IT202000003539A1 - ENERGY ACCUMULATOR. - Google Patents

Description

ENERGY ACCUMULATOR

The present invention refers to an energy accumulator.

In the state of the art, renewable energy generated by photovoltaic or wind generators is stored by means of liquid hydrogen energy accumulators or through other heat transfer fluids. Are known compressed air energy accumulators suitable for accumulating energy produced by renewable energy generators and accumulating a part of it by compressing air and storing it inside a huge cavity? in the ground.

Disadvantageously, the accumulation of energy in compressed air requires a large volume and there are no energy accumulators that can be transported.

The object of the present invention consists in realizing a compressed air energy accumulator which is transportable in a simple and easy to assemble way.

In accordance with the invention this purpose? achieved with an energy accumulator according to claim 1.

Other features are provided in the dependent claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the following, exemplary and non-limiting description, referring to the attached schematic drawings in which:

figure 1? a front view of a renewable energy accumulator according to the present invention comprising a container which in the figure is uncovered, in which the container comprises an internal compartment divided into three compartments, two lateral and one central, each of the two lateral compartments comprises a cage of containment, two multiplicities of pressure tanks for compressed air stacked respectively inside each of the containment cages of the two lateral compartments of the container, a tank containing heat transfer fluid lying on the bottom of a central compartment of the container, a compressor for compressing air including an electric motor powered by at least one renewable energy generator, in which the electric motor comprises a radiator, an outlet duct from the compressor for the compressed air of the compressor, in which the outlet duct from the compressor comprises a heat exchanger suitable for exchanging heat between the compressed air and the heat carrier fluid contained in the tank, a multiplicity? of pneumatic conduits for compressed air connected with said compressor, called multiplicity? of pneumatic conduits comprising a multiplicity of heat exchangers suitable to allow an exchange of heat between compressed air and heat transfer fluid contained in the tank, the multiplicity? of pneumatic ducts are connected to the two multiplicities? of pressure tanks, an electric turbine connected by means of a multiplicity? of pneumatic ducts to the two multiplicities? of pressure tanks which supply compressed air to rotate the electric turbine so that it can generate electric current, the electric turbine comprising an electric generator, the container comprises a chimney disposed above the compressor;

figure 2? a top view of the energy accumulator of figure 1 with the container uncovered; figure 3? a sectional view along the line III-III of Figure 2;

figure 4? a sectional view along the line IV-IV of figure 1.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, an energy accumulator 10 is shown comprising a container 20 comprising an internal compartment divided into three compartments, two lateral compartments 21 and a central one 22. Each of the two lateral compartments 21 comprises a containment cage 50. The storage accumulator energy 10 includes two multiplicities? of pressure tanks 40 for compressed air which are stacked respectively inside each of the containment cages 50 of the two lateral compartments 21 of the container 20. The energy accumulator 10 comprises a tank 30 containing a heat transfer fluid. The tank 30? lying on a bottom of a central compartment 22 of the container 20. The energy accumulator 10 comprises a compressor 60 for compressing air comprising an electric motor powered by at least one renewable energy generator (not shown in the figures), a multiplicity of elements. of pneumatic conduits 70 for compressed air connected to said compressor 60, in which the multiplicity? of pneumatic ducts 70 includes a multiplicity? of heat exchangers 73 suitable for allowing a heat exchange between compressed air and the heat transfer fluid contained in the tank 30, in which the multiplicity? of pneumatic ducts 70 are connected to the two multiplicities? of pressure tanks 40. The energy accumulator 10 comprises an electric turbine 80 connected in flow communication by means of the multiplicity. of pneumatic ducts 70 to the two multiplicities? of pressure tanks 40 which supply compressed air to rotate the electric turbine 80 so that it can generate electric current.

The energy accumulator 10? an off-grid system that allows rapid electrification of areas not connected to an electricity grid such as rural areas, mountainous areas or areas affected by disasters? natural or otherwise. The energy accumulator 10? contained in container 20 which includes ISO standard sizes for commercial intermodal containers of parallelepiped shape and includes a length of 20 feet high cube, that is? of 606 cm, a height of 9 feet 6 inches, that is? of 290 cm, and a width of 8 feet, that is? of 244 cm. The energy accumulator 10 advantageously allows you to maximize the use of energy from renewable sources, such as photovoltaic or wind power generators, which by nature do not generate electricity constantly over time but depend on solar lighting and power. of the wind, through the use of a pneumatic storage system that releases energy when there is an actual need for supplies connected with the energy accumulator 10.

The energy accumulator 10 further comprises a method which can be implemented electronically through a computer software comprising at least one memory and at least one processor, in which the method controls the energy accumulator 10 to accumulate renewable energy from at least one renewable energy generator and to supply electrical energy at the time of need to supplies connected with the energy accumulator 10.

The electronic processor also includes sensors that measure the electric current delivered during the operation of the turbine and that measure the pressure of the compressed air contained in the two multiplicities. of pressure tanks 40 and the temperature of the heat-carrying fluid contained in the tank 30. These measurements allow a computer program implemented in the memory of the electronic computer to control the energy accumulator 10 as needed. of external supplies and on the basis of the energy stored by the energy accumulator 10.

Advantageously, the energy accumulator 10 can? be installed and assembled quickly and quickly and? easily transportable to any place on the planet.

Advantageously, the dimensions of the container 20 allow easy transport of the energy accumulator 10 both by road by means of a truck of a freight train and by water by means of cargo ships.

The two lateral compartments 21 of the container 20 are separated from the central compartment 22 by means of vertical structures 23 which rise from a bottom of the container 20.

Each containment cage 50? suitable to create a space inside the respective lateral compartment 21 inside which stack the multiplicity? of pressure tanks 40.

Each pressure tank 40 comprises the dimensions of a commercial cylinder for holding compressed air, i.e. comprises a cylindrical portion which comprises a cross section in the form of a geometric circle. The cylindrical portion of each pressure tank 40 includes an axis of symmetry which? arranged parallel to a width of the container 20 so as to advantageously facilitate the transport and stacking of the tanks 40 one on top of the other in a row.

The two multiplicities of tanks 40 are stacked inside the two respective containment cages 50 by placing the bottom of the cylindrical wall towards the bottom of the container 20 side by side in rows and being stacked on top of each other to occupy the entire space of the interior of the containment cage 50 of the respective lateral compartment 21 is effective. of pressure tanks 40 are arranged in rows stacked on top of each other so that the pressure tanks 40 arranged on the bottom support the row of pressure tanks 40 which is arranged above, in which each pressure tank 40 of the row arranged above ? arranged in a space between one tank 40 and the other of the row of tanks 40 arranged below. In particular in Figures 1 and 3? shown that a row of tanks 40 at the bottom of the containment cage 50 of the side compartment 21 comprises a row of four tanks 40, the row above comprises three tanks 40, the one above a row of four tanks 40 and so on. away until all the space of the containment cage 50 of the side compartment 21 is filled in height. This arrangement of the tanks 40 inside the containment cage 50 advantageously allows to fill more effectively all the space available inside the lateral compartment 21 so that the tanks 40 remain rigidly interlocked with each other.

The two multiplicities of pressure tanks 40 shown in the figures comprise two volumes which together contain about 10 cubic meters of compressed air.

Advantageously, for reasons of transport and weight balance, the two multiplicity? of 40 tanks were divided into the two side compartments 21.

Advantageously to avoid that the multiplicity? of stacked pressure tanks 40 can move relative to each other, are inserted inside the respective containment cage 50 of the respective lateral compartment 21 of the container 20.

The containment cage 50 comprises a metal structure comprising vertical bars 51 and horizontal 52 suitable for containing and keeping in position the pressure tanks 40 stacked inside the respective containment cage 50.

Advantageously, the two containment cages 50 of the two lateral compartments 21 of the container 20 comprise a respective plurality of materials. of pressure tanks 40 dividing for reasons of reliability? and of transport safety the compressed air in a multiplicity? of pressure tanks 40.

For reasons of safety of compressed air transport yes? chosen not to use a single pressure tank comprising volumetric dimensions corresponding to the volume of the lateral compartment 21, but to divide the compressed air into a multiplicity? of pressure tanks 40.

For safety and functional reasons each pressure tank 40 comprises a solenoid valve 43 connected to the multiplicity. of pneumatic ducts 70.

Furthermore, the multiplicity? of pressure tanks 40 advantageously allows to replace in a simple way any one of the pressure tanks 40.

Advantageously, the multiplicity? of pressure tanks 40 also allows to allow a more? functional modularity? of the container 20 allowing to pi? container 20 to be linked together and function together with a multiplicity? of containers 20, so that a multiplicity? of energy accumulators 10 can operate electrically connected in series or in parallel.

The container 20 comprises a tank 30 which contains a heat transfer fluid, such as a diathermic oil. The tank 30? positioned inside the central compartment 22 of the container 20 for reasons of balancing the weight of the container 20. The tank 30? positioned resting on the bottom of the central compartment 22 leaving free an upper space of the central compartment 22.

Compressor 60? a four-stage compressor which is powered by the renewable energy generator such as a photovoltaic system or a wind power plant, in which the renewable energy generator includes an inverter which supplies alternating electrical current to the electric motor of the compressor 60. of the electric motor of the compressor 60 occurs during the operation of the photovoltaic system or of the wind system, avoiding that the energy accumulator 10 necessarily includes batteries.

The compressor 60 comprises a first compression stage in which the air enters through an inlet filter for the air of the compressor 60 and the compressor 60 carries out a first compression of the air. Compressor 60 by compressing the air generates thermal energy. AND? a heat exchanger is provided between the compressor 60 and the pneumatic duct 70 which transports the compressed air from the first compression stage in order to exchange the thermal energy due to the operation of the compressor 60 with the air contained in the pneumatic duct 70. pneumatic conduit 70 comprises a first heat exchanger 73 which? engaged with the tank 30 in order to exchange heat between the compressed air contained in the pneumatic duct 70 and the heat transfer fluid contained in the tank 30.

The compressor 60 comprises a second compression stage in which the compressed air arriving from the first heat exchanger 73 is compressed again by the compressor 60. E? another heat exchanger is provided between the pneumatic conduit 70 of compressed air of the second compression stage and the compressor 60, in order to recover the thermal energy dispersed by the compressor 60 and channel it through the pneumatic conduit 70 into the tank 30. The pneumatic conduit 70 of the compressed air from the second compression stage comprises a second heat exchanger 73 engaged in turn with the tank 30.

The compressor 60 comprises a third compression stage in which the compressed air arriving from the second heat exchanger 73 is compressed again by the compressor 60. E? another heat exchanger is provided between the pneumatic conduit 70 of compressed air of the third compression stage and the compressor 60, in order to recover the thermal energy dispersed by the compressor 60 and channel it through the pneumatic conduit 70 into the tank 30. The pneumatic conduit 70 of the compressed air from the third compression stage comprises a third heat exchanger 73 engaged in turn with the tank 30.

The compressor 60 comprises a fourth compression stage in which the compressed air arriving from the third heat exchanger 73 is compressed again by the compressor 60. E? another heat exchanger is provided between the pneumatic conduit 70 of compressed air of the fourth compression stage and the compressor 60, in order to recover the thermal energy dispersed by the compressor 60 and channel it through the pneumatic conduit 70 into the tank 30. The pneumatic conduit 70 of the compressed air from the fourth compression stage comprises a fourth heat exchanger 73 engaged in turn with the tank 30.

At the end of the four compression stages, the compressed air arriving from the fourth heat exchanger 73 is directed towards an inlet valve which introduces the compressed air of the fourth compression stage towards the two multiplicities. of pressure tanks 40 which are opened by means of solenoid valves 43 disposed on each pressure tank 40.

The compressor 60 comprises an electric motor comprising a radiator. Compressor 60 includes an? Output which? connected in flow connection to a pneumatic conduit comprising a heat exchanger suitable for exchanging heat between the compressed air emitted by the compressor 60 and the heat carrier fluid contained in the tank 30.

The container 20 includes a chimney 28 disposed above the compressor 60, in which the chimney 28? suitable for air circulation for the compressor 60 during the compression stages of the compressed air introduced in the two multiplicity? of pressure tanks 40.

The container 20 also provides for the presence of further air intakes for the compressor 60 which are not shown in the figures.

The energy accumulator 10 compresses the air, accumulating it as compressed air inside the two multiplicities. of pressure tanks 40 during the operation of the renewable energy generation plant.

The energy accumulator 10? connected to the renewable energy generation plant and? electrically connected to capacitors which can be part of the energy accumulator 10 and mounted inside the container 20 or they can be external to the container 20 and for example be mounted with the renewable energy generation plant.

The capacitors represent a common power bus for powering the electric motor of the four-stage compressor 60 of the energy accumulator 10 and for directly powering the electrical supplies connected to the electrical generation plant.

When the supplies connected to the electrical generation plant and to the energy accumulator 10 require more energy than is available through the common power bus, then the electric turbine 80 is put into operation by opening the multiplicity. of solenoid valves 43 of the two multiplicities? of pressure vessels 40 by means of a regulating valve 48.

AND? possible to regulate the flow of compressed air through the regulating valve 48 connected with the multiplicity? of pneumatic ducts 70 outgoing from the two multiplicities? of pressure tanks 40. For example? Is it possible to choose to supply compressed air only from some pressure tanks 40 of the two multiplicities? pressure tanks 40 by opening only some of the solenoid valves 43.

Depending on the needs? necessary energy, the computer can? command only the opening or closing of some of the solenoid valves 43 of the multiplicity? of solenoid valves 43 of the two multiplicities? of pressure tanks 40.

The electric turbine 80? rotary start-up by means of the compressed air released by the two multiplicity? of pressure tanks 40 generating electric current.

The compressed air coming out of the two multiplicities of pressure tanks 40 is channeled into an outlet pneumatic conduit 74 of the multiplicity of pneumatic ducts 70. The pneumatic outlet duct comprises an outlet heat exchanger 75 suitable for further heating the compressed air contained in the pneumatic outlet duct 74. The outlet heat exchanger 75? engaged with the tank 30 in order to exchange heat between the tank 30 and the compressed air contained in the pneumatic outlet duct 74.

The pneumatic outlet duct 74 can? understand two or more? outlet heat exchangers 75 in order to heat more the compressed air contained in the pneumatic outlet duct 74 and introduce it to even more? high energy on the electric turbine 80.

Preferably, the energy accumulator 10 comprises a regulating valve 48 adapted to regulate the flow of compressed air towards the electric turbine 80 advantageously so that the electric current delivered by the electric turbine 80 can be regulated.

The compressed air that is delivered by the two multiplicities of pressure tanks 40 and which is further heated by the at least one outlet energy exchanger 75 is directed onto blades of the electric turbine 80 which by rotating generates electric current.

The electric current generated by the electric turbine 40 of the energy accumulator 10 is sent to the inverters of the electric power generation plant to be fed into the common power bus and from there. sent to electrical supplies.

Advantageously, the heat-carrying fluid contained in the tank 30 is heated by the multiplicity of elements. of heat exchangers 73 that lead the compressed air from the compressor 60 of the multiplicity? of compression stages towards the heat transfer fluid.

Advantageously, the heat-carrying fluid heated during the compression stages of the compressed air allows the compressed air delivered by the two multiplicities to be heated further. of pneumatic tanks 40 and directed towards the electric turbine 80 allowing a greater energy of the compressed air introduced on the blades of the electric turbine 80 in order to produce more electrical energy.

The accumulator of energy 10 can? operate without batteries. Advantageously, the energy accumulator 10 therefore has no problems connected with the duration of the battery. problems related to battery disposal.

Preferably and even more? advantageously? provided that electric heaters 33 are inside the container 20 and are part of the energy accumulator 10 so that the electrical energy is recovered in the form of heat transmitted to the heat exchangers mounted with the tank 30 to further heat the carrier fluid contained in the tank 30.

Alternatively? It is possible to foresee that the energy accumulator 10 may be fitted with batteries for auxiliary reasons, but which are not necessary for the normal operation of the energy accumulator 10 according to the present invention.

Alternatively, for safety reasons, each of the two multiplicity? of pressure tanks 40 includes an inlet solenoid valve that controls the inlet and outlet of the compressed air from the two multiplicities. of pressure tanks 40.

Alternatively? Is it possible to foresee that the container 20 could be a standard ISO container of 40 feet, that is? of 1220 cm.

Alternatively? It is possible to foresee that the energy accumulator 10 can be connected both with renewable energy generators such as photovoltaic systems or wind farms, and with endothermic engines, and with a grid power line, and with other renewable energy sources, and with a multiplicity? of electricity generators.

Alternatively? It is possible to provide that the energy accumulator 10 comprises a compressor 60 for each compression stage.

Alternatively? Is it possible to foresee that at least one compressor 60 comprises a multiplicity? of compression stages and that said at least one compressor 60 compresses for a multiplicity? of compressed air compression stages providing that a pneumatic duct 70 of said multiplicity? of ducts 70 connects an outlet of said at least one compressor 60 with an inlet of said at least one heat exchanger 73 mounted with said tank 30 and that said pneumatic duct 70 connects an outlet of said at least one heat exchanger 73 with a? entry of said at least one compressor 60. And? It is possible to foresee that the pneumatic duct 70 connects for more? sometimes said at least one compressor 60 and said heat exchanger 73 so that the compressed air contained in the pneumatic duct is subjected to a multiplicity? of compression stages.

Alternatively? provided that the tank 30 containing the heat transfer fluid heated during the compressed air compression stages is connected to a heat exchanger which conveys the heat to a district heating network or to other energy accumulators 10 for further external supplies which can be the same electrical supplies powered by the electrical current of the electric turbine, or other supplies that use only district heating. In this alternative? provided that heat is exchanged between the heat carrier fluid contained in the tank 30 and another heat carrier fluid contained in the external district heating network or towards other energy accumulators 10.

Alternatively, the excess heat which comes from the compression stages and which cannot be further accumulated by the tank 30 can? be used for additional heat accumulators 10.

Alternatively? expected that there is only one multiplicity? of pressure tanks 40 arranged inside the internal compartment of the container 20.

Alternatively, the two multiplicities of pressure tanks 40 are not necessarily arranged inside one of the two lateral compartments, but can for example be arranged inside the central compartment, or further arrangements are possible inside the internal compartment of the container 20.

Alternatively? provided that the tank 30 is arranged inside the internal compartment of the container 20.

Alternatively? provided that the tank 30 is not necessarily arranged in the central compartment 22, but can? for example, it can be arranged in one of the two lateral compartments 21 or further arrangements are possible inside the internal compartment of the container 20.

Alternatively? expected that the accumulator includes a multiplicity? of tanks 30.

Alternatively the tanks 30 are two and are respectively arranged inside each of the two lateral compartments 21.

Alternatively? expected a multiplicity? of heat transfer fluids, that is? a type of heat transfer fluid for each of the multiplicity? of tanks 30.

Alternatively? provided that the container 20 comprises a single internal compartment which is not divided into compartments 21, 22.

Alternatively? foreseen that the compressed air arriving from a heat exchanger 73 upstream is directed only towards some inlet valves which introduce the compressed air of the respective compression stage towards at least a multiplicity? of pressure tanks 40.

Alternatively, the electric current generated by the electric turbine 80 can? be injected directly into the common power bus, or supplied directly to electrical supplies that require greater electrical power.

The invention so? conceived? susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as? the dimensions can be any according to the technical requirements.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Energy accumulator (10) comprising a container (20) comprising an internal compartment, at least a multiplicity of elements. of pressure tanks (40) for compressed air which are arranged inside the internal compartment of the container (20), at least one tank (30) containing a heat transfer fluid arranged inside the internal compartment of the container (20), at least one compressor (60) suitable for compressing air, a multiplicity? of pneumatic conduits (70) for compressed air connected with said at least one compressor (60), in which the multiplicity? of pneumatic ducts (70) includes a multiplicity? of heat exchangers (73) suitable to allow a heat exchange between compressed air contained in said multiplicity? of pneumatic ducts (70) and heat-carrying fluid contained inside said at least one tank (30), in which the multiplicity? of pneumatic lines (70)? connected to said at least one multiplicity? of pressure tanks (40) to supply pressure tanks (40) with compressed air, an electric turbine (80) connected by means of the multiplicity? of pneumatic conduits (70) according to at least a multiplicity of of pressure tanks (40) suitable for supplying compressed air to rotate the electric turbine (80) so that it can generate electric current. 2. Energy accumulator (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said multiplicity? of pneumatic conduits (70) comprises an outlet pneumatic conduit (74) which connects said at least one plurality of of pressure tanks (40) with said electric turbine (80), in which said pneumatic outlet conduit (74) comprises at least one outlet heat exchanger (75) mounted with said at least one tank (30) in order to exchange heat between the heat-carrying fluid contained inside said at least one tank (30) and the compressed air contained in the pneumatic outlet duct (74) and directed towards the electric turbine (80). Energy accumulator (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said compressor (60) comprises an outlet duct for compressed air leaving said compressor (60) and said outlet duct comprises at least one heat exchanger mounted with said at least one tank (30). Energy accumulator (10) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that said at least one compressor (60)? a compressor with a multiplicity? of compression stages. 5. Energy accumulator (10) according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that said at least one compressor (60) compresses for a multiplicity of values. of compressed air compression stages providing that a pneumatic duct (70) of said multiplicity? of ducts (70) connects an outlet of said at least one compressor (60) with an inlet of said at least one heat exchanger (73) mounted with said at least one tank (30) and that said pneumatic duct (70) connects a? outlet of said at least one heat exchanger (73) with an inlet of said at least one compressor (60). Energy accumulator (10) according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that said internal compartment of the container (20)? divided into three compartments, two side compartments (21) and a central compartment (22), in which it dictates at least a multiplicity? of pressure tanks (40) are two multiplicity? of pressure tanks (40) which are stacked respectively inside each side compartment (21), in which it dictates at least one tank (30)? arranged inside the central compartment (22). Energy accumulator (10) according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that it comprises at least one containment cage (50), that dictates at least a multiplicity? of pressure tanks (40)? stacked inside said containment cage (50). Energy accumulator (10) according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that each pressure tank (40) of said at least one multiplicity of pressure vessels (40) comprises a cylindrical portion which includes an axis of symmetry which? arranged parallel to a width of the container (20) so that the pressure tanks (40) are arranged side by side in a row and that rows of pressure tanks (40) are arranged one above the other. other. Energy accumulator (10) according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that it comprises at least one capacitor suitable for being electrically connected with said at least one energy generator and being supplied with electric current by said electric turbine (80) . Energy accumulator (10) according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that said at least one tank (30) mounts a heat exchanger suitable for exchanging heat between the heat-carrying fluid contained inside said at least one tank (30) and another heat carrier fluid contained in an external district heating network or yet another heat carrier fluid contained inside at least one other tank (30) of another energy accumulator (10).