HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM WITH AT LEAST TWO HEAT EXCHANGE CHAMBERS AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING HEAT BY USING THE HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A heat exchange system with at least two heat exchange chambers is provided. Each of the heat exchange chambers includes heat exchange chamber boundaries which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the heat exchange chamber. The heat exchange chamber boundaries include at least one first opening for guiding in of an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior and at least one second opening for guiding out of 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. The flow through the chamber interior can be adjusted individually.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system, comprising: at least two heat exchange chambers, each of the at least two heat exchange chambers including heat exchange chamber boundaries that surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the at least two heat exchange chambers, wherein the heat exchange chamber boundaries comprise at least one first opening for guiding in of an inflow of at least one heat transfer fluid into the at least one heat exchange chamber interior and at least one second opening for guiding out of an outflow of the at least one heat transfer fluid out of the at least one heat exchange chamber interior; and at least one heat storage material arranged in the at least one heat exchange chamber interior such that a heat exchange flow of the at least one heat transfer fluid through the at least one heat exchange chamber interior causes a heat exchange between the at least one heat storage material and the at least one heat transfer fluid; wherein the heat exchange flow through the at least one heat exchange chamber interior of each of the at least two heat exchange chambers can be adjusted individually with the aid of at least one flow adjusting element.

2. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flow adjusting element is designed for adjusting the inflow into the at least one heat exchange chamber interior of at least one of the at least two heat exchange chambers and/or for adjusting the outflow out of the at least one heat exchange chamber interior of at least one of the at least two heat exchange chambers.

3. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flow adjusting element comprises at least one flow suppressing element.

4. The heat exchange system according claim 1, wherein the at least one flow adjusting element and/or the at least one flow suppressing element comprise at least one passive fluid control device which is selected from the group consisting of: an activatable bypass pipe, a nozzle, a damper, a flap, and a valve.

5. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flow adjusting element comprises at least one active fluid motion device which is selected from the group consisting of: a blower, a fan and a pump.

6. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat exchange chamber interiors of the at least two heat exchange chambers are conjunct together with the aid of at least one conjunction element for guiding of the at least one heat transfer fluid.

7. The heat exchange system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one conjunction element comprises at least one ducting element and/or at least one switching element.

8. The heat exchange system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one switching element and/or the at least one ducting element comprise the at least one flow adjusting element.

9. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat exchange chamber interiors of the at least two heat exchange chambers are serially connected together such that the inflow of the at least one heat transfer fluid into the at least one heat exchange chamber interior of one of the at least two heat exchange chambers comprises the outflow of the at least one heat transfer fluid out of the at least one heat exchange chamber interior of the other heat exchange chamber.

10. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one charging unit for heating the at least one heat transfer fluid of at least one of the at least two heat exchange chambers.

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

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

13. The heat exchange system according to claim 12, wherein the gas at the ambient gas pressure is air.

14. A method for exchanging heat by using the heat exchange system according claim 1, wherein the heat exchange flows through the at least one heat exchange chamber interior of each of the at least two heat exchange chambers is individually adjusted with the aid of the at least one flow adjusting element.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the heat exchange flow through the at least one heat exchange chamber interior of at least one of the at least two heat exchange chambers interrupted during an idle mode of the heat exchange system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0080] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members wherein:

[0081] FIG. 1 shows a heat exchange chamber of the heat exchange system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0082] FIG. 2 shows a temperature distribution of the heat exchange chamber of FIG. 1 in a charging mode, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0083] FIG. 3 shows the heat exchange system in a charging mode, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0084] FIG. 4 shows the same heat exchanges system in a discharging mode, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0085] FIG. 5A shows the shape of the temperature front in the heat exchange chamber interior after the charging mode process is stopped, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0086] FIG. 5B shows the shape of the temperature front in the heat exchange chamber interior after a period of idle, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0087] FIG. 6 shows a heat exchange system with small heat exchange chambers in series, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0088] FIG. 7 shows a heat exchange system with small heat exchange chambers in series, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0089] FIG. 8 shows a heat exchange system with small heat exchange chambers in series, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0090] FIG. 9 shows a heat exchange system with small heat exchange chambers in series, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0091] FIG. 10 shows a heat exchange system with small heat exchange chambers in series, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and

[0092] FIG. 11 shows a heat exchange system with small heat exchange chambers in series, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0093] The essential component of embodiments of the invention is a heat exchange system 1 with at least two heat exchange chambers 11 and 12 on a high temperature level.

[0094] 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 and 12 and 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 release from the storage material 121.

[0095] 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.

[0096] The heat exchange chambers 11 and 12 comprise heat exchange chamber boundaries 111 which surround at least one heat exchange chamber interior 112 of the heat exchange chambers 11 and 12. The heat exchange chamber 11 and 12 are a horizontal heat exchange chambers 113.

[0097] 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.

[0098] 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.

[0099] 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.

[0100] The heat exchange chamber 11 and the further heat exchange chamber 12 are filled with solid heat storage material 121. The solid heat storage material 121 comprises stones. Alternatively, sand is used as heat storage material 121.

[0101] There are transition area 116 of the heat exchange chambers 11 and 12 with tapering profiles 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 chambers 11 or 12 aligns to a second tapering profile diameter 1163 of the tapering profile 1161.

[0102] 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.

[0103] The transition areas 116 of the heat exchange chambers 11 and 12 are short. The short transition areas 116 project into the respective heat exchange chambers 11 and 12. In each case, the result is a short transition channel for the guiding of the inflow 132 of the heat transfer fluid into the heat exchange chamber interior 112 of the heat exchange chambers 11 and 12.

[0104] The heat exchange flows 13 through the heat exchange chamber interior of each of the heat exchange chambers 11 and 12 can be adjusted individually with the aid of at least one flow adjusting element 134. The flow adjusting element 134 is a flow suppressing element 1343, which is a passive fluid control device 1342.

[0105] The heat exchange system 1 is additionally equipped with at least one flow adjusting element 134 for additionally adjusting a mass flow of the heat exchange flow 13 of the heat transfer fluid 131 through the heat exchange chamber interior 112 of the respective heat exchange chamber 11 and 12. The flow adjusting element 134 is an active fluid motion device 1341 like a blower or a pump. Such a device enables a transportation of the heat transfer fluid 131 through the heat exchange chamber interior 112 of the heat exchange chambers 11 and 12. The blower or the pump can be installed upstream or downstream of to the heat exchange chamber 11 and 12.

[0106] 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.

[0107] The heat exchange flow 13 of the heat transfer fluid 131 is directed in the charging mode direction 135. The additional 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.

[0108] For the charging mode, the heat transfer fluid 131 is heated up 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.

[0109] 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.

[0110] In the discharging mode, the heat exchange flow of the heat transfer fluid is directed into the discharging mode direction 136 (FIGS. 3 and 4 refer to the heat exchange system with the same heat exchange chamber 11).

[0111] 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.

[0112] 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.

[0113] Additional aspects of the embodiments are derived from the different figures:

[0114] FIGS. 5A and 5B show the development of the temperature front 2000 in a heat exchange chamber interior 112 after the charging mode process is stopped. During idling the heat storage chambers can be disconnected from each other by using switching elements 142 (for instance, see FIG. 8). The switching element 142 is a valve. The switching element 142 prevents a mass flow of the heat transfer fluid between the heat exchange chamber interiors 112 of the heat exchange chamber 11 and 12 initiated by natural convection. So mixing of heat transfer fluids and hence mixing of temperature between the heat storage chambers 11 and 12 is prevented. The temperature profile can only flatten out in the respective heat exchange chamber interior 112 that are not fully charged and contain the temperature gradient (see FIGS. 5A and 5B).

[0115] FIG. 6 shows small individual heat exchange chambers in series with a closed charge cycle (loop) 15 and discharge cycle (loop). Each of the cycles comprises individual active fluid motion devices 1341. These active fluid motion devices are blowers.

[0116] The heat exchange chamber interiors of the heat exchange chambers are conjunct together with the aid of ducting elements 141 and conjunction elements 14. The conjunction elements 14 are valves. These conjunction elements 14 are passive fluid control devices 1342 in form of valves. Theses valves have the possible function of a flow suppressing element 1343. By that, the flow of the heat transfer fluid through the ducting system of the heat exchange system can be suppressed.

[0117] The charging unit 200 of the charge cycle is an electrical heating device 201. The discharging unit 400 of the discharge cycle is a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) 401.

[0118] During the charging mode, the charged heat transfer fluid 131 is 131 is guided into the first heat exchange chamber at a hot end 17 of the heat exchange system 1. At a cold end 18, the heat transfer fluid 131 is guided back to the charging unit 200.

[0119] FIG. 7 depicts small individual heat exchange chambers 11, and 12 in series with closed charge 15 and closed discharge cycle 16 with different temperature profiles during discharging.

[0120] FIG. 8 shows small individual heat exchange chambers 11 and 12 in series with closed charge 15 and closed discharge cycle 16. The heat transfer fluid 131 is guided through the heat exchange system 1 along a main path 138. In addition, the guiding through a side path 139 is possible, too. So, the heat exchange chamber interiors 112 of the heat exchange chambers are connectable in series as well as connectable in parallel. Thereby, conjunction elements 14 are used. The conjunction elements 14 are switching elements 141. The switching elements 141 are specific passive fluid control devices 1342: These passive fluid control devices are three way valves.

[0121] FIG. 9 show the embodiment based on FIG. 8 with small individual heat exchange chambers in series in a closed charge cycle 15 as well as in a closed discharge cycle 16. Different temperature profiles of the heat exchange chamber interiors are depicted. A redirection of the heat transfer fluid 131 into the heat exchange chambers 11 and 12 is possible with the aid of a side path 139 and respective switching elements 141.

[0122] FIG. 10 show the embodiment based on FIG. 8 with small individual heat exchange chambers in series in a closed charge cycle 15 as well as in a closed discharge cycle 16. In contrast to FIG. 9, different temperature profiles of the heat exchange chamber interiors are depicted. This is possible due to the individual activation of the heat exchange chambers 11 and 12.

[0123] In contrast to the above described embodiments FIG. 11 shows small individual heat exchange chambers in series with charge cycle and discharge cycle. Here, just one single duct system for the charge cycle and the discharge cycle is used.

[0124] 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.

[0125] 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.