초록 ▼

A thermal energy storage system and method for storing substantial quantities of heat for extended periods of time. The system includes a heat collecting liquid which is in a heat-exchange relationship with a source of heat or thermal energy, a housing containing a large volume of particulate materi

A thermal energy storage system and method for storing substantial quantities of heat for extended periods of time. The system includes a heat collecting liquid which is in a heat-exchange relationship with a source of heat or thermal energy, a housing containing a large volume of particulate material such as rocks for the storage of thermal energy, a heat transfer gas in a heat-exchange relationship with the rocks and means for causing the heat collecting liquid and the heat transfer gas to flow in counter-current, indirect heat-exchange relationship with one another, the means further includes provisions for reversing the direction of flow of the liquid and gas for the introduction and removal of heat from a portion of the body of rock. There further is provided a working fluid and means for passing the working fluid and heat collecting liquid in indirect, heat-exchange relationship with one another for the transfer of heat to the working fluid, and a means operatively associated with the working fluid to extract energy therefrom. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the source of heat comprises a solar heat collector which uses a liquid alkali metal as the heat collecting liquid and the preferred heat transfer gas comprises air.

대표청구항 ▼

A thermal energy storage system comprising: a source of heat for heating a heat collecting liquid to a temperature within the range of from about 600°to 1200°F.; a housing containing a bed of rocks for storage of thermal energy; a heat transfer gas in heat-exchange relationship with said bed of rock

A thermal energy storage system comprising: a source of heat for heating a heat collecting liquid to a temperature within the range of from about 600°to 1200°F.; a housing containing a bed of rocks for storage of thermal energy; a heat transfer gas in heat-exchange relationship with said bed of rocks; means for moving said heat transfer gas through said bed of rocks at an apparent velocity of from about 1 to 6 ft/sec; means for causing said heat collecting liquid and said heat transfer gas to flow in counter-current, indirect, heat-exchange relationship with one another, said means including means for reversing the direction of flow of said liquid and said gas; a working fluid; means for passing said working fluid and said heat collecting liquid in indirect, heat-exchange relationship with one another; and means operatively associated with said working fluid to convert thermal energy contained therein to mechanical energy.