EP2464916A1 - Liberation de l'energie thermnique accumulee pour effectuer un travail utile - Google Patents

Liberation de l'energie thermnique accumulee pour effectuer un travail utile

Info

Publication number
EP2464916A1
EP2464916A1 EP10807783A EP10807783A EP2464916A1 EP 2464916 A1 EP2464916 A1 EP 2464916A1 EP 10807783 A EP10807783 A EP 10807783A EP 10807783 A EP10807783 A EP 10807783A EP 2464916 A1 EP2464916 A1 EP 2464916A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heat
energy
storage medium
heat storage
medium
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP10807783A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Geoffrey Andrew Kinghorn
Nicholas Jordon Bain
David John Reynolds
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Graphite Energy NV
Original Assignee
Graphite Energy NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2009903746A external-priority patent/AU2009903746A0/en
Application filed by Graphite Energy NV filed Critical Graphite Energy NV
Publication of EP2464916A1 publication Critical patent/EP2464916A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S60/00—Arrangements for storing heat collected by solar heat collectors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S20/00—Solar heat collectors specially adapted for particular uses or environments
    • F24S20/20—Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/46—Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines

Definitions

  • This invention concerns the release of stored heat energy to do useful work.
  • it concerns a method for the release of stored heat energy to do useful work, and in further aspects it concerns other methods, apparatus and systems.
  • 'renewable energy we mean energy from any source, including wind, solar, geothermal, ocean energy and bioenergy sources, that is naturally replenished.
  • Renewable sources of energy tend to be variable and intermittent in their output. For instance, solar energy collected by photovoltaic cells generates electricity at constant voltage during sunlight hours, but varies in current according to the brightness of the sun at any particular instant. At night no electricity is generated. Accordingly the generation of electricity from such sources is used in limited ways, such as for domestic hot water systems, or to top-up mains supply. In remote and hot areas solar energy is often used in conjunction with diesel generators.
  • the invention is a method for releasing stored heat energy to do useful work.
  • the method comprising:
  • the step of storing heat energy is decoupled from the step of transferring the stored heat energy, the heat energy received by the engine or process need not be subject to any fluctuations in energy collection. This makes the method suitable for use where energy is collected from variable or intermittent sources, such as renewable sources. Furthermore, the step of storing heat energy may receive heat energy from more than one source of energy; for instance from several separate energy collectors.
  • a collector may be provided to collect or concentrate energy from the source.
  • a renewable energy collector may be some form of solar collector, such as a reflective dish or mirror array which will redirect and focus the sun's rays into the heat storage facility.
  • Particular examples include parabolic dish reflectors, linear parabolic trough reflectors and linear Fresnel reflector systems.
  • the heat storage medium may comprise a quantity of natural or synthetic graphite.
  • the medium may be encased in a jacket of thermal insulation.
  • Various other heat storage media could also be used, such as concrete or molten salt.
  • the heat storage medium could be mounted at the top of a tower, say twenty-five meters above the ground or at or near the focal point of a dish collector. Where the heat storage medium and heat consuming engine are coupled together, they may both be mounted at the top of a tower or at the focal point of a dish collector.
  • the tower may support a secondary reflector which reflects the concentrated solar energy back down to a graphite storage facility on or below the ground.
  • a heliostat may be associated with the heat collector to ensure it can maintain a defined focal point during the course of the day.
  • the graphite block may comprise a cavity to receive concentrated solar energy, and there may be an aperture in the surface of the block, and in any thermal insulation jacket, to allow the solar energy to pass into the cavity.
  • the aperture will allow, for instance, for collection of reflected sunlight from a large array of mirrors.
  • the graphite block may weigh ten tonnes, more or less, in weight. In use the block of graphite may reach temperatures up to ⁇ 2000°C while storing heat.
  • the graphite block may be a single monolith, or it may comprise plural smaller graphite bricks assembled together. Passageways may be drilled into or through the monolith, or the bricks of graphite, to provide channels for a heat transfer medium.
  • the heat transfer medium could be solid or fluid. Where the heat transfer medium is fluid it may circulate in the passageways.
  • the bricks may have passageways extending through them.
  • the bricks may have trenches along their surface. The trenches may remain open, or be closed by the surface of adjacent bricks to form passageways.
  • Piping may be laid into the trenches or passageways to contain the heat transfer medium. This is especially useful where the heat transfer medium is not confined entirely within the heat storage medium.
  • the piping may convey the heat transfer medium around a process loop.
  • the heat transfer medium could be used for heating the heat storage medium, redistributing heat around the heat storage medium or for extracting heat from the heat storage medium. Since the heat storage medium may remain at high temperatures for sustained periods of time, when piping is used it may be fabricated using materials suitable for high temperate operation, for instance ceramics or steel.
  • Transferring heat energy from the heat storage medium generally involves heat passing out through a surface of the medium. It also generally involves heat passing into a surface of the heat collecting element of the heat consuming engine or process. There could, of course be more than one heat collecting element connected to the heat storage medium.
  • the surface of the heat storage medium through which heat passes is a flat part of the outer surface of the medium.
  • the surface of the heat collecting element through which heat passes may be a flat part of the outer surface of the element.
  • the two flat parts, of the medium and element may be the same size and they are arranged in contact with each other to form a junction.
  • the flat part in either case, may be recessed, or proud, relative to the surface around it.
  • the heat flow from the surface of the heat storage medium is dependant on a number of different factors. For instance, the amount of heat input to the medium, the thermal mass of the medium, the thermal flow characteristics of the medium, the shape of the medium or the insulation jacket around the medium.
  • the rate of heat flow from the surface of the heat storage medium into the heat collecting element may be controlled by altering the position, size or shape of the surface of the medium or element, or both, through which heat passes.
  • the relative locations, sizes or shapes of the two surfaces, to each other will also have an effect on heat flow rate into the element.
  • the heat storage medium may be equipped with heat transfer pathways. These pathways may be internal, external, or both. Their purpose is to change the thermal gradients within the medium to regulate the flow of heat out of the surface and into the heat collecting element. This may be assisted, or even achieved, by use of the orientation of the material of the medium; for instance by arranging the grain of graphite material within the heat storage medium.
  • heat transfer pathways may involve metal rods attached to the surface, or inserted through the heat storage medium.
  • they may involve a fluid circuit that moves heat from one part of the storage medium to another; for instance from the interior to an outer surface.
  • the surface of the heat storage medium through which heat passes need not be flat.
  • the surface of the heat collecting element through which heat passes need not be flat.
  • the surfaces could be dished or shaped in any useful way. They may match each other, or not.
  • control interface interposed between the heat collecting element and the heat storage medium.
  • the control interface will sit between the surfaces of the medium and element through which heat flows, however it need not cover both surfaces entirely or have the same shape in contact with both surfaces.
  • control interface may be associated with that jacket. For instance, it may be integrated into the jacket or located inside the jacket.
  • the control interface may operate to control the flow of heat between the surfaces of the medium and element through which heat passes.
  • the control interface could be made of highly conductive material such as copper.
  • the control interface may be passive or active.
  • a passive control interface may have a thermal design that dissipates excessive heat when it is above a given temperature. This heat may be dissipated back into the heat storage medium. Alternatively, the control interface may recover heat from other parts of the heat storage medium when the temperature falls.
  • the control interface may, of course, both dissipate and recover heat, as the situation demands.
  • An active control interface may effect control by reconfiguring itself, or by actuating moving parts. For instance, the control interface may adjust the size, shape or location of the area it has in contact with the surface of the storage medium, or element, or both.
  • One particularly useful way of effecting control may be changing the distance between the surfaces of the heat collecting element and the heat storage medium through which heat passes. The configuration may be changed slowly as conditions change, or it could be cycled with a variable duty cycle to effect control.
  • An intermittent separation might be accomplished making use of the differential thermal expansion provided by different materials (like the bi-metallic strip).
  • a mechanism could be constructed using this principle and arranged to respond to the temperature at the heat collecting element to move the heat consuming engine relative to the block. A change in the distance between them may be used to regulate the heat transfer and keep the temperature of the element within its preferred operational range.
  • the mechanism may be applied around the hot port of a heat consuming engine, or between the hot port and the block.
  • An air gap may be created when the mechanism responds to excess heat, providing a binary step function control.
  • some material may be used to fill the space between the engine and block, for instance a fluid filled bladder or piston may occupy the space and move as the gap changes to provide smoother control.
  • Another active control interface could involve the use of a heat transfer medium between the surfaces of the heat storage medium and the heat collecting element through which heat passes. In this case there could be a cavity at the point of contact which is flooded with heat exchange medium. Then, heat transfer may be regulated, for instance by controlling the pressure of the heat transfer medium. Other possibilities include controlling the flow rate of the heat transfer medium through a heat exchange circuit.
  • the heat consuming engine or process could be any thermodynamic engine or process including turbines, Brayton or Rankine cycle machines or process.
  • the heat consuming engine may be a heat engine, for instance a Stirling engine.
  • a surface of the heat collecting element of the engine (that is the hot port of a Stirling engine) may be brought into contact with a surface of the heat storage medium. For example, it may be placed directly on it, or attached directly to it; for instance so that it rests directly onto the surface of a graphite block. Alternatively a control interface may be used.
  • controlling the flow of heat energy from the surface of the heat storage medium may focus on control of the heat input.
  • the heat energy that flows through from the heat storage medium may be converted by the engine to do any kind of useful work.
  • a Stirling engine may be used to convert the heat energy into electricity.
  • the heat consuming engine may be a supercritical carbon dioxide turbine system.
  • the invention is an apparatus for releasing stored heat energy to do useful work, comprising:
  • a heat storage medium having a heat transfer surface from which heat is transferred from the heat storage medium.
  • a heat consuming engine or process having a heat collecting element which also has a heat transfer surface to receive heat.
  • the heat transfer surface of the heat storage medium and the heat transfer surface of the heat collecting element are arranged such that the surface of the heat collecting element is in proximity to, in contact with or embedded in the surface of the heat storage medium to allow transfer of stored heat energy from the heat storage medium to the heat collecting element.
  • the invention is a system for generating electricity from a variable source of energy, comprising:
  • a variable energy source is a variable energy source.
  • a heat storage facility to receive the energy from the source and store it as heat.
  • a closed loop heat transfer circuit containing a recirculating heat transfer medium, having a heat receiving element extending through the heat storage body and a heat delivery element to supply heat energy.
  • heat transfer media there are many suitable heat transfer media available for use in the heat transfer circuit.
  • Working fluids such as a biphase water/steam combination may be employed as a heat transfer medium.
  • a working fluid having a single phase is preferred.
  • a suitable liquid phase working fluid may be an oil.
  • a suitable gaseous phase working fluid may be a gas that is inert with respect to the heat transfer circuit materials, and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is currently preferred.
  • CO 2 carbon dioxide
  • simple convection of air, or any other suitable fluid, around a closed loop heat transfer circuit may suffice.
  • the surface of the heat storage facility may provide the heat receiving element, and another surface at the point of delivery may provide the he at delivery element.
  • the regulator for the heat transfer circuit may regulate the flow of the heat transfer medium, in particular to control the temperature of the medium entering the heat delivery element.
  • the temperature of a graphite block heat storage facility may reach temperatures of ⁇ 2,000°C, and may vary in temperature significantly; particularly in this case between day and night when the sun does not shine. However, it is preferred to keep constant the temperature of the medium entering the heat delivery element.
  • the regulator for the closed heat transfer circuit may regulate the pressure of the working gas within the heat transfer circuit in order to control the temperature of the medium entering the heat delivery element. This simple technique avoids the complications of attempting to match the quantity of heat energy being delivered to the energy requirements of the downstream engine or process. Using a single (gaseous) phase working gas simplifies pressure regulation.
  • the heat energy supplied by the heat delivery element may be used for a range of purposes.
  • a Stirling engine may be arranged to receive heat at its hot port and to drive an electricity generator. Stirling engines convert temperature difference to rotary motion.
  • the cold port may simply have heat radiating fins.
  • the hot port may have an external heat exchanger element extending into a sealed chamber that is in circuit with the heat transfer circuit.
  • the sealed chamber may for instance, be a dome built onto the Stirling engine's casing over the hot port.
  • the working gas is delivered to flood the sealed chamber at the hot port of the Stirling engine.
  • This chamber may contain an external heat exchanger element of the Stirling engine, and this element will be completely immersed in the delivered working gas.
  • the working gas may be regulated to maintain the temperature of the sealed chamber fixed at any desired temperature; for instant at 72O 0 C which has been found to be the current upper temperature limit of the Stirling engine hot part components due to material limitations.
  • the external heat exchanger element of the hot port of the Stirling engine may be incorporated into the heat receiving element of the system of the invention.
  • the rotary motion output of the Stirling engine may then be used to generate electricity, for instance by turning a generator.
  • the invention is a system for generating electricity from a variable source of energy, comprising:
  • a heat storage facility to receive energy from the source and store it as heat.
  • a heat collecting element of a heat consuming engine or process that is in proximity, contact or embedded in the heat storage body to supply heat energy to the heat consuming engine or process.
  • the heat collecting element may be an external heat exchanger element at the hot port of a Stirling engine that collects heat from the heat storage facility by conduction.
  • the invention is a system for generating electricity from a variable source of energy, comprising:
  • a heat storage facility to receive the energy and store it as heat.
  • a Stirling engine to receive heat at a hot port and to drive an electricity generator.
  • a heat transfer circuit containing a heat transfer medium, and having a heat receiving part extending through the heat storage body and a heat delivering part at the hot port of the Stirling engine.
  • a micro-turbine may substitute for the Stirling engine.
  • the heat energy supplied by the heat delivery element may be used to heat a separate working fluid, for instance water/steam, for the micro-turbine.
  • a separate working fluid for instance water/steam
  • the heat energy supplied by the heat delivery element may be used for a variety of different purposes.
  • the heat could be used to pre-heat feed water, or to super heat the working gas, used in a conventional coal or gas fired power station.
  • the heat could be used for process steam generation, at refineries and at chemical plants.
  • the invention is a method for generating electricity from a variable source of energy, comprising the steps of:
  • the invention is a method for generating electricity from a variable source of energy, comprising the steps of:
  • the heat collecting element may be an external heat exchanger element at the hot port of a Stirling engine, and the step of transferring heat may involve conduction or radiation, or both.
  • Fig. 1 is a pictorial diagram of a solar collector for use with the invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a pictorial diagram of an alternative solar collector for use with the invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a heat storage body for use with the invention.
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a heat transfer circuit for use with the invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a pictorial diagram of a combined heat storage facility and heat consuming engine mounted at the focus of a parabolic reflector.
  • Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the hot port of a Stirling engine placed on the heat storage medium of a heat storage facility and an array of heat conducting rods within the heat storage medium.
  • Fig. 7 is a variant of Fig. 6 showing a control interface between the hot port of the
  • Fig. 8 is a flow diagram of the operation of the invention.
  • the system generates electrical energy from the sun using a Stirling engine.
  • heat from the sun is collected and concentrated by an array of mirrors 10 having a focal point at the top of the tower 12 where the heat storage body 14 is mounted.
  • the array of mirrors 10 are all mounted on heliostats that will turn to maintain a fixed focal point as the sun traverses the sky during the course of the day.
  • Fig 2 the light from the array of mirrors 10 is reflected from secondary reflector mounted at the top of tower 12, down onto heat storage body 14 standing on, or even below the ground.
  • the heat storage body 14 comprises a block of synthetic graphite 18 weighing ten tonnes, which is encased in thermal insulation 20; see Fig. 3.
  • the block of graphite 18 comprises a cavity 22 to receive concentrated solar energy 8.
  • the concentrated solar energy enters the cavity 22 along the whole length of the aperture 24.
  • the energy received into the heat storage body 14 heats the block of graphite 18 raising its temperature.
  • the block of graphite 18 can safely be heated to very high temperatures, for instance up to ⁇ 2000°C.
  • the heat energy stored in the graphite block 18 is then transferred at a controlled rate through a heat transfer circuit 30; see Fig. 4.
  • Heat transfer circuit 30 delivers the heat to an electricity generator 40.
  • the graphite block 18 is made from many smaller graphite bricks assembled together.
  • the bricks have passageways extending through them, indicated schematically at 32. Piping is laid into the passageways 32 to form a heat receiving part of the heat transfer circuit 30.
  • the piping will have high thermal conductivity, for instance by being fabricated from a high alloy of stainless steel, such as 253MA.
  • the heat transfer circuit 30 also includes piping 34 extending from the block to the electricity generator 40. In this part of the circuit it is useful for the piping to be well insulated and it is clad with thermally insulating material for this purpose. Similar piping 36 is used to return the heat transfer medium from the generator 40 back to the heat storage body 14.
  • the heat transfer circuit is a closed system containing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) working gas 39 that is continually recycled between the heat storage body 14 and the electricity generator 40.
  • CO 2 carbon dioxide
  • the return path 36 there is a regulator 38 for the heat transfer circuit 30.
  • the purpose of the regulator 38 is to ensure that the working gas delivered to generator 40 is at the desired temperature and pressure; in this example 720° and 60bar. Regulator 38 achieves temperature control by adjusting the rate of flow of the working gas through the graphite block 18.
  • the heat transfer medium piping In an alternative arrangement for the heat transfer medium piping, it is not embedded through the block but is laid in open channels that run along the surface of the block; so that the pipes are partly buried in the surface of the block.
  • the electricity generator 40 is shown to be a Stirling engine adapted with an external heat exchange element 52 at its hot port 54, and a sealed chamber 60 enclosing element 52 and the hot port 54.
  • the sealed chamber 60 is in circuit with the heat transfer circuit 30, being connected between delivery pipe 34 and return pipe 36.
  • the working gas is delivered to flood the sealed chamber 60 at the hot port 54 of the Stirling engine. Since this chamber contains the heat exchanger element 52 of the Stirling engine, this element is completely immersed in the delivered working gas.
  • Stirling engine 40 converts temperature difference to rotary motion by means of a flywheel 70.
  • the Stirling engine has a cold port 56 as well as the hot port 54.
  • the cold port 56 has heat radiating fins 58 to shed heat.
  • Hot gas received via the heat transfer circuit 30 heats element 52 that in turn heats the walls of the hot port 54 through an internal heat exchange element 62.
  • the heat received at the hot port 54 of the Stirling engine causes the working gas 59 beneath the hot piston 64 to expand at constant pressure and so raise the power hot piston 66 causing flywheel 70 to rotate clockwise. Then, as hot piston 64 begins to fall the working gas 59 is moved to the cold port 56, where it is cooled at constant pressure and physically compressed; ready to be moved and heated again as the cycle continues.
  • the power stages are the two constant pressure stages, during which heat is either added or taken from the working gas, which causes its volume to increase or decrease, causing the tight fitting power piston 66 to move out or in, in order to maintain constant pressure.
  • flywheel 70 Some of the power generated in these two stages is typically stored in flywheel 70, the momentum of which is used to physically expand or compress the gas in the other two stages. It also is used to move the gas from the hot port 54 of the engine to the cold port 56 and back past the loose fitting piston 64. The remainder of the power is available for doing work on an external load.
  • this power is taken from the flywheel 70 to drive the coaxial rotor 80 of an alternating current (AC) electrical generator 82.
  • the output voltage may be set at any convenient level, and it may be rectified if desired.
  • the heat storage body 14 and the electricity generator 40 which may be a Stirling engine, are connected to each other. In this case they may both be mounted at the focus of a reflector; such as a parabolic reflector dish 10 as shown in Fig. 5.
  • a heat collecting element 60 of the heat consuming engine 40 is arranged in proximity, contact or embedded in the heat storage body 14 to supply heat energy to the heat consuming engine or process.
  • the heat collecting element may be an external heat exchanger element 52 at the hot port 54 of a Stirling engine 40 that collects heat from the heat storage facility by conduction, convection, radiation, or a combination of these three modes of heat transfer.
  • the engine is basically permanently fixed to the graphite block. In this case there is no regulation of the heat input to the engine and therefore the engine will run continuously until the energy in the block runs down so far that the internal friction forces in the Stirling engine cause it to stop.
  • An example of this arrangement is shown in Fig. 6 where the heat storage body 14 comprises a block of graphite 18 surrounded by a heat insulating jacket 20. An aperture in the insulation 26 in the top of body 14 receives the hot port 54 of a Stirling engine 40.
  • FIG. 6 the top of the graphite block 18 is flat, and the lower surface of the hot port 54 of the Stirling engine 40 is also flat. Together they form a junction through which heat is transferred from the graphite into the Stirling engine, which converts the heat energy to electrical energy. Of course these surfaces need not be flat and they need not match each other.
  • a form of simple passive regulation of heat transfer may involve inserting a number of solid rods 70 made from a material with high thermal conductivity relative to the graphite into the graphite to act as 'heat highways' and help to distribute the heat throughout the block more effectively.
  • the concept is shown in principle in Fig. 6.
  • the second alternative is a 'regulated' version of the 'direct contact' concept. This involves regulating the amount of heat entering the Stirling engine 40, potentially by regulating the thermal resistance between the engine 40 and the graphite block 18. Regulation could, for instance, be achieved by a number of means, including but not limited to;
  • the control interface 28 of Fig. 7 sits directly on the surface of the graphite block 18 exposed by the aperture 26 in the insulation 20.
  • the control interface 28 covers the entire area of the exposed surface.
  • On top of the control interface 28 is the hot port 54 of the Stirling engine 40. Regulation of heat transfer through the control interface 28 allows the engine to be effectively turned On and Off, or regulated in some more linear fashion. It may also allow the regulation of their electrical output. Such control facilitates modularity since there are little or no shared items of plant and no interlinking piping.
  • An active control interface 28 could involve the use of a heat transfer medium between the surfaces of the graphite block 18 and hot port 54 through which heat passes.
  • heat transfer may be regulated, for instance by controlling the pressure of the heat transfer medium.
  • Other possibilities include controlling the flow rate of the heat transfer medium through a heat exchange circuit.
  • An intermittent separation might be accomplished making use of the differential thermal expansion provided by different materials (like the bi-metallic strip).
  • a mechanism could be constructed using this principle and arranged to respond to the temperature at the hot port of the Stirling engine to move the engine relative to the block. A change in the distance between them may be used to regulate the heat transfer and keep the temperature of hot port of the Stirling engine within its preferred operational range.
  • the contact surfaces at the junction could be shaped, for instance helically, so that the degree of contact between them changes as the engine is rotated relative to the block.
  • the mechanism could be applied around the hot port of the Stirling engine, or between the hot port and the block.
  • An air gap may be created when the mechanism responds to excess heat, providing a binary step function control.
  • some material may be used to fill the space between the engine and block, for instance a fluid filled bladder or piston may occupy the space and move as the gap changes to provide smoother control.
  • First solar energy is collected 92 by the mirror array 10.
  • a surface of the graphite block 18 and a surface of a hot port 54 of a heat consuming engine or process are arranged 96, such that a surface of the hot port is in proximity to, in contact with graphite block 18 or embedded in a surface of the heat storage medium.
  • the heat transfer process is controlled 100.
  • the heat storage facility need not be located at the top of a tower, but could be on the ground, or even under the ground in a geothermal application.
  • the heat storage facility could be any convenient size.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Engine Equipment That Uses Special Cycles (AREA)
  • Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne la libération de l'énergie thermique en vue d'effectuer un travail utile. Plus précisément, l'invention concerne un procédé de libération de l'énergie thermique en vue d'effectuer un travail utile, et dans d'autres aspects, l'invention concerne d'autres procédés, appareils et systèmes. Dans un premier aspect, l'invention concerne un procédé permettant de libérer l'énergie thermique accumulée en vue d'effectuer un travail utile, ledit procédé consistant: à accumuler l'énergie thermique dans un milieu accumulateur d'énergie thermique, à aménager une surface du milieu accumulateur thermique et une surface d'un élément capteur thermique d'un moteur ou d'un processus consommateur thermique, de façon qu'une surface de l'élément capteur thermique se trouve à proximité d'une surface du milieu accumulateur thermique, en contact avec ou intégré à celle-ci, et, ensuite, à transférer l'énergie thermique accumulée de la surface du milieu accumulateur thermique à la surface de l'élément capteur thermique.
EP10807783A 2009-08-10 2010-08-10 Liberation de l'energie thermnique accumulee pour effectuer un travail utile Withdrawn EP2464916A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2009903746A AU2009903746A0 (en) 2009-08-10 Electricity Generation using Heat Storage
AU2010902213A AU2010902213A0 (en) 2010-05-20 Release of Stored Heat Energy to do Useful Work
PCT/AU2010/001012 WO2011017745A1 (fr) 2009-08-10 2010-08-10 Liberation de l'energie thermnique accumulee pour effectuer un travail utile

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2464916A1 true EP2464916A1 (fr) 2012-06-20

Family

ID=43585763

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10807783A Withdrawn EP2464916A1 (fr) 2009-08-10 2010-08-10 Liberation de l'energie thermnique accumulee pour effectuer un travail utile

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20120138267A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2464916A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2010282210A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2011017745A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2417079B1 (es) * 2011-08-01 2014-09-22 Carlos GALDÓN CABRERA Receptor de radiación solar
US20130074826A1 (en) * 2011-09-26 2013-03-28 The Cyprus Institute Integrated solar receiver - thermal storage system
CA2780437C (fr) 2012-06-20 2023-08-08 Kelvin Storage Canada Inc. Systeme de transport d'energie renouvelable mondial
CN103412576B (zh) * 2013-09-09 2016-03-16 宁波市科技园区绿牌软包装技术贸易有限公司 冷却式太阳能塔
US10371126B2 (en) 2015-04-01 2019-08-06 Gina Tibbott Solar power collection systems and methods thereof
DE102017127402A1 (de) * 2017-11-21 2019-05-23 Thomas Koch Verfahren zur Ausnutzung geringer Temperaturdifferenzen zum Betreiben von Wärmekraftmaschinen, die für die Umwandlung von Wärmeenergie in mechanische Energie ausgeführt sind
WO2020065528A1 (fr) * 2018-09-24 2020-04-02 Saipem S.P.A. Accumulation thermique intégrée à un moteur stirling
CN111911371B (zh) * 2020-06-29 2022-09-27 东方电气集团东方汽轮机有限公司 一种高效紧凑多功能碟式聚光发电系统

Family Cites Families (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3029596A (en) * 1959-11-17 1962-04-17 Gen Motors Corp Power plant heat storage arrangement
US3799144A (en) * 1972-03-21 1974-03-26 Us Air Force Solar heat source and receiver system
US4026270A (en) * 1975-01-06 1977-05-31 Ramey Harry B Combination heat absorber and heat storage system
DE2601170A1 (de) * 1976-01-14 1977-07-28 Hoechst Ag Verfahren und vorrichtung zur umwandlung von sonnenenergie in nutzwaerme
US4281639A (en) * 1980-01-31 1981-08-04 Kuronen Seppo K Solar heating system
US4455826A (en) * 1982-08-09 1984-06-26 Aga Aktiebolag Thermodynamic machine and method
US4706740A (en) * 1987-03-11 1987-11-17 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Ventable survivable heat pipe vapor chamber spacecraft radiator
US5113659A (en) * 1991-03-27 1992-05-19 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Solar thermal energy receiver
US5542254A (en) * 1993-04-15 1996-08-06 Hughes Aircraft Company Cryogenic cooler
US5884481A (en) * 1997-07-14 1999-03-23 Stm Corporation Heat engine heater assembly
US6345666B1 (en) * 1999-12-17 2002-02-12 Fantom Technologies, Inc. Sublouvred fins and a heat engine and a heat exchanger having same
US6487859B2 (en) * 2000-08-03 2002-12-03 Midwest Research Institute Dish/stirling hybrid-receiver
US6779334B2 (en) * 2002-11-04 2004-08-24 George A. Teacherson Power stroke engine
US7051529B2 (en) * 2002-12-20 2006-05-30 United Technologies Corporation Solar dish concentrator with a molten salt receiver incorporating thermal energy storage
US6735946B1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2004-05-18 The Boeing Company Direct illumination free piston stirling engine solar cavity
CA2558500C (fr) * 2004-03-12 2013-12-31 Larkden Pty Limited Procede et dispositif pour stocker de l'energie thermique
EP1577548A1 (fr) * 2004-03-16 2005-09-21 Abb Research Ltd. Dispositif et procédé de stockage d'énergie thermale et de génération d'électricité
FR2874975B1 (fr) * 2004-09-07 2008-12-26 Philippe Marc Montesinos Production d'electricite solaire basse energie
US7631515B2 (en) * 2006-07-26 2009-12-15 Jacobi Robert W Thermal storage unit for air conditioning applications

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2011017745A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2011017745A1 (fr) 2011-02-17
US20120138267A1 (en) 2012-06-07
AU2010282210A1 (en) 2012-01-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20120138267A1 (en) Release Of Stored Heat Energy To Do Useful Work
US9705449B2 (en) Effective and scalable solar energy collection and storage
US7051529B2 (en) Solar dish concentrator with a molten salt receiver incorporating thermal energy storage
CN101599722B (zh) 太阳能发电装置及方法
US20140366536A1 (en) High temperature thermal energy for grid storage and concentrated solar plant enhancement
EP1577548A1 (fr) Dispositif et procédé de stockage d'énergie thermale et de génération d'électricité
US7185493B1 (en) Solar energy power plant and method of producing electricity
US20080216822A1 (en) Solar engery system
US11656035B2 (en) Heat storing and heat transfer systems incorporating a secondary chamber selectively moveable into a primary heat storage member
CN201190639Y (zh) 大功率太阳能蓄能式蒸汽涡轮发电系统
EP2417403A2 (fr) Transfert d'énergie solaire et appareil de stockage
US20110162362A1 (en) Multiple heat engine power generation system
US8413442B2 (en) System for sustaining and storing green solar energy
EP1577549A1 (fr) Dispositif de stockage d'énergie thermale et de génération d'électricité
Psomopoulos Solar energy: Harvesting the sun’s energy for a sustainable future
US20200333046A1 (en) A solar energy capture, energy conversion and energy storage system
WO2016161238A1 (fr) Systèmes de collecte d'énergie solaire et leurs procédés
US20150179910A1 (en) System For Converting Thermal Energy Into Electrical Energy
US20100283258A1 (en) Uninterruptible solar power
WO2008107875A2 (fr) Convertisseur d'énergie solaire
Holbert Solar thermal electric power plants
CN102201762B (zh) 户用太阳能温差发电站
Kalbhor Modified solar central receiver in concentrated solar power systems
Hussaini et al. A Novel Application of a Parabolic Trough Collector for Solar Cooking, Thermal Storage and Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting
WO2012066314A1 (fr) Appareil de stockage et de transfert d'énergie

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20120118

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20140301