Device and method for thermal-electrochemical energy storage and energy provision

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021164696-A1
Application number	US-201917265807-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 2, 2019
Priority date	Aug 3, 2018
Publication date	Jun 3, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention proposes a method and a device ( 10 ) for thermal-electrochemical energy storage and energy provision. The device ( 110 ) comprises: at least one thermal energy store ( 118 ), wherein the thermal energy store ( 118 ) comprises at least one heat transport medium ( 121 ) and at least one storage medium ( 119 ) selected from the group consisting of an electromagnetic storage medium, a thermal storage medium; at least one heating device ( 134 ), wherein the heating device ( 134 ) is designed to receive the heat transport medium ( 121 ) from the thermal energy store ( 118 ), to heat this medium and return it to the thermal energy store ( 118 ); at least one electrochemical cell ( 146 ), wherein the electrochemical cell ( 146 ) comprises at least one gas chamber ( 148 ), wherein the electrochemical cell ( 146 ) further comprises at least one first electrode ( 150 ) and at least one second electrode ( 152 ): wherein the second electrode ( 152 ) is designed as a 3-phase electrode ( 154 ), wherein the 3-phase electrode ( 154 ) has at least one first phase boundary ( 156 ) to the gas chamber ( 148 ) and at least one second phase boundary ( 158 ) to the electrochemical storage medium ( 119 ); wherein the electrochemical cell ( 146 ) is designed to electrochemically react the electrochemical storage medium ( 119 ); and at east one container ( 160 ), wherein the container ( 160 ) is designed to receive a supply on the heat transport medium ( 119 ), wherein the container ( 160 ) is further designed to receive the thermal storage medium ( 119 ) from the thermal energy store ( 118 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device ( 110 ) for thermal-electrochemical energy storage and energy provision, comprising
at least one thermal energy storage device ( 118 ), the thermal energy storage device ( 118 ) comprising at least one heat transport medium ( 121 ) and at least one storage medium ( 119 ) selected from the group consisting of: an electrochemical storage medium, a thermal storage medium; at least one heating device ( 134 ), wherein the heating device ( 134 ) is adapted to receive the heat transport medium ( 121 ) from the thermal energy storage device ( 118 ), heat it, and return it to the thermal energy storage device ( 118 ); at least one electrochemical cell ( 146 ), the electrochemical cell ( 146 ) comprising at least one gas compartment ( 148 ), the electrochemical cell ( 146 ) further comprising at least one first electrode ( 150 ) and at least one second electrode ( 152 ); wherein the second electrode ( 152 ) is formed as a 3-phase electrode ( 154 ), the 3-phase electrode ( 154 ) having at least a first phase boundary ( 156 ) to the gas compartment ( 148 ) and at least a second phase boundary ( 158 ) to the electrochemical storage medium ( 119 ); wherein the electrochemical cell ( 146 ) is adapted to electrochemically convert the electrochemical storage medium ( 119 ); and at least one container ( 160 ), wherein the container ( 160 ) is adapted to receive a supply of the heat transport medium ( 119 ), wherein the container ( 160 ) is further adapted to receive the thermal storage medium ( 119 ) from the thermal energy storage device ( 118 ).

2 . The device ( 110 ) according to the preceding claim, wherein the thermal storage medium ( 119 ) comprises sodium chloride and calcium chloride in solid form, wherein the electrochemical storage medium ( 119 ) comprises sodium cations and chloride anions in liquid form, and wherein the heat transport medium ( 121 ) comprises sodium.

3 . The device ( 110 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thermal storage medium ( 119 ) is adapted to form a fixed bed ( 122 ).

4 . The device ( 110 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating device ( 134 ) is arranged to receive solar energy from an environment of the heating device ( 134 ).

5 . A method for thermal-electrochemical energy storage and energy provision, comprising the method steps:
a) providing a device ( 110 ) according to any one of the preceding claims; b) thermally charging the thermal energy storage device ( 118 ), wherein the heat transport medium ( 121 ) is heated to a temperature of 500° C. to 850° C. by means of the heating device ( 134 ), wherein the heat transport medium ( 121 ) at least partially changing to a liquid phase; c) electrochemical conversion of the electrochemical storage medium ( 119 ) by means of the electrochemical cell; d) electrochemical back reaction by means of the electrochemical cell ( 146 ), whereby the electrochemical storage medium ( 121 ) re-forms; and e) flowing the electrochemical storage medium ( 119 ) into the container ( 160 ), whereby the electrochemical storage medium ( 121 ) changes into a thermal storage medium ( 119 ), whereby thermal energy is released.

6 . The method according to the preceding claim, wherein step b) comprises the following substeps:
b1) transporting the heat transport medium ( 121 ) into the heating device ( 134 ); b2) heating the heat transport medium ( 121 ) to a temperature between 500° C. to 850° C.; b3) transporting the heat transport medium ( 121 ) into the thermal energy storage device ( 118 ).

7 . The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the heat transport medium ( 121 ) releases thermal energy to the thermal energy storage device ( 119 ) after heating.

8 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims relating to the method, wherein step e) comprises the following substeps:
e1) solidifying the thermal storage medium ( 119 ) into particles ( 124 ); e2) releasing heat of crystallization; e3) absorption of the heat of crystallization by the heat transport medium ( 121 ) of the container ( 160 ); and e4) transporting the heat of crystallization to a heat power process.

9 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims relating to the method, wherein the storage medium ( 119 ) comprises sodium chloride, wherein step c) comprises the following substeps:
c1) applying an electric current to the electrochemical cell ( 146 ); c2) converting sodium cations of the sodium chloride to sodium at the first electrode ( 142 ), wherein the first electrode ( 142 ) is connected as a cathode; c3) converting chloride anions of the sodium chloride into chlorine at the second electrode ( 144 ), said second electrode ( 144 ) being connected as an anode.

10 . The method according to the preceding claim, wherein step d) comprises the following substeps:
d1) tapping an electric current from the electrochemical cell ( 146 ); d2) converting the sodium to the sodium cations at the first electrode ( 142 ), the first electrode ( 142 ) being connected as an anode; d3) converting the chlorine to the chlorine anions at the second electrode ( 144 ), the second electrode ( 144 ) being connected as a cathode.

11 . Use of a device ( 110 ) according to any of the preceding claims relating to the device ( 110 ) for storing and providing thermal energy from solar thermal power plants and/or for storing and providing electrical energy from wind power plants.

Assignees

• Karlsruher Inst Technologie

Inventors

• Flesch Jonathan
• Niedermeier Klarissa
• Otte Dennis

Classifications

• H01M10/399

  Cells with molten salts · CPC title

• F24S20/20

  Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants · CPC title

• C09K5/063

  Materials absorbing or liberating heat during crystallisation; Heat storage materials · CPC title

• H01M10/66

  Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells · CPC title

• F28D2020/0047

  using molten salts or liquid metals · CPC title