Heat exchange system with a joint active fluid motion device for the charging mode and for the discharging mode and method for exchanging heat by using the heat exchange system

Abstract

A heat exchange system with at least one heat exchange chamber with heat exchange chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber, wherein the heat exchange chamber boundaries include at least one first opening for guiding in an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one second opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior is provided. 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.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system, comprising: at least one heat exchange chamber with heat exchange chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber, a charging unit for charging a heat transfer fluid, and a discharging unit for discharging the heat transfer fluid, wherein the heat exchange chamber, charging unit, and discharging unit form a closed loop system for the heat transfer fluid, wherein the heat exchange chamber boundaries comprise at least one first opening for guiding in an inflow of the heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior during a charging mode, at least one second opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid out of the heat exchange chamber interior during the charging mode and guiding in an inflow of the heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior during a discharging mode, and a third opening for guiding out an outflow of the heat transfer fluid during the discharging mode; wherein 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; wherein the heat exchange system can be operated in the charging mode with a heat transfer from the heat transfer fluid to the heat storage material and the discharging mode with a heat transfer from the heat storage material to the heat transfer fluid; wherein the heat exchange system is equipped with at least one joint active fluid motion device with which the heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior during the charging mode and during the discharging mode is caused, wherein the heat exchange system is configured such that the at least one joint active fluid motion device receives the heat transfer fluid from the at least one second opening and provides the heat transfer fluid to the at least one first opening during the charging mode, wherein the at least one joint active fluid motion device receives the heat transfer fluid from the third opening and provides the heat transfer fluid to the at least one second opening during the discharging mode, wherein the charging unit comprises at least one electrical heating device which is selected from the group consisting of resistance heater, inductive heater, emitter of electromagnetic radiation and heat pump, wherein the discharging unit discharges the heat transfer fluid of the outflow from heat for production of electricity, and wherein the discharging unit comprises at least one water/steam cycle for driving a turbine of a steam power plant.

2. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the active fluid motion device is selected from the group consisting of blower, fan and pump.

3. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one passive fluid control device for controlling the heat exchange flow through the heat exchange chamber interior which is selected from the group consisting of activatable bypass pipe, damper, flap, nozzle and valve.

4. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage material comprises at least one of sand and stones.

5. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer fluid comprises a gas at ambient gas pressure.

6. The heat exchange system according to claim 5, wherein the gas at the ambient pressure is air.

7. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, comprising a closed loop, wherein the inflow of the heat transfer fluid comprises the outflow of the heat transfer fluid.

8. A method for exchanging heat by using a heat exchange system, comprising: guiding, in an operating mode of the heat exchange system, a heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through a heat exchange chamber interior, and causing a heat exchange between heat storage material and the heat transfer fluid; wherein the operating mode is selected from the group consisting of charging mode and discharging mode; wherein the heat exchange flow for the charging mode and the heat exchange flow for the discharging mode are caused by a same active fluid motion device, wherein the heat exchange system is configured such that the same active fluid motion device receives the heat transfer fluid via an inlet port of the same active fluid motion device from at least one second opening and provides the heat transfer fluid to at least one first opening during the charging mode, wherein the same active fluid motion device receives the heat transfer fluid via the inlet port from at least one third opening and provides the heat transfer fluid to the at least one second opening during the discharging mode, wherein, in the charging mode, the heat transfer fluid is charged by a charging unit before guiding through the heat exchange chamber interior, and wherein, in the discharging mode, the heat transfer fluid is discharged for production of electricity by a discharging unit after guiding through the heat exchange chamber interior.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein during the charging mode the heat exchange flow is directed in a charging mode direction; during the discharging mode the heat exchange flow is directed in a discharging mode direction; and the charging mode direction and the discharging mode direction are opposed to each other within the heat exchange chamber interior.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a heat exchange chamber of the heat exchange system;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a temperature distribution of the heat exchange chamber of FIG. 1 in a charging mode;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the heat exchange system of the state of the art in a charging mode;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the heat exchanges system of the state of the art in a discharging mode;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the heat exchange system with one joint active fluid motion device for charging cycle and the discharging cycle;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the heat exchange system with one joint active fluid motion device for charging cycle and the discharging cycle; and

(8) FIG. 7 shows the heat exchange system with one joint active fluid motion device for charging cycle and the discharging cycle.

(9) Core of embodiments of the invention is a heat exchange system 1 with a heat exchange chamber 11 on a high temperature level.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Heat storage material 121 (e.g. stones or sand) which is located in the heat exchange chamber interior 112 of the heat exchange chamber 11 can be charged and discharged with heat via the heat transfer fluid 13. Heat is stored by the heat storage material 121 and can be released from the storage material.

(11) The temperature level of the stored heat is significantly higher compared to methods applied so far to increase the efficiency. The temperature level lies between 300° C. and 1000° C., preferably between 500° C. and 1000° C., more preferably between 650° C. and 1000° C. and most preferably between 700° C. and 1000° C. The thermal capacity of the heat exchange system 1 lies in the range between 0.3 GWh and 100 GWh which causes a thermal power of 50 MW.

(12) The heat exchange system 1 comprises at least one heat exchange chamber 11 with heat exchange chamber boundaries 111 which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior 112 of the heat exchange chamber 11. The heat exchange chamber 11 is a horizontal heat exchange chamber 113.

(13) The heat exchange chamber boundaries 111 comprise at least one first opening 1111 for guiding in an inflow 132 of at least one heat transfer fluid 131 into the heat exchange chamber interior 112 and at least one second opening 1112 for guiding an outflow 133 of the heat transfer fluid 131 out of the heat exchange chamber interior 112. At least one heat storage material 121 is arranged in the heat exchange chamber interior 112 such that a heat exchange flow 13 of the heat transfer fluid 131 through the heat exchange chamber interior 112 causes a heat exchange between the heat storage material 121 and the heat transfer fluid 131.

(14) The heat exchange system can be operated in an operating mode which is selected from the group consisting of charging mode with a heat transfer from the heat transfer fluid to the heat storage material and a discharging mode with a heat transfer from the heat storage material to the heat transfer fluid.

(15) The heat exchange system is equipped with at least one active fluid motion device with which the heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid through the heat exchange chamber interior during the charging mode and during the discharging mode is caused. The active fluid motion is a blower.

(16) In addition, the heat exchange system is equipped with a number of passive fluid control devices for controlling the heat exchange flow through the heat exchange chamber interior. These passive fluid control devices are damper and valves.

(17) A heat exchange system concerning the state of the art with at least one active fluid motion device for each of the charging cycle and the discharging cycle is depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 5 show a heat exchange system with open charging and discharging cycles. FIG. 6 show a heat exchange system with closed charging cycle and an open discharging cycle, whereas FIG. 7 shows a heat exchange system with an open charging cycle, but a closed discharging cycle.

(18) Exemplarily, the heat exchange chamber length of the horizontal heat exchange chamber 11 is about 200 m, the heat exchange chamber height of the heat exchange chamber 11 is about 10 m and the heat exchange chamber width of the heat exchange chamber is about 50 m.

(19) With the aid of the proposed heat exchange system 1, thermal energy can be stored on a high temperature level during the charging mode. This stored thermal energy can be used during the discharging mode for the production of steam in a water steam cycle for reconversion into electrical energy.

(20) One or more heat exchange chambers 11 are filled with solid heat storage material 121. The solid heat storage material comprises stones. Alternatively, sand is used.

(21) There is a transition area 116 of the heat exchange chamber 11 with a tapering profile 1161. Thereby an opening diameter 1113 of the opening 1111 or 1112 aligns to a first tapering profile diameter 1162 of the tapering profile 1161 and a chamber diameter 117 of the heat exchange chamber 11 aligns to a second tapering profile diameter 1163 of the tapering profile 1161.

(22) The inflow 132 of the heat transfer fluid 13 is guided into the heat exchange chamber interior 112. The guided inflow 132 is distributed to a wide area of heat storage material 121. By this measure a capacity of the heat exchange unit (heat storage material 121 which is located in the heat exchange chamber interior 112) can be utilized in an advantageous manner.

(23) The transition area 116 is short. The short transition area 116 projects into the heat exchange chamber 11. The result is a short transition channel for the guiding of the inflow 132 into the heat exchange chamber interior 112 of the heat exchange chamber 11.

(24) In the charging mode, the heat transfer fluid 131 enters the heat exchange chamber 11 through a diffuser 1164. The diffuser 1164 comprises stones 1165 and is arranged at the transition area 116 of the heat exchange chamber 11.

(25) The heat exchange flow 13 of the heat transfer fluid 131 is directed in the charging mode direction 135. The flow adjusting element 134, 1341 is advantageous installed upstream of the charging unit 200, 201 (FIG. 3): Relatively cold heat transfer fluid passes the flow adjusting element 134, 1341 before absorbing heat from the charging unit.

(26) For the charging mode, the heat transfer fluid 131 is heated up from ambient conditions by the electrical heating device 201 (charging unit 200). This charged (heated) heat transfer fluid is guided into the heat exchange chamber interior 112 of the heat exchange chamber 11 for charging of the heat storage material. Thereby the heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and the heat storage material takes place. With reference 2000 the temperature front at a certain time of this charging process is shown (FIG. 2). In addition, the temperature gradient 2001 which results in the temperature front is depicted.

(27) For the discharging mode the heat exchange system 1 comprises one or several heat exchange chambers 11 mentioned above, an active fluid motion device 1341 to circulate the heat transfer fluid 131 and a thermal machine for re-electrification, which can be a water/steam cycle 1003. The working fluid of this cycle is water and steam. The water/steam cycle 1003 has the function of a discharging unit 400. Essential components of the steam turbine cycle 1003 are a steam turbine 1006 and a generator 1004.

(28) In the discharging mode, the heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid is directed into the charging mode direction 136.

(29) With the aid of the heat exchange system (heat exchanger) 1002 heat of the heat transfer fluid is transferred to the working fluid of the steam cycle 1003.

(30) The heat exchange system 1 comprises a closed loop 1005. Heat exchange fluid which has passed the heat exchange chamber interior 112 is guided back into the heat exchange chamber interior 112.

(31) Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

(32) For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.