An energy accumulator for storing electrical energy in the form of heat energy comprising an electric heater for converting electrical energy into heat energy, a heat accumulator for storing the heat energy of the electric heater, and a heat exchanger for emitting heat energy from the heat accumulator. The heat accumulator comprises, at least, a plurality of metal rods arranged upright and serving to store heat energy from the electric heater; a base; and multiple supporting units, wherein each supporting unit supports one of the metal rods and is connected with the base. Furthermore described is a corresponding method for operating an energy accumulator of this type.

Apparatus for heat storage, comprises a working fluid chamber for storing working fluid; a pressure support chamber coupled to the working fluid chamber and including pressure support material, said pressure support chamber for increasing pressure in said working fluid chamber responsive to compression of said pressure support chamber; a fluid pump for pumping working fluid into the working fluid chamber, wherein pumping fluid into the working fluid chamber increases pressure of said working fluid in the working fluid chamber; the pressure elevation of the working fluid in the fluid chamber is responsive to pumping the fluid back into the fluid chamber to compress the pressure support chamber; a working fluid chamber heat exchanger for varying temperature in said working fluid chamber; an output conduit for transferring working fluid from said fluid chamber to a utilization destination; and an input conduit for transferring said working fluid received from said utilization destination to said working fluid into the fluid chamber.

Apparatus for heat storage, comprises a working fluid chamber for storing working fluid; a pressure support chamber coupled to the working fluid chamber and including pressure support material, said pressure support chamber for increasing pressure in said working fluid chamber responsive to compression of said pressure support chamber; a fluid pump for pumping working fluid into the working fluid chamber, wherein pumping fluid into the working fluid chamber increases pressure of said working fluid in the working fluid chamber; the pressure elevation of the working fluid in the fluid chamber is responsive to pumping the fluid back into the fluid chamber to compress the pressure support chamber; a working fluid chamber heat exchanger for varying temperature in said working fluid chamber; an output conduit for transferring working fluid from said fluid chamber to a utilization destination; and an input conduit for transferring said working fluid received from said utilization destination to said working fluid into the fluid chamber.

A storage device for thermal energy includes a thermo-vector unit, and a thermo-accumulator unit. The thermo-vector unit includes one or more flow ducts for a working fluid. The thermo-accumulator unit includes a thermal storage material configured to operate in a thermal exchange relationship with the working fluid and for storing and releasing thermal energy due to a thermal exchange with the working fluid. The thermo-accumulator unit has a thermal diffusivity comprised between 10 and 150 mm2/s.

A storage device for thermal energy includes a thermo-vector unit, and a thermo-accumulator unit. The thermo-vector unit includes one or more flow ducts for a working fluid. The thermo-accumulator unit includes a thermal storage material configured to operate in a thermal exchange relationship with the working fluid and for storing and releasing thermal energy due to a thermal exchange with the working fluid. The thermo-accumulator unit has a thermal diffusivity comprised between 10 and 150 mm2/s.

A rotary counter-current solid/fluid contact apparatus is provided 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, or multiple sections of a stationary column. 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. The apparatus does not require a turntable to rotate multiple columns.

A rotary counter-current solid/fluid contact apparatus is provided 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, or multiple sections of a stationary column. 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. The apparatus does not require a turntable to rotate multiple columns.

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.

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.