Pumped thermal systems with dedicated compressor/turbine pairs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10428693-B2
Application number	US-201715440306-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2017
Priority date	Sep 27, 2012
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

In an example, a system configured to operate in a heat pump mode and heat engine mode is disclosed. The system may comprise a first working fluid path, first hot thermal storage (HTS) fluid path, and first cold thermal storage (CTS) fluid path for operation in the heat pump mode. The first working fluid path may be configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, a first compressor, first hot side heat exchanger, first turbine, first cold side heat exchanger, and back to the first compressor. The system may also comprise a second working fluid path, second HTS fluid path, and second CTS fluid path for operation in the heat engine mode. The second working fluid path may be configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, a second compressor, second hot side heat exchanger, second turbine, second cold side heat exchanger, and back to the second compressor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system configured to operate in at least a heat pump mode and a heat engine mode, the system comprising:
a first compressor;
a second compressor;
a first hot side heat exchanger;
a second hot side heat exchanger;
a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium;
a first HTS tank;
a second HTS tank;
a first turbine;
a second turbine;
a first cold side heat exchanger;
a second cold side heat exchanger;
a cold thermal storage (“CTS”) medium;
a first CTS tank;
a second CTS tank;
a working fluid;
a first working fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, the first compressor, the first hot side heat exchanger, the first turbine, the first cold side heat exchanger, and back to the first compressor;
a first HTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to flow the HTS medium from the second HTS tank through the first hot side heat exchanger and to the first HTS tank;
a first CTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to flow the CTS medium from the first CTS tank through the first cold side heat exchanger and to the second CTS tank;
a second working fluid path for operation of the system in the heat engine mode and configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, the second compressor, the second hot side heat exchanger, the second turbine, the second cold side heat exchanger, and back to the second compressor;
a second HTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat engine mode and configured to flow the HTS medium from the first HTS tank through the second hot side heat exchanger and to the second HTS tank; and
a second CTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat engine mode and configured to flow the CTS medium from the second CTS tank through the second cold side heat exchanger and to the first CTS tank.

2. A system configured to operate in at least a heat pump mode and a heat engine mode, the system comprising:
a first compressor;
a second compressor;
a hot side heat exchanger;
a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium;
a first HTS tank;
a second HTS tank;
a first turbine;
a second turbine;
a cold side heat exchanger;
a cold thermal storage (“CTS”) medium;
a first CTS tank;
a second CTS tank;
a working fluid;
a first working fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence, the first compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the first turbine, the cold side heat exchanger, and back to the first compressor;
a first HTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to flow the HTS medium from the second HTS tank through the hot side heat exchanger and to the first HTS tank;
a first CTS fluid path for operation of the system in the heat pump mode and configured to flow the CTS medium from the first CTS tank through the cold side heat exchanger and to the second CTS tank; and
a second working fluid path for operation of the system in the heat engine mode and configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence and in the same direction as the working fluid is circulated in the first working fluid path, the second compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the second turbine, the cold side heat exchanger, and back to the second compressor.

Assignees

• Malta Inc

Inventors

• Laughlin Robert B
• Larochelle Philippe
• Cizek Nicholas

Classifications

• F02C6/14

  Gas-turbine plants having means for storing energy, e.g. for meeting peak loads · CPC title

• F28D15/00

  Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls {; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies (F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F01K3/185

  using waste heat from outside the plant (F02G5/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F01K13/02

  Controlling, e.g. stopping or starting · CPC title

• Y02E20/14

  Combined heat and power generation [CHP] · CPC title