Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03G6/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
  • F03G6/003—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy having a Rankine cycle
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03G6/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
  • F03G6/06—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means
  • F03G6/065—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with solar energy concentrating means having a Rankine cycle
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03G6/00—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy
  • F03G6/071—Devices for producing mechanical power from solar energy with energy storage devices
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03D—WIND MOTORS
  • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
  • F03D9/10—Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy
  • F03D9/18—Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy storing heat
• • 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
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/14—Thermal energy storage

Definitions

• the invention disclosed in the present patent application relates to the field of Energy and Electricity.
• a new thermomechanical energy storage system that is engineered from renewable natural, readily biodegradable, or recyclable materials that are also reusable.
• the enclosed system can sustainably operate for higher-than-usual volumes of energy storage and for longer-than-usual storage time (long-term storage). It is also characterized with a low-carbon footprint for its production and no chemical footprint when operating or being disposed-off at the end of its life cycle.
• thermo mechanical system provides a solution for energy storage for 5-7 days, which classifies this invention as a long-term ESS (Energy Storage Systems) and thus can provide for more efficient storage conditions but also cheaper end-price energy. Due to its long-term storage capacity, the invented system provides energy "where needed, when needed”.
• ESS Electronicgy Storage Systems
• US11,391,181B2 described an energy storage system that converts variable renewable electricity to continuous heat at over 1.000 C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium and the heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand, in this system an array of bricks is used to incorporate internal radiation cavities and they are directly heated by thermal radiation.
• Thermo-mechanical System for Long-term Energy Storage from the present application is designed to store the generated energy in a form of thermal energy (heat) which then it further transforms into electric energy and hot water as final outputs.
• the invention since the invention has enough stored power to provide one or more homes with electricity and hot water, it can be even shared with neighbors. This makes the invention not only interesting for private homeowners and businesses, but also for energy companies. By stacking several invention storage systems connected to each other, operators or energy suppliers can store and supply energy (and hot water for heating) to entire streets or business parks, which can further smoothen-out the energy peaks and loads to the grid - which are a major problem for energy companies - dunng generation, but also during consumption.
• the storage system enclosed in the present patent application can be added to and installed on existing or new energy generation systems and therefore does not disrupt the existing grid and has a low system investment cost: price / KWh ratio.
• this is rechargeable system that is based on the logic of the circular economy and is produced from regular raw materials available worldwide, its expected lifespan in service is 25 years with little-to-no maintenance.
• the stored energy can be delivered as electricity and hot water at the same time.
• the invention enables utilization of renewable energy sources to their full potential.
• the storage system enclosed in the present patent application is effective and innovative product for long-term energy storage management fully in line with zero-carbon policies and without any chemical processed or use of environmentally harmful raw materials, such as zinc, silicon, germanium, manganese, lithium, or cobalt, frequently used in traditional batteries.
• Figure 1 Invention system schematics.
• FIG. 1 The two units of the System: Thermal storage unit and Transformation unit,
• Figure 4 Container / housing
• the proposed system as a novel energy storage system is a device that is designed to store the generated energy in a form of thermal energy (heat) which then it further transforms into electric energy and hot water as final outputs.
• heat thermal energy
• Transformation unit to transform stored energy from heat into electric energy.
• the first unit of the thermo-mechanical system is composed of a well-insulated container (cell) fiiled-in with natural, sustainable, fully recyclable energy storage material that has the capacity, by means of change of state (solid-liquid and vice-versa) under temperature change, to absorb great amounts of heat. Due to the high thermal resistance of the containers’ insulation, the thermal losses are brought to minimum and thus the stored thermal energy can be stored for a prolonged amount of time. Electrical energy from various natural, non-continuous sources (sun, wind etc.) is used as an input into the Energy storage system. Suitable model of electric heaters, placed into the container (cell), further transform the generated electric energy (input) into thermal energy.
• the thermal energy from the heaters is being transferred onto the material (for thermal energy storage) placed into the container (cell), which triggers increase of its inner temperature in a form of a sensitive thermal energy up to its melting point temperature, thus the process of energy storage takes place.
• the inner temperature of the energy storage material reaches temperature above the melting point temperature, the material starts to change its state from solid into liquid, which in addition triggers even greater absorption and storage of the thermal energy from the heaters.
• the material only slightly increases its inner temperature, and the energy is stored in a form of a latent thermal energy. This process allows to implement the effect of storage of higher amount of thermal energy in a relatively small mass volume of thermal storage material.
• the consisting elements of the thermal storage units are - Container (also casing or cell) shown on figure 4 - It is engineered from two parts (body and cover from refractory cement), it houses all the components of the storage unit (internally ) and of the transformation unit (externally, mounted on the outside wall). It is made of steel, reinforced concrete, or any other material or a combination of such, with stabile rigidity properties under high temperature.
• - isolation one or more layers of isolation, recyclable and with eco-characteristics, commercially available, with high temperature resistance, to provide minimum heat losses and prolonged storage of the thermal energy.
• High-temperature heaters - with adequate specifications (material SiC) are connected to the energy source and generate heat which is stored as thermal energy.
• Heat exchanger The pipes of the heat exchanger, connected to the water reservoir and the rest of the transformation unit network, have the rote to absorb the thermal energy in a form of heat from the storage material and transform the water into dry steam that will further run the engine located in the transformation unit.
• the pump sends the working fluid from the reservoir into the heat exchanger, raising at the same time its pressure up to 8 bar, regulated by a safety valve.
• the heat exchanger placed directly above the isolated container (ceil) within the cover, and separated by the rotational butterfly plates, has no physical contact with the storage (heated) material whilst the thermal energy (heat) is being transferred - form the material to the working fluid passing through the butterfly plates and taken up by the heat exchanger - by means of thermal radiation.
• a set of heat-resistant rotating plates play the role of dividers and by opening or reducing the gap space between the container and the heat exchanger, they regulate the amount of transferred heat to the working fluid that is passing thru the exchanger by means of thermal conductivity.
• thermo mechanical system When the thermo mechanical system is in discharge mode (the users household have devices switched on) - the Butterfly plates are positioned "open” and the working fluid enters the heat exchanger, it takes over part of the thermal energy by means of convection and increases its inner temperature and its volume. Due to the constant mass flow, typical for the Rankine cycle, a difference in volumes of the working fluid at the entry point and the exit point of the heat exchanger appears. This difference provokes increased speed of movement of the particles of the working fluid at the exit point of the heat exchanger. With such an increased speed, the working fluid then enters the injector placed at the entry point of the expander, getting additional speed.
• a typical expandor that is generating work is represented by a simple steam engine or a turbine.
• the excess thermal energy (heat) that should entirely be released into the environment will actually be channeled, via a separate piping line, into the object (residence unit or industry unit) to be farther used (in case of residence units, for having warm water or heating purposes in wintertime; and in case of industry unit, for technical processes etc.).
• the system is also equipped with a by-pass pipe that bypasses the expander/turbine and can channel the working fluid directly into the condenser and thus increases the systems' capacity to produce greater amounts of warm water, if need be.
• a by-pass pipe that bypasses the expander/turbine and can channel the working fluid directly into the condenser and thus increases the systems' capacity to produce greater amounts of warm water, if need be.
• This is enabled by installing two electromagnetic valves that regulate the flow of the working fluid in these lines. This way, the overall parameters of the system can be adjusted to the real situation in-situ, subject to requirements, for a greater warm water production or greater energy storage.
• the Generator will be connected to the steam turbine with a belt (estimated belt reduction rate approximately 1 :6).
• the Generator will generate electricity for the house or plant. Prototyped with 6KW.
• Flow control valves shown an figure 13.
• Flow control valves regulate the steam flow, channels the steam to pass thorough the steam turbine or thru the by-pass line.
• steam is passing through the steam turbine, then to the condenser where it is heating the coolant. Then coolant is directed to the user house heating system or to the battery radiator.
• steam is being redirected to the by-pass line and therefore the steam is channeled directly to the steam condenser where the coolant is being heated and later transfer that heat to the house heating system.
• thermo-mechanical energy storage system in service is 25 years and is fully recyclable and re-usable.
• the system is initially capable of storing 2MW of green energy generated by renewable sources (solar, wind etc.) or by simple grid-induced (during off-peak low tariffs) charge with energy to be further utilized when most needed (e.g. during cut-outs, on-peak high tariffs, or industrial grade tariffs).
• the system represents a -system in a sturdy steel/concrete casing with dimensions 2,4mx1,9mx2.4m (LxWxH). This makes it possible to place the system underground, so it does not take up any space in or around the home. It shall be connected to:
• - Input connection The source of the energy (solar system, wind turbine(s), biomass plant etc.): - Output connections: The power mains (and the water inlet connections, in case of hot water supply) of the object(s);
• the system has low voltage connection and a 230/415 volt connection as standard.
• the low- voltage connection makes it possible to connect solar panels directly to the system.
• the system has a low- voltage output and a 230/415-volt output.
• the system also has hot and cold- water connection which allows hot water supply for home use, heating, even for swimming pools.
• the system can store a total of 2 Mw/h of energy for more than 5-7 days, placing it into the category of long-term ESS (Energy Storage Systems).
• the system has projected efficiency of 94%.
• Maximum power output of the current model is 6 Kw/h (continuous). Future models adjustable to max. 30kW/h within the same size dimensions.
• the prototype System - Working Temperature range Since recycled glass is used as a storage material, it is envisaged that its content is granulated glass coming mainly from bottles, pickle jars and windows, all are made from SLS (soda-iime-sslica) glass. The temperature at which SLS glass changes from exhibiting solid characteristics to exhibiting liquid characteristics is ⁇ 580oC . Thus, the temperatures of the working range is between its softening point and the working point, which for SLS glass is between 580-1000oC. According to this assumption, the tables bellow will give the information hew long ths thermal energy can be stored in the prototype invention, having used recycled glass as a storage material:
• the temperature of the storage material drops under the minimum temperature of its working regime and would therefore need a recharge. This means that the invented storage system can hold energy for full 10 days, period which is way beyond the current storage systems.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Engine Equipment That Uses Special Cycles (AREA)
• Wind Motors (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=87801107

Family Applications (1)

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• 2023
  • 2023-07-20 EP EP23761244.5A patent/EP4558727A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-07-20 KR KR1020257005506A patent/KR20250050890A/ko active Pending
  • 2023-07-20 CA CA3265379A patent/CA3265379A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-07-20 WO PCT/MK2023/000004 patent/WO2024019609A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2023-07-20 AU AU2023310445A patent/AU2023310445A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-07-20 CN CN202380066476.2A patent/CN119907885A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-07-20 JP JP2025503349A patent/JP2025524893A/ja active Pending

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