Sorption Heat Store Flow Structure for Dense Sorbent Beds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat accumulators face challenges in achieving high spatial heat storage density due to limitations in flow conduction for the working medium, particularly in scaled-up systems, where solid sorbents restrict fluid flow and heat transfer, leading to inefficient heat distribution and storage.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates heat transfer tubes and flow sheets with gap-like openings connected to a fleece layer, allowing the working medium to pass through and optimizing its path within the sorbent bed, enabling direct contact with heat transfer tubes without a material-locking connection, and using perforated or adapted openings for improved flow guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the sorbent bed is densely packed to increase storage density, then the energy storage density is improved, but the flow paths for the working medium are blocked and heat transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sorbent bed is segmented into multiple zones by inserting heat transfer tubes and flow sheets with gap-like openings. This segmentation creates multiple flow channels that divide the working medium flow path, allowing dense sorbent packing while maintaining adequate flow paths. The heat transfer tubes act as internal partitions that organize the sorbent particles and create structured flow channels between them.
Solution Approach 2:
Flow sheets with gap-like openings and fleece layers are introduced as intermediary structures between the heat transfer tubes and the sorbent bed. These intermediaries guide the working medium flow, prevent direct blockage by sorbent particles, and maintain thermal contact while allowing fluid passage. The fleece layer acts as a filter and flow distributor that ensures uniform working medium distribution through the dense sorbent bed.
2Strength
If heat transfer tubes are firmly integrated with tube sheets to ensure structural stability, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the working medium flow conduction is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The tube sheets are designed with differentiated local properties: regions with through-opening gaps for working medium flow and regions with firm heat transfer tube integration for structural support. The gap-like openings are strategically positioned to allow working medium passage while the surrounding structure maintains mechanical integrity. This local differentiation enables both structural stability and flow conduction in different areas of the same component.
3Volume of stationary object
If the accumulator is scaled up to increase storage capacity, then the total energy storage is improved, but the flow path complexity increases and heat distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension of heat and mass transfer by inserting vertical heat transfer tubes and flow sheets into the sorbent bed. This creates a three-dimensional network of flow channels and heat transfer surfaces, transforming the previously two-dimensional surface-based heat transfer into a volumetric process. The multi-dimensional structure ensures uniform heat distribution throughout the large-scale accumulator by providing multiple parallel heat transfer pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer tubes and flow sheets are nested within the sorbent bed, creating a hierarchical structure where smaller-scale flow channels and heat transfer surfaces are embedded within the larger sorbent matrix. This nested configuration allows the system to maintain efficient heat and mass transfer characteristics while scaling up the overall accumulator volume, as the nested structures provide distributed heat transfer throughout the entire volume.
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 configuration enhances spatial heat storage density by ensuring optimal penetration of the working medium and efficient heat transfer, reducing production complexity and costs while maintaining high thermal efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
During the discharge process of the accumulator, the working medium is bound by adsorption, for example to silica gel, zeolites or to advanced sorbents such as metal silicates
Implementation Method 2
the working medium is cyclically converted into a gaseous state and liquefied again by means of evaporators and condensers
Implementation Method 3
the working medium is cyclically converted into a gaseous state and liquefied again by means of evaporators and condensers
Implementation Method 4
During the loading process of the storage, the working medium is cyclically removed from the sorbents by desorption. The excess heat above the vaporization heat of the working fluid is retained in the sorbent as desorption heat
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~4c
AI summary
The invention relates to a sorption-based heat store with a high storage density and improved circulation of the working medium, being in particular for the periodic short-term storage of available heat using microporous sorbents. The storage of heat has applications in the housing and building technologies, including the storage of low temperature heat from solar or terrestrial sources. During off-peak periods, it is possible to store waste heat which accumulates in energy-intensive processes and which, hitherto, has been lost in an uneconomical manner. The problem addressed by the present invention is that of developing flat tubes for the circulation of heat in large heat stores whilst eliminating the disadvantages of an unsatisfactory flow circulation of the working medium in an axial direction. According to the invention, the heat store (1) can include at least one tube base (8) and one flow plate (9) with a layer of non-woven fibres (13) and the heat transfer tubes (10) are integrated into the tube base (8) by material fit, directional, perforated apertures (12) being thereby produced in the sorbent bed (14), the flow channels (11) being formed in the flow plate (9) and the concave or U-or S-shaped working-medium guides (16) being led, unsecured, through the apertures (12), connection thereto by material fit being non-essential. Alternative forms of the heat store include the use of extruded profiles with at least two passages, of rolled profiles and of bundles of heat carrier tubes (10). Horizontal and oblique tube bases (8; 8') or flow plates (9; 9) with said layers of non-woven fibre (13; 13') do not affect the operation of the heat store (1).