Pump-Turbine Energy Storage with Modular Pressurized Tanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for energy exceeds supply due to overconsumption and population growth, exacerbated by inadequate energy distribution infrastructure and reliance on intermittent renewable sources, leading to energy crises and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A pump-turbine energy management system that stores energy using pressurized gases or liquids, allowing for efficient recovery and distribution, incorporating modular architecture for resilience and adaptive energy pooling to balance demand and supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If energy is stored using pump-turbine systems with pressurized storage elements, then energy availability and production stability are improved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is divided into multiple independent pressurized storage elements (tanks or vessels) that can operate autonomously. Each storage element can be charged and discharged independently, allowing the system to maintain energy availability while reducing the complexity of any single component and enabling modular expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
A control system acts as an intermediary between the pressurized storage elements and the energy distribution network. This intermediary manages the charging and discharging cycles, coordinates energy flow between multiple storage elements, and interfaces with the broader energy infrastructure, thereby simplifying overall system management despite the increased number of components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple pressurized storage elements are used for energy pooling, then energy production stability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pressurized storage elements are merged into a unified energy pool that functions as a single stable energy source. The system combines the output of individual storage elements through a common distribution interface, achieving stable energy production that smooths out variations from individual elements while presenting a simplified single-point interface to the energy network.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors the pressure and energy levels of each pressurized storage element and adjusts charging/discharging operations based on real-time feedback. This feedback mechanism maintains optimal operation of multiple storage elements, ensuring stable energy production while automatically managing the complexity of coordinating multiple components.
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 effectively stabilizes energy production and consumption by storing excess energy for later use, reducing production costs and enhancing energy availability, especially with intermittent renewable sources, while minimizing losses and improving infrastructure resilience.
Implementation Method 1
A pump-turbine energy management system is connected to an energy source. The pump-turbine energy management system includes a pump-energy storage subsystem that stores energy from the energy source.
Implementation Method 2
One or more processors calculate a valve-based flow control setting for recovering energy from the pump-energy storage subsystem. Energy is recovered from the pump-energy storage subsystem using a pump-turbine recovery subsystem.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed techniques include energy storage and management using pumping. An energy source is connected to a pump-turbine energy management system, wherein the pump-turbine energy management system includes a pump-energy storage subsystem. Energy from the energy source is stored in the pump-energy storage subsystem. One or more processors are used to calculate a valve-based flow control setting for recovering energy from the pump-energy storage subsystem. One or more valves in the pump-energy management system are energized, wherein the energizing enables energy recovery. Energy is recovered from the pump-energy storage subsystem using a pump-turbine recovery subsystem enabled by the one or more valves that were energized. Waste heat is recovered through a waste-heat recovery subsystem which includes water heat exchangers or a fluid spray. The water from the water heat exchangers can be used to make steam or ice.