A rotary counter-current solid/fluid contact apparatus is developed to enhance the efficiency of adsorption, ion exchange and regenerative heat exchange. The counter-current apparatus uses a rotor to direct fluids to multiple stationary columns. By the action of the rotor, counter-current flows of a fluid phase and a solid phase can be achieved for a combined adsorption and desorption cycle, or a combined heating and cooling cycle. The apparatus allows not only countercurrent solid-fluid flows based on columns in series, but also countercurrent solid-fluid flows in the length of each individual column. A method is also disclosed.

A fluid flow diverter is provided that includes a diverter body having four ports, a rotating plenum located within the diverter body, and a purge fluid assembly that supplies a purge fluid to the plenum. The plenum has two stop positions that each define a fluid flow path through the diverter. In the first fluid flow path, a first fluid stream goes between the first and second ports, and a second fluid stream goes between the fourth and third ports. In the second flow path, a first fluid stream goes between the first and third ports, and a second fluid stream goes between the fourth and second ports. The purge fluid supplied to the plenum creates a positive pressure fluid barrier that prevents or minimizes cross-contamination of the two fluid streams through the diverter. Also provided is a regenerative thermal oxidizer that includes such a fluid flow diverter.

A fluid flow diverter is provided that includes a diverter body having four ports, a rotating plenum located within the diverter body, and a purge fluid assembly that supplies a purge fluid to the plenum. The plenum has two stop positions that each define a fluid flow path through the diverter. In the first fluid flow path, a first fluid stream goes between the first and second ports, and a second fluid stream goes between the fourth and third ports. In the second flow path, a first fluid stream goes between the first and third ports, and a second fluid stream goes between the fourth and second ports. The purge fluid supplied to the plenum creates a positive pressure fluid barrier that prevents or minimizes cross-contamination of the two fluid streams through the diverter. Also provided is a regenerative thermal oxidizer that includes such a fluid flow diverter.

A first system herein may include: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of stored thermal energy into electricity, wherein the PHES system includes a working fluid path circulating a working fluid through, in sequence, at least a compressor system, a hot-side heat exchanger system, a turbine system, a cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system; and (ii) a fluid path directing a first fluid through an intercooler and to a power generation plant, and wherein the working fluid path through the compressor system includes circulating the working fluid through, in sequence, at least a first compressor, the intercooler, and a second compressor, and wherein the intercooler thermally contacts the working fluid with the first fluid, transferring heat from the working fluid to the first fluid.

A first system herein may include: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of stored thermal energy into electricity, wherein the PHES system includes a working fluid path circulating a working fluid through, in sequence, at least a compressor system, a hot-side heat exchanger system, a turbine system, a cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system; and (ii) a fluid path directing a first fluid through an intercooler and to a power generation plant, and wherein the working fluid path through the compressor system includes circulating the working fluid through, in sequence, at least a first compressor, the intercooler, and a second compressor, and wherein the intercooler thermally contacts the working fluid with the first fluid, transferring heat from the working fluid to the first fluid.

A heat storage reservoir comprising: at least one input inlet for introduction of gaseous heat transfer fluid, or for introduction of superheated liquid heat transfer fluid, into the heat storage reservoir, and at least one liquid recovery system for recovery of liquid heat transfer fluid from the heat storage reservoir; and/or at least one gas outlet for recovery of gaseous heat transfer fluid from the heat storage reservoir, and at least one output inlet for introduction of liquid heat transfer fluid into the heat storage reservoir; and further comprising a volume of solid granular material, to which volume heat is transferred by means of a phase change from gas to liquid of a heat transfer fluid on contact of the heat transfer fluid with the solid granular material, and/or from which volume heat is transferred by means of a phase change from liquid to gas of a heat transfer fluid on contact of the heat transfer fluid with the solid granular material, which volume is in fluid connection with the at least one input inlet and the at least one liquid recovery system, and/or the at least one gas outlet and the at least one output inlet, and a pressure reduction system in fluid connection with the volume of solid granular material, characterized in that the pressure reduction system is arranged to reduce the gas pressure contribution arising from non-condensable species only.

Heat exchanger presenting a first gas flow path containing a heat-regenerative packing and a separate second gas flow path containing a heat-conductive packing and use of same for heating a gas to be heated by means of heat recovered from a hot gas in a two-phase alternating heat-recovery process.

A system including: a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy, wherein the PHES system comprises a working fluid path circulating a working fluid through, in sequence, at least a compressor system, a hot-side heat exchanger system, a turbine system, a cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system; and (ii) a fluid path directing a hot fluid from a heat source external to the PHES system through a reheater, wherein a portion of the working fluid path through the turbine system comprises circulating the working fluid through a first turbine, the reheater, and a second turbine, and wherein the working fluid thermally contacts the hot fluid in the reheater, thereby transferring heat from the hot fluid to the working fluid.

A system including: a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy, wherein the PHES system comprises a working fluid path circulating a working fluid through, in sequence, at least a compressor system, a hot-side heat exchanger system, a turbine system, a cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system; and (ii) a fluid path directing a hot fluid from a heat source external to the PHES system through a reheater, wherein a portion of the working fluid path through the turbine system comprises circulating the working fluid through a first turbine, the reheater, and a second turbine, and wherein the working fluid thermally contacts the hot fluid in the reheater, thereby transferring heat from the hot fluid to the working fluid.

A method for operating a regenerative heat storage arrangement, wherein the heat reservoir storage arrangement has a gas heater for heating a carrier gas; a heat storage row with multiple heat storage modules; and at least one compressor. During a loading cycle, carrier gas heated in the gas heater flows through at least one heat reservoir module, which is thermally charged by the transfer of heat from the heated carrier gas to a heat storage material of the heat reservoir module. The carrier gas is cooled during the charging process. If, after the charging of a heat reservoir module, the carrier gas temperature reaches or exceeds a minimum charging temperature for a subsequent heat reservoir module, the carrier gas is fed to the subsequent heat reservoir module for charging. The carrier gas is recirculated back to the gas heater if the carrier gas temperature falls below the minimum charging temperature.