Solar energy storage and aquifer management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar thermal energy production varies significantly based on sunlight availability, making it challenging to provide a continuous power supply (baseload) to facilities and often results in excess heat waste.
Innovation Solution
A system combining solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic pre-heating systems, and aquifer thermal storage, using heat exchangers to store thermal energy in underground reservoirs, and managed by a system manager to ensure continuous and efficient energy supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If solar thermal collection units are used to generate power, then renewable energy production is achieved, but the output varies significantly based on sunlight availability making continuous baseload power difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing thermal energy in aquifers during periods of high solar radiation before it is needed. Thermal energy collectors capture and store excess heat underground during the day or during high production periods, making it available later during low sunlight periods to maintain continuous baseload power supply.
2Productivity
If solar thermal collection units operate during high sunlight periods, then energy production increases, but excessive heat is wasted when not immediately used by facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the excess thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted during high production periods and transfers it to underground aquifers for storage. This separation allows the collection units to operate at full capacity during high sunlight periods without concern for immediate facility demand, as the excess heat is diverted to storage.
3Reliability
If thermal energy is stored underground in aquifers, then continuous baseload power can be provided, but system complexity increases with multiple components including collectors, heat exchangers, and storage systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces thermal energy storage in aquifers as an intermediary between the solar thermal collectors and the facilities. This intermediary component decouples the variable production from collector units from the continuous demand of facilities, enabling reliable baseload power while managing system complexity through a modular architecture.
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 a reliable, continuous thermal energy supply by storing excess heat in aquifers, enhancing efficiency with photovoltaic pre-heating and reducing heat loss, thus meeting baseload demands and minimizing waste.
Implementation Method 1
A solar thermal collection unit is configured to collect incident radiation and add heat into a heat transfer fluid
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger configured to convey heat from the heat transfer fluid and the first pre-heated stream to a storage stream
Implementation Method 3
a first photovoltaic pre-heating system configured to pre-heat a spent stream from a utilization facility
Implementation Method 4
output to an aquifer thermal storage system
Data Source
AI summary
A solar energy storage management system includes a solar thermal collection unit, a photovoltaic pre-heating system, and heat exchanger. The solar thermal collection unit collects incident radiation and adds heat into a heat transfer fluid. The first photovoltaic pre-heating system pre-heats a spent stream from a utilization facility. The heat exchanger conveys heat from the heat transfer fluid and pre-heated stream to a storage stream for output to an aquifer thermal storage system. A method for managing solar energy storage and production includes collecting incident radiation with a solar thermal collection unit, adding heat into a heat transfer fluid, and conveying the heat transfer fluid to a heat exchanger for later storage of thermal energy in an aquifer thermal storage system. Systems and methods monitor heat storage and operational characteristics of the aquifer thermal storage system.