EP3835555A1 - Elektrisches energieerzeugungsgerät mit thermischem speicher - Google Patents

Elektrisches energieerzeugungsgerät mit thermischem speicher Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3835555A1
EP3835555A1 EP20213159.5A EP20213159A EP3835555A1 EP 3835555 A1 EP3835555 A1 EP 3835555A1 EP 20213159 A EP20213159 A EP 20213159A EP 3835555 A1 EP3835555 A1 EP 3835555A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
energy
heat transfer
thermal energy
transfer fluid
accumulator
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP20213159.5A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jérôme POUVREAU
Nicolas Tauveron
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Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
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Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique CEA
Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
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Publication of EP3835555A1 publication Critical patent/EP3835555A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01K—STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES
    • F01K3/00—Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein
    • F01K3/14—Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein having both steam accumulator and heater, e.g. superheating accumulator
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01K—STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES
    • F01K3/00—Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein
    • F01K3/18—Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein having heaters
    • F01K3/181—Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein having heaters using nuclear heat

Definitions

  • the technical field of the invention relates to the production of electrical energy by using thermal energy originating from a source of thermal energy production.
  • US patent number US 9,761,337 B2 describes a device comprising a thermal energy transfer system for diverting a portion of thermal energy produced by a nuclear reactor system to an auxiliary thermal storage tank.
  • a nuclear reactor system shutdown event such as a scheduled shutdown or emergency shutdown
  • energy stored in the reservoir can be supplied to a reactor system energy conversion system.
  • nuclear in order to supply energy to an electricity grid.
  • the excess energy produced by the energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system can be converted into thermal energy by a heating coil to be transferred to the reservoir.
  • the structure of this device has limited flexibility in the context of the production of electrical energy, in fact this device makes it possible to overcome a simple shutdown of the nuclear reactor.
  • the object of the invention is to improve the maneuverability of an electrical energy production device comprising a source of thermal energy production.
  • Such a device for producing electrical energy responds to a general technical problem of maneuverability and flexibility of operation because it offers several configurations for supplying thermal energy to the first energy converter to meet different demands for producing electrical energy. by this first energy converter when the thermal energy production source is in operation.
  • the first configuration can be implemented when the electrical power expected at the output of the first energy converter can be satisfied by exploiting part of the current thermal energy produced by the thermal energy production source while allowing to use another part of this current thermal energy produced by the thermal energy production source to charge the accumulator.
  • the second configuration can be implemented when the current thermal energy produced by the thermal energy production source is not sufficient, on its own, to provide the electrical power expected at the output of the first energy converter: in this case the thermal energy stored in the accumulator can be removed from storage to ensure the back-up necessary so that the first energy converter can meet the expected electrical power at its output. It therefore follows that the present device for producing electrical energy has satisfactory flexibility in order to be able to adapt the quantity of electrical energy to be supplied by the first energy converter.
  • Another advantage of the energy production device comes from the presence of the second energy converter which can exploit the available electrical energy so as to transform it into thermal energy to be stored in the accumulator, this allowing future restitution of energy. thermal energy by the accumulator to generate electrical energy via the first energy converter.
  • the device for producing electrical energy can authorize both the storage of thermal energy and the storage of electrical energy, after its conversion into thermal energy, in the same accumulator.
  • This operating method may include a step of charging the accumulator using thermal energy resulting from the current production of thermal energy from the thermal energy production source, the step of charging the accumulator being implementation during the electric power generation stage.
  • the method of operation may be such that the second energy converter consumes electrical energy resulting in the production of thermal energy by the second energy converter, the accumulator being charged using thermal energy. produced by the second energy converter.
  • the operating method may include a step of restoring thermal energy stored in the accumulator, and the step of producing electrical energy by the first energy converter also uses thermal energy derived from the energy. heat restored by the accumulator to produce said electrical energy.
  • the operating method can be such that, the second energy converter being supplied electrically by the electric transmission network, frequency tracking is ensured by adjusting the electric power absorbed by the second energy converter.
  • the device for producing electrical energy described below proposes a particular arrangement of elements in order to optimize its production of electrical energy as a function of demand, in particular using a thermal energy accumulator.
  • the device 100 for producing electrical energy comprises: a source 101 for producing thermal energy; a first energy converter 102 configured to produce electrical energy by using thermal energy in particular at least from the source 101 for producing thermal energy and more particularly from the current production of this source 101 for producing d 'thermal energy ; a thermal energy accumulator 103; a second energy converter 104 configured to convert electrical energy into thermal energy, the second energy converter 104 being arranged to participate, on demand, in storage (that is to say in putting into reserve or charge) of thermal energy in the accumulator 103.
  • the electrical energy produced by the first converter 102 corresponds in particular to the electrical energy produced by the device 100 for producing electrical energy.
  • the first converter 102 may include an alternator allowing the production of the desired electrical energy at the output of the first converter 102.
  • the accumulator 103 allows the storage of thermal energy originating from the source 101 for producing thermal energy and in particular resulting from the current production of the source 101 for producing thermal energy.
  • the storage of thermal energy in the accumulator 103 corresponds to the charge of the accumulator 103.
  • the accumulator 103 makes it possible to restore, on demand, thermal energy intended for the first energy converter 102, one then speaks in this case of discharge of the accumulator 103.
  • the first energy converter 102 or more particularly the output of this first energy converter 102 is preferably connected to an electrical transport network 106.
  • This electrical transport network 106 can be connected to an electrical distribution network.
  • the production of electricity at the output of the first energy converter 102 corresponds, preferably, to a demand for electricity by the electrical transport network 106 that must be satisfied by the production of the first energy converter 102, for example with a view to supply the electrical distribution network.
  • electrical distribution network it is preferably understood a network making it possible to serve certain consumers.
  • the term “electrical transport network 106” is preferably understood to mean a network suitable for supplying the electrical distribution network or other consumers.
  • the electrical transmission network 106 can be at high voltage, for example ranging from 50kV to 400kV.
  • the device 100 for producing electrical energy comprises a first configuration for supplying thermal energy for supplying thermal energy, this supplied thermal energy being obtained from the current production of the source 101 for producing thermal energy, at the same time. accumulator 103 and the first energy converter 102.
  • the first configuration for supplying thermal energy makes it possible to charge the accumulator 103.
  • the device 100 for producing electrical energy also comprises a second configuration for supplying thermal energy to supply, to the first energy converter 102, electricity. thermal energy resulting from the accumulator 103 and thermal energy resulting from the current production of the source 101 of thermal energy production. In the second configuration for supplying thermal energy, the accumulator 103 is discharged.
  • the thermal energy supplied to the first energy converter 102 enables it to produce electrical energy.
  • the source 101 for producing thermal energy, the first and second converters 102, 104 and the accumulator 103 can act in synergy to optimize and make the production of electricity by the device 100 for the production of electricity manoeuvrable. electric energy.
  • the source 101 for producing thermal energy is in particular such that it has a nominal operating speed for which it is dimensioned.
  • the present device 100 for producing electrical energy it is not necessary to operate the source 101 of thermal energy at an operating point below its nominal speed in order to be able to satisfy variations in demand. electricity at the output of the first energy converter 102.
  • the thermal energy production source 101 can operate at its nominal thermal energy production operating speed.
  • thermal energy from the source 101 for producing thermal energy By current production of thermal energy from the source 101 for producing thermal energy, it is understood the thermal energy supplied by the source 101 for producing thermal energy and in particular distributed within the device 100 for producing electrical energy. using a heat transfer fluid passing through the source 101 for producing thermal energy.
  • the electrical transport network 106 and the electrical supply network 105 may form only one and the same electrical network or two separate electrical networks.
  • the electrical supply network 105 may be an auxiliary electrical network, for example of energy generated by one or more intermittent sources such as for example a field of wind turbines.
  • the source 101 for producing thermal energy can be chosen from a nuclear reactor, for example cooled with sodium, a fossil fuel plant such as coal or lignite.
  • a nuclear reactor cooled with sodium is considered to be poorly maneuverable from the point of view of the nuclear part.
  • a coal-fired power station has kinetics which can be slow for technical (thermal inertia) or regulatory (number of starts / stops, pollution rule) reasons.
  • the source 101 for producing thermal energy can also be a plant having an intermittent operation due to its source, such as for example a thermodynamic solar plant whose solar source is by definition intermittent.
  • the objective of the energy production device 100 is not to maintain the thermal energy production source 101 at its nominal speed, but to smooth the thermal production or to adjust the electrical production by storing in the accumulator 103 the surplus thermal energy coming from the thermal energy production source 101 in order to restore it at the appropriate time.
  • the smoothing of the thermal production corresponds to averaging or equalizing or filtering the high frequency variations.
  • the sodium-cooled nuclear reactor has, due to the choice of sodium as coolant to cool it and therefore coolant to propagate the thermal energy produced by such a nuclear reactor within the device 100 for producing electrical energy , the interest of being able to carry out nuclear fissions in fast spectrum opening the way to transmutation and breeding.
  • a fast spectrum it is not possible to use the usual coolants in nuclear reactors, namely light water or heavy water.
  • Liquid sodium is one of the rare candidates allowing a fast spectrum and offering interesting heat exchange performance.
  • the disadvantage of sodium is that it has a strong interaction with water and air; this will involve carefully chosen adaptations as described below when the source 101 for producing thermal energy is such a sodium-cooled nuclear reactor.
  • the sodium-cooled reactor in combination with the present device 100 for producing electrical energy may be intended to form part of an electrical production park connected to the electrical transport network 106 which may be subjected to strong load variation constraints. . More precisely, for these constraints, a distinction is made between frequency monitoring, which corresponds to a rapid adjustment of the electricity production of a few percent to balance the electrical transmission network 106, from more massive load monitoring which corresponds to a more adjustment. slow but large.
  • These load variation constraints are greatly amplified by the massive penetration of intermittent renewable energies (solar, wind) on the electric transport network 106. Consequently, all means of production whose production is controllable (i.e. for which the operator can decide to produce or not, as opposed to means dependent on the weather such as solar or wind power) aim to increase their capacity.
  • the nuclear reactor forming the source 101 for producing thermal energy and the accumulator 103 with which it is associated allow great flexibility, that is to say maneuverability, of the production device 100 in order to be able to produce electricity. in a safe and variable way according to the need.
  • the second energy converter 104 makes it possible to store electricity from the electrical transport network 106 connected to this second energy converter 104 by transforming it into thermal energy so as to respond to the load variations of the network 106 of electric transport (in the field of mass storage of electricity, we then speak of the electrical transport network 106 with a view to restoring it subsequently).
  • a device 100 for producing electrical energy it is possible to use a nuclear reactor while enjoying great flexibility despite the significant inertia of the nuclear reactor in the event of variation in its production.
  • the accumulator 103 can comprise rock, for example volcanic rock, or comprise a structured material such as for example bricks.
  • the accumulator 103 is of the vertical storage type in which the temperature at the bottom of the accumulator 103 is strictly lower than the temperature at the top of the accumulator 103.
  • other types of accumulator 103 can be used and in this case the circulation of a heat transfer fluid passing through this accumulator 103 will be adapted according to whether it is desired, by using this heat transfer fluid, to take thermal energy from the accumulator 103 in order to restore it or to store thermal energy in the accumulator 103 as part of its charge.
  • the accumulator 103 can be for horizontal storage with one side, for example the left, hotter than another side, for example the right.
  • the direction of flow of the coolant in the accumulator 103 to charge the accumulator is different from the direction of flow of the coolant when the accumulator 103 restores heat to this heat transfer fluid.
  • the first energy converter 102 comprises a turbo-alternator unit based on a water-steam cycle (Rankine cycle).
  • a turbo-alternator unit may include a steam generator 102a responsible for recovering the thermal energy supplied to the first energy converter 102.
  • the turbo-alternator unit can also include a water-to-steam energy conversion circuit 102b (also called Rankine cycle) optimized for the temperature range to which it is likely to be subjected depending on the size and structure of the device 100. production of electrical energy taking into account in particular the case where the second energy converter 104 is used, which generally widens the temperature range.
  • first Rankine cycle energy converter 102 The advantage of such a first Rankine cycle energy converter 102 is to allow production of electricity with a water cycle having reached technological maturity. Moreover, such a first energy converter 102 has the advantage of having an optimum level of efficiency for an application comprising a sodium-cooled reactor as described below.
  • the first energy converter 102 may include a pump 126 allowing the circulation of a heat transfer fluid in a circuit 127, this circuit 127 belonging to the first energy converter 102 and this circuit 127 being such that the heat transfer fluid passes through , during its circulation in the circuit 127, the steam generator 102a and the water-to-steam energy conversion circuit 102b.
  • the second energy converter 104 may include a heating resistor which, when it is supplied electrically, heats up to generate thermal energy, for example intended to charge the accumulator 103 in the first energy supply configuration.
  • the second energy converter 104 can also participate in frequency monitoring of the electrical transport network 106.
  • the second energy converter 104 may have an active state for which the second energy converter 104 is supplied with electrical energy and generates thermal energy using this electrical energy, and an inactive state for which the second energy converter 104 does not work and therefore does not consume electrical energy.
  • the device 100 for producing electrical energy can be configured to vary the second energy converter 104 between its inactive state and its active state, this variation possibly being dependent on the electrical energy available on the 105 network power supply to which it is connected and / or needs in terms of energy storage in the accumulator 103.
  • the second energy converter 104 can be used to voluntarily charge the accumulator 103 or to shed the load. 105 electrical supply network.
  • the second energy converter 104 is active in the first configuration and is used to increase the temperature of the heat transfer fluid circulating in the accumulator 103 in order, ultimately, to increase the temperature. temperature of the accumulator 103 from which an increase in energy density that can be stored in the accumulator 103 results.
  • the use of the second converter 104 energy makes it possible to store thermal energy more quickly in the accumulator 103 while maintaining the temperature of the heat transfer fluid circulating in the accumulator 103 at its nominal charge value of the accumulator 103.
  • the first thermal power supply configuration may be such that it has an operating mode in which the second power converter 104 is in a state of. supply of thermal energy so as to participate in the charging of the accumulator 103.
  • the first configuration of supply of thermal energy can also be such that it has an operating mode in which the second converter 104 of energy is at a standstill.
  • the second energy converter 104 may be in the active state as for example shown in figure 4 with switch 121 closed or may be in the inactive state as for example shown in figure 3 with switch 121 open. In figure 4 , this makes it possible to carry out frequency monitoring of the electrical transport network 106 when the electrical supply network 105 for supplying the second energy converter 104 is the electrical transport network 106. This will be described in more detail below.
  • the second thermal energy supply configuration may be such that it exhibits an operating mode in which the second energy converter 104 is in a thermal energy supply state.
  • the second configuration for supplying thermal energy can also be such that it has an operating mode in which the second energy converter 104 is stopped.
  • a heat transfer fluid for example using a suitable circuit, passing through the accumulator 103 to charge it so that this fluid coolant only passes into the second energy converter 104 when the second energy converter 104 is active and the first thermal energy supply configuration is implemented.
  • the first circuit 107 is visible at figures 1 to 9 .
  • the first circuit 107 does not pass through the source 101 for producing thermal energy, preferably for reasons of safety when this source 101 for producing thermal energy is a nuclear reactor.
  • one or more additional circuits can be used making it possible to ensure thermal coupling between the source 101 for producing thermal energy and the first circuit 107.
  • the first circuit 107 can pass through the source 101 of thermal energy production as shown in figure 7 .
  • the first energy converter 102 may include a heat exchanger through which the first heat transfer fluid passes in order to thermally couple the first heat transfer fluid to the first converter 102 d 'energy.
  • this heat exchanger provides thermal coupling between the first heat transfer fluid and the water circulating in the turboalternator unit described above to generate water vapor by the steam generator 102a.
  • This steam generator 102a then comprises the heat exchanger mentioned in this paragraph.
  • this first circuit 107 comprises first, second and third parts 108, 109, 110.
  • the source 101 for producing thermal energy is thermally coupled to the first part 108, in particular to allow a supply of heat to the first coolant of the first circuit 107.
  • the accumulator 103 is thermally coupled to the second part 109, in particular so that this thermal coupling allows a supply of heat to the first coolant in the context of a removal of storage.
  • the first energy converter 102 is thermally coupled to the third part 110, in particular so as to allow a withdrawal of heat from the first coolant of the first circuit 107 making it possible to operate this first converter 102 d 'energy.
  • a fraction of the first heat transfer fluid circulates in the second part 109 bypassing the third part 110.
  • a fraction of the first heat transfer fluid circulates in the second part 109 bypassing the first part 108.
  • the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the first and third parts 108, 110 can always be done in the same direction while the circulation of the fluid coolant in the second part 109 can be done alternately in two opposite directions depending on whether the accumulator 103 is charging (first configuration for supplying thermal energy) or restores thermal energy to the first energy converter 102 (second thermal energy supply configuration).
  • the direction of circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the second part 109 can be defined by a pump 122 ( figures 1 to 9 ) with reversible suction and discharge, or two pumps with reversed direction of operation and which can each be activated selectively, this or these pump (s) 122 being integrated into the second part 109.
  • a pump 122 figures 1 to 9
  • two pumps with reversed direction of operation and which can each be activated selectively, this or these pump (s) 122 being integrated into the second part 109.
  • the direction of circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the first and the third part 108, 111 can be provided by a pump 123 ( figures 1 to 9 ) integrated for example in the first part 108.
  • first, second and third parts 108, 109, 110 of the first circuit 107 each have a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end opposite said first longitudinal end.
  • the first longitudinal ends of the first, second and third parts 108, 109, 110 are connected together at a first connection point 119 and the second longitudinal ends of the first, second and third parts 108, 109, 110 are connected to one another at a second connection point 120.
  • the temperature of the second heat transfer fluid at the inlet of the accumulator 103 which makes it possible to define whether thermal energy is supplied or taken from the accumulator 103.
  • the accumulator 103 is designed to accept a maximum admissible temperature of the second heat transfer fluid passing therethrough suitable for the components of the device 100 for producing energy.
  • the direction of circulation of the second heat transfer fluid is then chosen in particular for reasons of constraints and efficiency of use of the accumulator 103.
  • the second circuit 111 can advantageously include a reversible pump 113 ( figures 1 to 7 ) making it possible to choose the direction of circulation of the second heat transfer fluid, for example according to the thermal energy supply configuration to be implemented chosen from the first thermal energy supply configuration and the second thermal energy supply configuration.
  • the pump 113 of the second circuit 111 causes the second heat transfer fluid to circulate either so as to cause it to pass through the accumulator 103 on entering via the bottom of the accumulator 103 and leaving the top of the accumulator 103 to take thermal energy from the accumulator 103 ( figures 3 and 4 ), or so as to make it pass through the accumulator 103 by entering from the top of the accumulator 103 and leaving the bottom of the accumulator 103 to accumulate / store thermal energy in the accumulator 103 ( figures 5 and 6 ).
  • the second circuit 111 takes the form of a closed loop.
  • the second energy converter 104 is preferably thermally coupled to the second circuit 111 for example to heat the second. heat transfer fluid circulating in the second circuit 111 when the device 100 for producing electrical energy is in its first configuration for supplying thermal energy.
  • the second converter 104 is mounted on the second circuit 111 on a portion of this second circuit 111 connecting the first heat exchanger 112 and the accumulator 103 so that the second heat transfer fluid can pass through the second energy converter 104.
  • the second heat transfer fluid is preferably air.
  • the air is very particularly suitable for carrying out thermal storage / retrieval of an accumulator 103, for example comprising rock or a structured material such as bricks.
  • This second heat transfer fluid is preferably inert with respect to the first heat transfer fluid so as to avoid harmful chemical reactions in the event of a leak between the first heat transfer fluid and the second heat transfer fluid, in particular at the level of the heat exchanger 112 ensuring the heat exchanges between these first and second heat transfer fluids.
  • the device 100 for producing electrical energy can also include a heat exchanger 114 (also called a second heat exchanger 114 and for example visible in figures 1 to 6 , 8 and 9 ) to transfer thermal energy from the thermal energy production source 101, in particular from the current production of this thermal energy production source 101, to the first heat transfer fluid.
  • a heat exchanger 114 also called a second heat exchanger 114 and for example visible in figures 1 to 6 , 8 and 9 .
  • this makes it possible to interpose, between the water used in the first energy converter 102 and the heat transfer fluid passing through the thermal energy source 101, the first heat transfer fluid which is then preferably inert to water and to the heat transfer fluid passing through the source 101 of thermal energy.
  • the fourth circuit 116 When the fourth circuit 116 is present, it may include a pump 125 allowing the circulation of the fourth fluid in the fourth circuit 116 ( figures 2 to 6 ).
  • the source 101 for producing thermal energy is the nuclear reactor cooled by the third heat transfer fluid comprising liquid sodium, in particular the third heat transfer fluid is liquid sodium.
  • the first heat transfer fluid is devoid of sodium and is a fluid which is inert with respect to liquid sodium.
  • this has the technical advantage, in the context of the realization of the figure 1 , to allow a heat exchange within the second heat exchanger 114 between the third and first heat transfer fluids while making it possible to avoid a reaction between the first and third heat transfer fluids in particular in the event of leaks in the second heat exchanger 114 through which the first and third heat transfer fluids pass.
  • a first heat transfer fluid inert to liquid sodium has the advantage of forming a physical barrier between the liquid sodium and the water of the first energy converter 102 because the first heat transfer fluid is devoid of liquid sodium .
  • this first heat transfer fluid is also inert to the heat transfer fluid, that is to say in particular to the water, of the first energy converter 102.
  • Liquid sodium as a heat transfer fluid can reach a temperature between 500 ° C and 600 ° C.
  • a particular example of a first heat transfer fluid inert with respect to liquid sodium and very particularly suitable for the application of the present invention may contain a liquid metal.
  • the first heat transfer fluid comprises a eutectic alloy of lead and bismuth.
  • the first coolant can be the eutectic alloy of lead and bismuth.
  • Such a first heat transfer fluid comprising lead and bismuth is very particularly suitable for recovering calories from a heat transfer fluid comprising liquid sodium through a heat exchanger while remaining inert with respect to liquid sodium.
  • the first fluid can then, alternatively, be pure liquid lead.
  • the fourth circuit 116 is not present ( figure 1 ), although the safety of the device 100 for producing electrical energy with a nuclear reactor as a source 101 for producing thermal energy is reduced, this makes it possible to improve the overall efficiency of the device 100 for producing electrical energy by limiting the number of heat exchangers between the nuclear core of the nuclear reactor and the first energy converter 102, and therefore to limit thermal pinches.
  • a thermal pinch corresponds to a decrease in temperature between two heat transfer fluids which exchange heat via a corresponding heat exchanger. Thermal pinches are therefore irreversible phenomena which reduce the potential of a heat transfer fluid for conversion into mechanical or electrical energy.
  • the figures 3 to 6 illustrate the device 100 for producing electrical energy of the type of figure 2 for which arrows have been added at the level of the various circuits in order to specify the direction of flow of the heat transfer fluids within these circuits.
  • the flow principle described below can also be applied by adapting to the structures of the device 100 for producing electrical energy. figures 1 , 7 , 8 and 9 .
  • the second heat transfer fluid circulates so as to pass through the accumulator 103 from the bottom upwards to recover thermal energy stored in the accumulator 103 in order to transfer it to the first energy converter 102 via the first heat transfer fluid.
  • the first coolant can preferably be a gas which does not exhibit any interaction with sodium and water.
  • Nitrogen, helium, noble gases can be considered as gases forming the first coolant.
  • the mixture of the aforementioned gases can also be envisaged as the first heat transfer fluid.
  • the first heat transfer fluid is a gas
  • this allows it to be compatible for directly interacting with the accumulator 103 to store or restore thermal energy. Consequently, the use of a gas as the first heat transfer fluid can make it possible to simplify the device 100 for producing electrical energy in the sense that it becomes possible for the device 100 for producing electrical energy to have the characteristics described. previously but without the second circuit 111 described above and therefore the second heat exchanger 112 (visible in figures 1 to 7 ).
  • the figures 8 and 9 show such a simplified architecture for which the first circuit 107 is such that it allows the first heat transfer fluid to pass through the accumulator 103 directly.
  • the first heat transfer fluid is then a gas.
  • the second part 109 of the first circuit 107 passes through the accumulator 103 to allow its charging or the return of thermal energy to the first heat transfer fluid by the accumulator 103.
  • the device 100 for producing electrical energy can then comprise, according to this simplified architecture, a second circuit 115 for circulating a second heat transfer fluid, the second circuit 115 being configured to pass the second heat transfer fluid through the source 101 for producing thermal energy in order to take thermal energy from this source thermal energy production 101.
  • the second circuit 115 passes through the source 101 for producing thermal energy.
  • the device 100 for producing electrical energy comprises the heat exchanger 114 for transferring thermal energy from the source 101 of thermal energy to the first heat transfer fluid, said heat exchanger 114 being arranged so as to allow heat transfer from the heat transfer fluid.
  • second heat transfer fluid to the first heat transfer fluid in this case the first and second heat transfer fluids can pass through the heat exchanger 114 to allow the heat exchange of the second heat transfer fluid to the first heat transfer fluid as shown in figure 9 ).
  • the device 100 for producing electrical energy comprises: a third circuit 116 for circulating a third heat transfer fluid and a heat exchanger 117 configured to allow heat transfer from the second heat transfer fluid to the third heat transfer fluid (in this case the third and second heat transfer fluids can pass through the heat exchanger 117 to allow the heat exchange of the second heat transfer fluid to the third heat transfer fluid); and the heat exchanger 114 for transferring thermal energy from the thermal energy source 101 to the first heat transfer fluid is configured to allow heat transfer from the third heat transfer fluid to the first heat transfer fluid (in this case the third and first fluids coolants can pass through the heat exchanger 114 to allow the heat exchange of the third heat transfer fluid to the first heat transfer fluid).
  • the second energy converter 104 can be directly coupled to the first circuit 107 for, if necessary, heating the first fluid circulating in the second part 109.
  • the source 101 of thermal energy is then the nuclear reactor cooled by the second heat transfer fluid, the second heat transfer fluid comprising liquid sodium (the second heat transfer fluid possibly being liquid sodium), the first heat transfer fluid being a gaseous fluid inert with respect to liquid sodium.
  • the first circuit 107 is configured to allow the passage of the first heat transfer fluid through the accumulator 103 when it is charged or when thermal energy is returned by the accumulator 103.
  • the second circuit 115 may include a pump 124 for the discharge. circulation of the second heat transfer fluid.
  • the third circuit 116 may include a pump 124 for the circulation of the third heat transfer fluid.
  • the first heat transfer fluid is a gas
  • the device 100 for producing electrical energy can advantageously include a control module 118 (visible in figures 1 to 9 ), also called a supervision device, of its operation.
  • a control module 118 is in particular configured to choose and implement one of the first and second thermal energy supply configurations in order to ensure the desired flexibility.
  • control module 118 can determine whether the electrical transport network 106 connected to the output of the first energy converter 102 is in a period of low demand, in particular for electrical energy, or in a period of high demand, in particular for electrical energy. from which it follows that in period of low demand, the control module 118 places the device 100 for producing electrical energy in its first configuration for supplying energy thermal and that in a period of high demand, the control module 118 places the device 100 for producing electrical energy in its second configuration for supplying thermal energy.
  • the operation of the device 100 for producing electrical energy can preferably be adapted to further improve its flexibility. This can be achieved by the control module 118 then configured to adjust the operation of the device 100 for producing electrical energy when it adopts an operating configuration chosen from one of the first and second energy supply configurations. thermal, said adjustment of the operation being dependent on an input parameter of the control module 118.
  • the electrical transmission network 106 must be balanced in order to function properly, it is then said to be operating at its operating frequency. However, it is possible that this electric transport network 106 becomes unbalanced over time and it is then necessary to react quickly to rebalance it again.
  • the technique for balancing the power transmission network 106 is called frequency tracking.
  • the frequency monitoring consists of a moderate but very rapid variation of the electric power supplied by the first energy converter 102 to the electric transport network 106 to which it is connected in order to balance this electric transport network 106.
  • moderate variation of the electric power supplied is meant, for example, a variation from plus or minus 2.5% to plus or minus 7%.
  • very fast it is understood, for example, that the time to obtain this variation when it is requested is between 30 seconds and 2 minutes.
  • the control module 118 can maintain, in the first thermal energy supply configuration, the second energy converter 104 in the active state so that it participates in the charging of the accumulator 104 and to adjust the power of the battery. heating of the second energy converter 104 upwards or downwards to respond very quickly to a frequency monitoring constraint of the electrical transport network 106.
  • the control module 118 can maintain, in the second thermal energy supply configuration, the second energy converter 104 in the active state at a minimum heating power compatible with the frequency tracking (namely for example 7% of the nominal power of the device 100 for producing electrical energy, that is to say of the nominal power at the output of the first energy converter 102, when the device 100 of electrical energy production is in its second configuration of thermal energy supply).
  • a minimum heating power compatible with the frequency tracking namely for example 7% of the nominal power of the device 100 for producing electrical energy, that is to say of the nominal power at the output of the first energy converter 102, when the device 100 of electrical energy production is in its second configuration of thermal energy supply.
  • control module 118 is represented schematically by a square.
  • This control module 118 is preferably suitable for controlling the components, for example pumps allowing the circulation of heat transfer fluids, if necessary, to selectively place the second energy converter 104 either in its active state or in its state. inactive, if necessary, to control the direction of circulation of the second heat transfer fluid in the second circuit 111, for example by controlling the operation of the pump 113, and if necessary to control the direction of circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the second part of the first circuit 107, for example by controlling the operation of the pump 122.
  • control module 118 can include all the software and hardware means necessary to allow it to integrate a logic making it possible to choose the most suitable of the first and second thermal energy supply configurations to implement it and in order, if necessary, to adjust the operation of the thermal energy supply configuration that it implements.
  • the pumps described can be controlled by the control module 118 to adapt their flow rate.
  • the invention also relates to a method of operating the device 100 for producing electrical energy as described.
  • such a method of operating the device 100 for producing electrical energy may include a step of producing thermal energy by the source 101 for producing thermal energy and a step of producing electrical energy by the first converter 102. energy by using thermal energy from the current production of thermal energy from the thermal energy production source 101. This is for example what is illustrated in figures 3 to 6 .
  • Such an operating method has the advantage of providing maneuverability of the device 100 for producing electrical energy.
  • the operating method may include a step of charging the accumulator 103 using thermal energy resulting from the current production of thermal energy from the source 101 for producing thermal energy.
  • said step of charging the accumulator 103 is implemented during the step of producing electrical energy, in particular when the device 100 for producing electrical energy is in the first configuration for supplying thermal energy.
  • the first thermal energy supply configuration is implemented by the operating method.
  • the step of charging the accumulator 103 can use thermal energy coming from the second energy converter 104 to charge the accumulator 103, preferably if the electrical energy is available to be stored in thermal form in the accumulator 103.
  • the second energy converter 104 can consume electrical energy, for example electrical energy supplied to it by the network 105 electrical power supply, in particular formed by the electrical transport network 106, from which results the production of thermal energy by the second energy converter 104, the accumulator 103 being charged using the thermal energy produced by the second converter 104 of energy and of the energy coming from the source 101 for producing thermal energy.
  • the operating method may include a step of restoring thermal energy stored in the accumulator 103, and the step of producing electrical energy by the first energy converter 102 also uses thermal energy resulting from thermal energy returned by accumulator 103 to produce said electrical energy. This is particularly visible in figures 3 and 4 .
  • the second thermal energy supply configuration is implemented by the operating method.
  • the frequency tracking is ensured by adjusting the electric power absorbed / consumed by the second converter 104 of energy for its operation.
  • This solution allows frequency monitoring, in the first configuration for supplying thermal energy and / or in the second configuration for supplying thermal energy, by using the second energy converter 104 available: the frequency monitoring is then easy to implement without having to significantly modify the structure of the device 100 for producing energy.
  • the flow of the second heat transfer fluid in the first heat exchanger 112 is countercurrent to the flow of the first heat transfer fluid in this first heat exchanger 112.
  • the second heat transfer fluid heated in the first heat exchanger 112 arrives in the accumulator 103 from the top, transmits its heat to the solid elements (for example rock or bricks) inside the accumulator 103 and leaves the accumulator 103 at a temperature strictly below its inlet temperature in the accumulator 103.
  • This first case is an example making it possible to maintain the nominal operation of the thermal energy production source 101 while ensuring the charging of the accumulator 103.
  • the device 100 for producing electrical energy is used in a period of high demand, for example on the day, when the electrical power to be supplied to the electrical transport network 106 by the first energy converter 102 is maximum because the need is high and the price of electricity is higher.
  • the thermal power of the nuclear reactor remains nominal, for example 1500W, the core of the nuclear reactor therefore operates at its nominal level.
  • the direction of circulation of the second heat transfer fluid works in the opposite direction to restore energy from the accumulator 103 with respect to its direction of circulation in the first case: the second “cold” heat transfer fluid introduced through the bottom of the accumulator 103 heats up in the accumulator 103 and comes out hot at the top of the accumulator 103.
  • the heat of the second heat transfer fluid is returned to the first heat transfer fluid via the first heat exchanger 112.
  • the direction of circulation of the first heat transfer fluid in the second part 109 part of the first circuit 107 is opposite to its direction of circulation associated with the first case in order to direct it at the outlet of the first heat exchanger 112 towards the first energy converter 102.
  • the second part 109 of the first circuit 107 is a bypass from the second heat exchanger 114. The energy conveyed by the second part 109 of the first circuit 107 at the outlet of the first heat exchanger 112 is added to that coming from the second heat exchanger 114.
  • the thermal power received by the first energy converter 102 corresponds to the sum of the thermal power of the thermal energy production source (1500 MW) and of the thermal power restored by the accumulator (375 MW in the example ).
  • the first energy converter 102 may include the steam generator and the Rankine cycle which operate at a high level so as to transfer the thermal power from the nuclear core and from the accumulator 103 to the Rankine cycle.
  • the flow rates mentioned are mass flow rates.
  • the thermal storage capacity of the accumulator 103 must be 6 GWh (GWh for gigawatt-hour) for an accumulator 103 whose temperature varies between 320 ° C and 505 ° C.
  • the storage volume of this accumulator 103 is in this case of the order of 70,000 m 3 .
  • the accumulator 103 is also charged in addition using the second energy converter 104.
  • the fourth case comprises a restitution of energy by the accumulator 103 charged beforehand under the conditions of the third case.
  • the second coolant and the accumulator 103 it is necessary for the second coolant and the accumulator 103 to be compatible with a higher temperature and for it to be possible to electrically heat either the accumulator 103 or the second coolant.
  • Such a second heat transfer fluid can be air heated by heating rods of the second energy converter 104. This makes it possible to consume energy, in particular from the electrical transport network 106 which then supplies the second converter 104 of energy into electrical energy.
  • the accumulator 103 can comprise, as for the first and second cases, a storage volume of the order of 70,000 m 3 but making it possible to store more thermal energy if the temperature of the second fluid coolant at the inlet of the accumulator 103 is increased compared to the first case while maintaining a temperature of the second coolant at the outlet of the accumulator at 320 ° C. If the second heat transfer fluid is at 600 ° C when it enters the accumulator 103, the thermal storage capacity of the accumulator 103 is increased to 9.2 GWh (instead of 6 GWh for the first case).
  • the second heat transfer fluid is at 900 ° C when it enters the accumulator 103, this capacity is increased to 18.8 GWh for the same storage volume of the accumulator 103.
  • the use of the second converter 104 d The energy makes it possible to increase the energy density of the accumulator 103 for the same storage volume of the latter.
  • the characteristics of the device 100 for producing electrical energy may be identical to those described for the first case with the only difference that the second energy converter 104 allows, by consuming an electrical power of 410 MW on the electrical transmission network 106, to raise the temperature of the second heat transfer fluid so that it reaches 600 ° C when it enters the accumulator 103.
  • the operation of the second converter 104 of energy makes it possible to store 3.2 GWh more than in the context of the first case and this for the same storage volume of the accumulator 103.
  • This third case corresponds to a situation for which the device 100 for producing electrical energy operates in a period of low demand and excess electrical energy is available on the electrical transmission network 106.
  • the third and fourth cases make it possible to use the second energy converter 104 by activating or deactivating it quickly to make it possible to respond to rapid requests making it possible to carry out frequency monitoring of the electrical transmission network 106 on which the first energy converter 102 injects the electrical energy that it produces.
  • the present invention finds an industrial application in the generation of electrical energy to be injected into, that is to say supplied to, the electrical transport network 106.
  • the device for producing electrical energy described makes it possible to carry out massive storage of electricity by using installations (Rankine cycle) which operate continuously, in a modulated manner, instead of operating periodically in a day.
  • installations Rankine cycle
  • This makes it possible to improve the profitability of the device for producing electrical energy in the sense that it can operate over a longer period: the interest can therefore be financial.
  • This also makes it possible to avoid stopping and restarting the energy production device.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Supply And Distribution Of Alternating Current (AREA)
  • Inverter Devices (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
EP20213159.5A 2019-12-11 2020-12-10 Elektrisches energieerzeugungsgerät mit thermischem speicher Pending EP3835555A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1914204A FR3104688B1 (fr) 2019-12-11 2019-12-11 Dispositif de production d’énergie électrique comportant un accumulateur d’énergie thermique

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EP3835555A1 true EP3835555A1 (de) 2021-06-16

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110200158A1 (en) * 2010-02-18 2011-08-18 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of energy generated by multiple nuclear reactor systems
US20110200157A1 (en) * 2010-02-18 2011-08-18 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of nuclear reactor generated energy
US9761337B2 (en) 2010-02-18 2017-09-12 Terrapower, Llc Method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of nuclear reactor generated energy
CN109026239A (zh) * 2018-08-22 2018-12-18 中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院 一种核反应堆联合太阳能光热发电系统

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110200158A1 (en) * 2010-02-18 2011-08-18 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of energy generated by multiple nuclear reactor systems
US20110200157A1 (en) * 2010-02-18 2011-08-18 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of nuclear reactor generated energy
US9761337B2 (en) 2010-02-18 2017-09-12 Terrapower, Llc Method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of nuclear reactor generated energy
CN109026239A (zh) * 2018-08-22 2018-12-18 中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院 一种核反应堆联合太阳能光热发电系统

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FR3104688A1 (fr) 2021-06-18

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