particles retain the ability to store and transfer thermal energy at temperatures up to 1020° F. and beyond
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 approach enhances heat transfer rates, reduces costs, and eliminates issues like viscosity and corrosion, enabling efficient thermal energy storage and recovery at high temperatures with fewer exchange surfaces and potential for higher efficiencies.
Implementation Method 1
mixing fine particles with a carrier gas to create a two phase thermal media; transferring thermal energy to the two phase thermal media
Implementation Method 2
The concept of mixing solid particles in a gas to increase radiation and conductive/convective heat transfer
Implementation Method 3
The heated or cooled two phase thermal media flows in a pipeline to a second particle storage hopper
Implementation Method 4
transferring thermal energy to the two phase thermal media; recovering the thermal energy from the two phase thermal media
Implementation Method 5
The fine particles from the particle storage hopper combine in a pipeline with the carrier gas to create a two phase thermal media
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal conveyance system and process for absorbing, transporting, storing, and recovering thermal energy (both hot and cold energy) over a wide range of temperatures from up to 2,100° F., or higher, or cool energy at subzero temperatures in inert and stable particles without the need to maintain a minimum temperature or requiring high system pressures. The process involving the transferring thermal energy to a first transfer fluid and recovering thermal energy from a second transfer fluid wherein the first and the second transfer fluids comprise a two phase thermal media including a gaseous carrier containing a quantity of micron to millimeter sized solid particles.