An energy storage system for storing thermal energy and a controller and a method for determining a temperature in the energy storage system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage systems for thermal energy face inaccuracies in estimating and regulating stored energy due to the use of simple thermostats or thermal sensors, which are costly and have limited thermal contact areas, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in non-uniform temperature distributions.
Innovation Solution
The system determines the temperature of the thermal energy storage by measuring an electrical parameter of the heating element, such as resistance, within a predetermined time period, eliminating the need for a temperature sensor and improving thermal contact area, allowing for accurate energy estimation and regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a thermal sensor is used to measure the amount of stored energy, then the energy storage system can regulate the stored energy, but the system cost increases and measurement accuracy remains limited due to limited thermal contact area
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element serves dual functions: heating the storage medium and acting as a temperature sensor through its electrical resistance. By measuring the resistance of the heating element itself, the system obtains temperature information without requiring separate sensing components, thereby reducing system cost while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element is made multi-functional by utilizing its electrical resistance property as a temperature indicator. This allows the same component to perform both heating and temperature sensing functions, eliminating the need for additional thermal sensors and reducing overall system complexity and cost
2Device complexity
If a simple thermostat is used to control the energy storage, then the system remains simple and reliable, but the energy regulation accuracy is limited due to binary switch operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback control by periodically measuring the electrical resistance of the heating element to monitor temperature changes. This allows the controller to adjust the heating power in real-time based on actual temperature conditions, achieving precise energy regulation while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from binary thermostat control to continuous parameter-based control by measuring the electrical resistance of the heating element. This enables smooth adjustment of heating power based on resistance changes, improving energy regulation accuracy while keeping the system simple
3Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are deployed to overcome non-uniform temperature distribution, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element measures its own temperature through its electrical resistance, providing self-diagnosis capability. This eliminates the need for external sensors and their associated wiring, reducing system complexity while obtaining temperature information from the heating element itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the temperature sensing function from separate thermal sensors and integrates it into the heating element by utilizing the heating element's inherent electrical resistance property as a temperature indicator, thereby eliminating additional 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 approach provides accurate energy storage estimation and regulation, reduces costs by eliminating the need for thermal sensors, and accounts for thermal stratification effects, enhancing the system's reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element arranged to convert electrical energy supplied to the heating element into thermal energy to be stored in the thermal energy storage
Implementation Method 2
The heating element has electrical characteristics as it is arranged to convert electrical energy into thermal energy. These electrical characteristics change with a change of the temperature of the heating element.
Data Source
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AI summary
An energy storage system for storing thermal energy comprises a thermal energy storage and a heating element to supply energy the thermal energy storage, and -a controller for controlling an electrical energy supply. The system further comprises a controller that is arranged to determine a temperature in the thermal energy storage by determining an electrical parameter of the heating element. This allows to take into account thermal stratification effects and non-uniform temperature distributions within the energy storage system. The electrical parameter of the heating element can be determined at different moments in time either between periods of heating the heating element or at the start of a a period of heating the heating element.