GB536603A - Improvements in or relating to thermal storage systems - Google Patents

Abstract

536,603. Thermal storage systems. POLANYI, A. Aug. 18, 1939, No. 23913. [Class 123 (ii)] A thermal storage system in combination with a primary steam raising plant, in which energy is stored when that available from the primary steam raising plant exceeds the demand and from which energy is discharged when the primary steam raising plant is insufficient to meet the demand, comprises a storage capacity mainly constituted by water in a helical or serpentine tube system. The tubes are connected to an expansion vessel from which steam is drawn off, the pressure in the vessel being equal to or below that in the tubes, or equal to or above that in the main. The heat storage capacity may be increased by surrounding the tubes by solids or liquids, or by making use of the supporting structure. The tubes may be embedded in iron filings, metal powder, firebrick, sand, or granulated magnetite. Water is forced by pump 11 into pipe 10 which is heated. Heat is discharged when required by passing the hot water through a throttle valve 13 to a separating chamber 12, the pressure in which controls the valve 13. Steam passes through reducing valve 15 to consumers A, the valve 15 being regulated by pressure in pipe 14. Separated water is returned by pump 16 through valve 17 controlled by water level in chamber 12. In Fig. 3 the separating chamber 12 is replaced by a tube 20 from which steam rises through pipes 21 to a collector 22 and thence to a header 23 and reducing valve 24. Instead of returning the separated water to the storage system, it may be supplied to the next stage of a multi-stage system, or may be utilized as boiler feed. Means may. also be provided to allow water to be drawn direct from the storage pipe for boiler feed. The storage pipe may be heated by flue gases, and may function as an economizer, or the system may form part of a boiler system and may operate at a pressure above that of the boiler.