Silicon Phase Change Thermal Storage with Expandable Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage systems for renewable energy sources face challenges in providing reliable base load power due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources, with existing technologies like batteries and pumped hydro storage being limited by geography, efficiency, and scalability, and thermal energy storage systems facing difficulties in containerization and stress management due to volume changes in high-temperature phase change materials like silicon.
Innovation Solution
A modular energy storage and retrieval system comprising a heat generating layer, a thermal energy storage layer with silicon as the thermal energy storage material, and a thermal energy retrieval layer, where the heat generating layer and retrieval layer are separated by the storage layer, allowing for efficient thermal energy storage and retrieval while managing the expansion of silicon during phase change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If thermal energy storage material undergoes phase transition at high temperature, then energy density and thermal head are improved, but volume change and stress on system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of thermal energy storage material (silicon) at high temperature to achieve high energy density and thermal head. The material transitions between solid and liquid phases, absorbing and releasing large amounts of latent heat, which directly addresses the improving feature of energy density while the container design manages the associated volume changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent explicitly addresses thermal expansion by designing a container with an expandable top portion that accommodates volume changes of the thermal energy storage material during phase transition. This allows the system to maintain high operating temperatures for improved energy density while managing the stress and volume expansion through controlled mechanical design.
2Quantity of substance
If thermal energy storage material undergoes phase transition, then thermal energy storage capacity is improved, but containerization difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition materials (silicon transitioning between solid and liquid) to achieve high thermal energy storage capacity through latent heat. The container is specifically designed to handle the phase transition process, with an expandable top that accommodates volume changes during melting and solidification, making the high-capacity storage practically implementable.
Solution Approach 2:
The container design applies local quality by providing different structural characteristics in different regions: the sidewalls provide containment while the top portion is designed to be expandable to accommodate volume changes during phase transition. This localized structural adaptation enables the container to handle the specific demands of phase-changing materials without requiring complete redesign of the entire container structure.
3Productivity
If heat generating layer and retrieval layer are separated by storage layer, then thermal energy storage efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the system into three distinct functional layers: a heat generating layer for charging, a thermal energy storage layer in the middle, and a retrieval layer for discharging. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific function and enables independent operation and maintenance of each module, improving overall thermal energy storage efficiency while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal energy storage layer acts as an intermediary between the heat generating layer and the retrieval layer. It receives thermal energy from the heat generating layer during charging and releases it to the retrieval layer during discharging, enabling efficient thermal energy storage while isolating the generation and retrieval processes. This intermediary structure improves efficiency by preventing direct thermal coupling and enabling independent temperature control.
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 effectively stores and retrieves thermal energy using silicon, overcoming the challenges of containerization and stress management, enabling scalable and efficient energy storage and retrieval for renewable energy integration, with improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a heat generating layer for generating thermal energy based on input electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
the heat absorption and emission properties that occur when a thermal energy storage material undergoes a phase transition such as transitioning from a solid to a liquid on heating and back to a solid on cooling
Implementation Method 3
silicon has one of the highest latent heat capacities of any material
Implementation Method 4
a thermal energy retrieval layer thermally connectable to the thermal energy storage material and configurable to retrieve thermal energy from the thermal energy storage layer
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage and retrieval system is disclosed. The system includes a heat generating layer for generating thermal energy based on input electrical energy, a thermal energy storage layer located to receive thermal energy from the heat generating layer, the thermal energy storage section layer including a thermal energy storage material to store thermal energy. The system also includes a thermal energy retrieval layer thermally connectable to the thermal energy storage material and configurable to retrieve thermal energy from the thermal energy storage layer where the heat generating layer and the thermal energy retrieval layer are separated by the thermal energy storage layer.