Thermal Energy Storage in Refractory Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for storing electrical energy, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, are inefficient or impractical for large-scale applications, particularly in meeting peak demand during energy shortages from intermittent renewable sources.
Innovation Solution
An installation that stores electrical energy as heat in refractory materials using an inert gas, such as argon, within a closed circuit of pipes with compressors and turbines, allowing for efficient conversion between thermal and electrical energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If electrical energy is stored in lead-acid batteries, then small and medium capacity storage is achieved, but the installation becomes gigantic and unrealistic for large-scale storage of 1200 MW over 24-36 hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical battery storage system with a thermal energy storage system using refractory materials. Electrical energy is converted to thermal energy by heating refractory materials in enclosures, which can store energy at high temperatures. This substitution allows large-scale energy storage without requiring gigantic battery installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the storage medium from chemical batteries to thermal energy stored in refractory materials at high temperatures (up to 1600°C). This parameter change enables storing equivalent energy density in a more compact and scalable form factor suitable for large-scale applications.
2Quantity of substance
If water is pumped up to a dam for energy storage, then large-scale energy storage is achieved, but enormous quantities of water must be mobilized and released, causing water waste and limiting suitable sites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydro-mechanical pumped storage system with a thermal storage system using refractory materials and gas compression/expansion. This eliminates the need for water mobilization and site-specific geographical conditions, making energy storage adaptable to various locations without water waste concerns.
3Use of energy by moving object
If turbines are used to produce mechanical energy from fuels, then energy conversion is achieved, but maximum efficiency is limited by the temperature behavior of turbine blades exposed to aggressive combustion gases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an inert gas (such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide) instead of combustion gases to transfer thermal energy to the turbine. This inert atmosphere eliminates the aggressive chemical environment that limits turbine blade temperatures and efficiency, allowing the turbine to operate at optimal conditions without exposure to hot combustion gases.
4Adaptability or versatility
If renewable energies are incorporated in the network, then intermittent energy production is utilized, but conventional power stations must be run at low power or stopped, reducing overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements energy storage that can capture excess renewable energy production during high-generation periods and release it during peak demand periods. This preliminary storage action allows conventional power stations to operate at optimal efficiency levels rather than being forced to run at low power, while still accommodating renewable energy integration.
Data Source
AI summary
An installation for storing and returning electrical energy having first and second enclosures containing a gas and porous refractory materials suitable for transferring heat by contact between said porous refractory materials and a gas flowing through said enclosures, and a compressor and an expander for the gas flowing in pipes between each of the ends of an enclosure connected to an end of the other enclosure. Methods are also disclosed for storing electrical energy in the form of heat energy in which an installation of the invention is used, and for a method of returning electrical energy from heat energy stored by a method according to the invention. The electrical energy is stored in the form of heat within masses of refractory material, and the stored thermal potential energy is returned in the form of electrical energy.