An energy storage system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 1000° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. An array of bricks incorporating internal radiation cavities is directly heated by thermal radiation. The cavities facilitate rapid, uniform heating via reradiation. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. Gas flows through structured pathways within the array, delivering heat which may be used for processes including calcination, hydrogen electrolysis, steam generation, and thermal power generation and cogeneration. Groups of thermal storage arrays may be controlled and operated at high temperatures without thermal runaway via deep-discharge sequencing. Forecast-based control enables continuous, year-round heat supply using current and advance information of weather and VRE availability. High-voltage DC power conversion and distribution circuitry improves the efficiency of VRE power transfer into the system.

An energy storage system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 1000° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. An array of bricks incorporating internal radiation cavities is directly heated by thermal radiation. The cavities facilitate rapid, uniform heating via reradiation. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. Gas flows through structured pathways within the array, delivering heat which may be used for processes including calcination, hydrogen electrolysis, steam generation, and thermal power generation and cogeneration. Groups of thermal storage arrays may be controlled and operated at high temperatures without thermal runaway via deep-discharge sequencing. Forecast-based control enables continuous, year-round heat supply using current and advance information of weather and VRE availability. High-voltage DC power conversion and distribution circuitry improves the efficiency of VRE power transfer into the system.

An energy storage system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 1000° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. An array of bricks incorporating internal radiation cavities is directly heated by thermal radiation. The cavities facilitate rapid, uniform heating via reradiation. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. Gas flows through structured pathways within the array, delivering heat which may be used for processes including calcination, hydrogen electrolysis, steam generation, and thermal power generation and cogeneration. Groups of thermal storage arrays may be controlled and operated at high temperatures without thermal runaway via deep-discharge sequencing. Forecast-based control enables continuous, year-round heat supply using current and advance information of weather and VRE availability. High-voltage DC power conversion and distribution circuitry improves the efficiency of VRE power transfer into the system.

Systems and methods are provided for charging a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system. A system may include a compressor or pump configured to circulate a working fluid within a fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits at a second pressure; a first heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a second heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a third heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use, a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, configured to expand the working fluid to the first pressure; a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger; a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger, and a waste heat reservoir connected to the third heat exchanger.

Systems and methods are provided for charging a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system. A system may include a compressor or pump configured to circulate a working fluid within a fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits at a second pressure; a first heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a second heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a third heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use, a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, configured to expand the working fluid to the first pressure; a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger; a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger, and a waste heat reservoir connected to the third heat exchanger.

High temperature thermal energy exchange system with horizontal heat exchange chamber and method for exchanging thermal energy by using the high temperature thermal energy exchange system

A high temperature thermal energy exchange (heat) exchange system is provided. The high temperature thermal energy exchange system comprises at least one horizontal heat exchange chamber with chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber, wherein the chamber boundaries comprise at least one inlet opening for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one outlet opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior, at least one heat storage material is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior such that a heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material and the heat transfer fluid and the heat high temperature thermal energy exchange system is developed such that horizontal heat exchange flows of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior differ from each other in vertical direction. The horizontal heat exchange flows are different in vertical direction of the heat exchange chamber. The heat transfer fluid is led into heat exchange channels via the inlet openings and is led out of the heat exchange channels via the outlet openings. Preferably, the heat transfer fluid is air with ambient pressure. An operating temperature of the high temperature thermal energy exchange system is more than 600° C.

High temperature thermal energy exchange system with horizontal heat exchange chamber and method for exchanging thermal energy by using the high temperature thermal energy exchange system

A high temperature thermal energy exchange (heat) exchange system is provided. The high temperature thermal energy exchange system comprises at least one horizontal heat exchange chamber with chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber, wherein the chamber boundaries comprise at least one inlet opening for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one outlet opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior, at least one heat storage material is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior such that a heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material and the heat transfer fluid and the heat high temperature thermal energy exchange system is developed such that horizontal heat exchange flows of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior differ from each other in vertical direction. The horizontal heat exchange flows are different in vertical direction of the heat exchange chamber. The heat transfer fluid is led into heat exchange channels via the inlet openings and is led out of the heat exchange channels via the outlet openings. Preferably, the heat transfer fluid is air with ambient pressure. An operating temperature of the high temperature thermal energy exchange system is more than 600° C.

A turbine bypass system comprises a bypass path which is selectively operable to deliver hot gases to a gas cooler and a pebble bed positioned in the bypass path upstream of the gas cooler. The pebble bed absorbs heat from the bypass gases and thereby reduces the temperature of the bypass gases prior to delivery of the bypass gases to the gas cooler.

A turbine bypass system comprises a bypass path which is selectively operable to deliver hot gases to a gas cooler and a pebble bed positioned in the bypass path upstream of the gas cooler. The pebble bed absorbs heat from the bypass gases and thereby reduces the temperature of the bypass gases prior to delivery of the bypass gases to the gas cooler.

A method for modifying a solar thermal power plant operating on conventional oil based technology into a hybrid solar thermal power plant includes: providing an oil-based solar thermal power plant, which includes a solar collection system with at least one radiation absorber tube containing a heat transfer oil to be heated by the solar collection system; providing a molten salts solar thermal power plant, which includes a solar collection system to heat a molten salts mixture; and coupling the respective plants such that the hybrid solar thermal power plant is configured to heat medium temperature steam generated by the oil based solar power plant by the molten salts mixture thereby producing high temperature steam and subsequently supplying it to a steam turbine to generate electricity.