SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE AND TRANSFER BASED UPON A BED OF FLUIDIZED PARTICLES

Abstract

A heat storage and transfer method, having: providing a plurality of heat storage and transfer modules, arranged thermally in series, each module of the plurality having a bed of fluidizable solid particles as a heat storage and transfer means; adducting a flow of a heat transfer fluid (HTF) to cross the modules in serial thermal sequence; fluidizing each of the beds of fluidizable solid particles so as to foster heat exchange between the bed particles with said heat transfer fluid, the arrangement being such that the heat transfer fluid can cross the modules in sequence according to opposite directions, to transfer or extract thermal energy, respectively, from the beds of particles.

Claims

1. A thermal energy storage and transfer system, comprising: a plurality of heat storage and transfer modules, arranged in sequence and thermally in series, each module of said plurality comprising a bed of fluidizable solid particles as a heat storage means; heat charging means, arranged to charge thermal energy into each bed, the configuration being such that each bed is brought at an operating temperature lower than the preceding bed and higher than the following one; heat extraction means, configured to host a flow of a heat transfer fluid which crosses said modules in serial thermal sequence, the configuration being such that the heat transfer fluid extracts thermal energy from said beds, crossing the sequence of modules from a lowest temperature bed to a highest temperature bed; and fluidization means of each of said beds of fluidizable solid particles, configured to adduct a flow of fluidization gas into each of said beds.

2. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said heat charging means comprises a charging circuit or conduit means, configured to host a flow of a heat transfer fluid which charges thermal energy into each of said beds and wherein said heat extraction means comprises an extraction circuit, or conduit means, configured to extract thermal energy from each of said beds.

3. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 2, wherein said extraction circuit is arranged to cross said beds in countercurrent with respect to said charging circuit.

4. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said heat charging means comprises one or more of: electric resistor means, radiant panels and solar energy-based exchangers means.

5. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the configuration is such that said heat transfer fluid crosses the modules in sequence according to opposite directions, to charge or extract thermal energy, respectively, into/from the beds.

6. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 1, comprising a single circuit configured for being crossed, alternatively, in opposite directions by a heat transfer fluid, so as to act alternatively as heat charging means and heat extraction means.

7. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said heat extraction means and/or said heat charging means comprises a plurality, in particular a couple, of conduits arranged in parallel so as to perform a same heat charging or heat extraction operation.

8. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said modules comprises additional heat charging means configured to charge additional thermal energy into the bed of said module.

9. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to the claim 8, wherein said additional heat charging means comprises one or more of: electric resistor means, radiant panels, solar energy-based exchangers means.

10. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage and transfer modules of said plurality share a common casing and are separated by thermally-insulating partitioning means.

11. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 10, wherein said partitioning means allows a fluid communication of the fluidization gas adducted into each bed among the environments hosting said beds, above a free surface thereof.

12. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 10, wherein said partitioning means impedes any fluid communication of the fluidization gas between the environments hosting each of said beds.

13. The thermal energy storage and transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said fluidization means comprises a respective fluidization unit for each of said heat storage and transfer modules.

14. A thermal energy storage and transfer method, comprising: providing a plurality of heat storage and transfer modules, arranged in sequence and thermally in series, each module of said plurality comprising a bed of fluidizable solid particles as a heat storage means; charging thermal energy into each bed, in such a way that each bed is brought at an operating temperature lower than the preceding bed and higher than the following one; adducting a flow of a heat transfer fluid to cross said modules in serial thermal sequence, in such a way that the heat transfer fluid extracts thermal energy from said beds, crossing the sequence of modules from a lowest temperature bed to a highest temperature bed.

15. The thermal energy storage and transfer method according to claim 14, the arrangement being such that the heat transfer fluid can cross the modules in sequence according to opposite directions, to transfer or extract thermal energy, respectively, from the beds.

16. The thermal energy storage and transfer method according to claim 14, comprising a step of fluidizing each of said beds so as to foster heat exchange between the bed particles with said heat transfer fluid or other heat charging means.

17. The thermal energy storage and transfer method according to claim 14, wherein the environments hosting said beds are in fluid communication of fluidization gas above a free surface of such beds.

18. The thermal energy storage and transfer method according to claim 14, wherein a thermal energy charging operation from the heat transfer fluid to each of said beds occurs alternatively to a thermal energy extraction operation from said beds to said heat transfer fluid.

19. The thermal energy storage and transfer method according to claim 14, wherein a thermal energy charging operation from the heat transfer fluid to each of said beds occurs countercurrently to a thermal energy extraction operation from said beds to said heat transfer fluid.

20. The thermal energy storage and transfer method according to claim 14, wherein at least one of a thermal energy charging operation from the heat transfer fluid to each of said beds and a thermal energy extraction operation from said beds to said heat transfer fluid occurs by a plurality of conduits hosting the heat transfer fluid and arranged in parallel.

21. The thermal energy storage and transfer method according to claim 14, wherein said step of charging thermal energy is performed by using one or more of: electric resistor means, radiant panels and solar energy-based exchangers means.

22. The thermal energy storage and transfer method according to claim 14, comprising a further step of charging additional thermal energy into at least one of the beds by additional heat transfer means comprising one or more of: electric resistor means, radiant panels, solar energy-based exchangers means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:

[0044] FIGS. 1 to 5 have already been introduced above in explaining the technical basis of the present invention;

[0045] FIGS. 6A and 68 show schematic representations, in lateral sectional view and plan view, respectively, of a thermal energy storage and transfer configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] FIGS. 7A and 7B show schematic representations, in lateral sectional view and plan view, respectively, of a thermal energy storage and transfer configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] FIGS. 8A and 88 show schematic representations, in lateral sectional view and plan view, respectively, of a thermal energy storage and transfer configuration according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] FIGS. 9A and 9B show schematic representations, in lateral sectional view and plan view, respectively, of a thermal energy storage and transfer configuration according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] FIGS. 10A and 10B show schematic representations, in lateral sectional view and plan view, respectively, of a thermal energy storage and transfer configuration according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] FIG. 11 shows a diagrammatic representation of the thermal behaviour of a charging and discharging cycle in an exemplary thermal energy storage and transfer configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0051] Several embodiments and variants of the invention will be described below, with reference to the figures already introduced.

[0052] Generally speaking, analogous components are indicated in the various figures using corresponding reference numbers. In particular, five embodiments are presented below, wherein the reference numbers of the components for each embodiment have as first digit 1 to 5, respectively, the following two digits remaining the same for homologous or similar elements.

[0053] Further embodiments and variants other than those already described will be explained solely in conjunction with the most relevant differences with respect to the preceding ones.

[0054] Moreover, the features of the various embodiments and variants described below are to be understood as combinable, where compatible.

[0055] With reference, initially, to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a system, or device, for thermal energy storage and transfer according to a first embodiment of the invention is globally denoted by 100.

[0056] The system 100 comprises four heat storage and transfer modules, or compartments or cells, denoted by reference numbers from 151 to 154, respectively. The modules 151-154 are arranged thermally in series within a common casing 110. The casing 110 is preferably equipped with a thermal insulation lining suitable to minimise heat losses to the external environment.

[0057] Adjacent modules in the thermal sequence are separated by thermally-insulating partitions, or walls, denoted by 161-163, respectively, so as to allow maintaining a difference in the operating temperature among the compartments.

[0058] Each module comprises a bed of fluidizable solid particles, denoted by way of example with 150 for the first module 151. The bed of particles, in particular sand particles, acts as a thermal energy storage and transfer means, as will be explained shortly below.

[0059] In use, the particles of each bed are fluidized by fluidization means, denoted by way of example with 120 for the first module 151, which adducts a fluidization gas, in particular air, into the beds. The fluidization means comprises a respective fluidization unit for each module. In particular, a fluidization air distribution device is arranged at the floor of each compartment, in such a way to allow independent control of gas distribution among the modules.

[0060] In the present embodiment, the partitions 161-163 allow a fluid communication of the fluidization gas between the environments of the various compartments above a free surface 130 of the beds, i.e. the gas adducted into one bed, after crossing it longitudinally, can merge with the fluidization gas in other modules. Therefore, each partition 161-163 extends above the free surface 130 of the beds, but below a roof, or top wall or part, of casing 110. In the present example, the longitudinal (vertical) level of the free surface 130 is the same for each module, as well as the width of each compartment (distance between adjacent partitions) is the same.

[0061] The fluidization means is configured to adduct a flow of fluidization gas into the bed of each module, so as to foster heat exchange between the bed particles and a heat transfer fluid (HTF) flowing within heat transfer means. The latter, shown as 101, 102 in FIG. 6A, are immersed in the particle beds and arranged to cross said modules 151-154 in serial thermal sequence.

[0062] The transfer means may include one or more conduits.

[0063] The HTF may be steam, CO.sub.2, supercritical CO.sub.2, hot air, flue gas or other.

[0064] In the embodiment shown, the heat transfer means comprises a first circuit, or conduit means, 101, 101 configured to charge thermal energy to the bed of each module, and a second circuit or conduit means, 102, 102, configured to extract thermal energy from the bed of each module. The second circuit 102, 102 is arranged to cross said beds in countercurrent with respect to the first circuit 101, 101 as shown by arrows in FIG. 6A.

[0065] The counter-current circuits 101, 101 and 102, 102 can be activated simultaneously or alternatively, depending upon the specific thermal needs of the plant the system 100 is included in.

[0066] Generally speaking, each HTF circuit can be divided in more sub-circuits, arranged in parallel, in order to provide the desired input/output power.

[0067] As can be appreciated from the plan view of FIG. 6B, in the present embodiment each first and second circuit comprises a couple of conduits, denoted by 101, 101 for the first one and by 102, 102 for the second one, arranged thermally, and in the example shown also geometrically, in parallel so as to perform a same heat charging or heat extraction operation.

[0068] In operation, the first circuit 101, 101 charges thermal energy to the beds so that the first bed in the sequence is brought to the higher temperature and the last bed of the sequence to the lowest temperature. In general, each intermediate bed in the sequence has a temperature lower than the preceding one and higher than the following one. The reverse occurs in the sequence of beds that is crossed in the thermal energy extraction process.

[0069] A second embodiment of the system according to the invention, globally denoted by 200, is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. In this case, the heat transfer means comprises a single circuit, or conduit means, 201, 201 configured for being crossed, alternatively, in opposite directions by the heat transfer fluid, so as to act alternatively as a heat charging circuit and a heat extraction circuit for each module.

[0070] This embodiment has the advantage of a more compact and cost-effective solution when compared to the first embodiment. It may be applied when the thermal energy charging and discharging phases of the beds do not need to be simultaneous.

[0071] In the embodiment of FIG. 7A, the partitions, denoted by 261-263, impede fluid communication between the environments hosting each bed (the latter denoted by 250 for the first module 251). In particular, the partitions 261-263 are elevated to the roof of the fluidized bed casing 210.

[0072] Considering that the fluidization air flow leaving each compartment has typically the same temperature of the fluid bed mass of that compartment (due to the generally small amount of air compared to the fluid bed mass), the present arrangement allows keeping the different fluidization air flows separated and to maintain their different temperature values. The separate flow of gas exiting from the free surface of the beds can be handled independently or jointly by means known in the art.

[0073] FIGS. 8A and 8B refer to a third embodiment 300 which combines the previous ones, in that partitions 361-363 allow fluid communication between modules and a single circuit, or conduit means, 301, 301 is provided.

[0074] FIGS. 9A and 9B relate to a fourth embodiment 400, compatible with the configurations of each of the previous ones, wherein each module 451-454 comprises additional heat charging means, denoted by way of example with 470 for the first module 451, configured to charge thermal energy to the bed of particles.

[0075] In the present example, the additional heat charging means are electric heaters 471, in particular electric resistors, at least partially immersed in the beds of particles and generating heat by Joule effect.

[0076] FIGS. 10A and 10B relate to a fifth embodiment 500, compatible with the configurations of each of the previous ones, wherein each module 551-554 comprises additional heat charging means, denoted by way of example with 570 for the first module 551, configured to charge thermal energy to the bed of particles and arranged at a top part of the common casing 510. In the present example, the additional heat charging means are electric radiant panels 571 facing the beds of particles.

[0077] Variant embodiments may provide additional heat charging means in form of solar energybased exchanger means.

[0078] In the embodiments employing the additional heat charging means, the bed of each compartment can be charged with thermal energy by means of said additional heating means in combination with the HTF or, in selected operational phases wherein thermal power from HTF is not available, by the additional heating means alone.

[0079] Moreover, in case of hybrid charging, i.e. by electricity and by the HTF, energy charging by electrical heaters and high temperature HTF can be simultaneous or not, according to the availability of said energy sources during time and to their economic convenience (i.e. charging when electricity and HTF costs are low).

[0080] Operation of the system of the invention according to the embodiments disclosed above will now be explained in greater detail.

[0081] In each of the above embodiments, during a charging phase high temperature HTF (e.g. high temperature steam) enters the first module, or compartment, releasing part of its energy to the fluid bed, then exits the first compartment and enters the second one, releasing part of its residual energy and so on. By continuing to the third and following compartments arranged in the series, heat from the HTF is progressively released to the storage fluid bed, until the HTF thermal content is preferably exhausted. In this way, the temperature profile along the compartments progressively decreases from the first compartment to the last one in the series. As a consequence, thanks to the mentioned multi-compartment module arrangement, a higher amount of thermal energy can be transferred from the HTF to the storage fluid bed, compared to the case with a single isothermal module of the aforementioned prior art, keeping unchanged the total fluid bed particles mass.

[0082] For example, in case the charging phase is made by superheated steam, the multi-compartment module arrangement allows cooling down the steam progressively and condensate it in order to recover, partially or totally, its latent heat content, which means that the stored heat can be significantly higher compared to the single isothermal module case.

[0083] During a discharging phase, the cold HTF (e.g. feedwater) enters the last compartment, the coldest in the series, and is there heated up by the fluid bed sand; then, the HTF exits the last compartment and enters the second last one, which operates at higher temperature than the previous one, thus the HTF can be further heated up and so on. By crossing the next compartments, the HTF is progressively heated up until it reaches the first compartment.

[0084] As a consequence of said discharging mode of the multi-compartment arrangement, a higher temperature HTF can be generated, for a longer time, compared to the case with a single isothermal module, thus enabling the accomplishment of a wider range of thermal processes and, also, the possibility to convert the heat of the generated HTF into electricity by means of more effective cycles.

[0085] For example, the multi-compartment arrangement allows heating up, evaporating and superheating feedwater progressively in the fluid bed compartments series, allowing generation of higher temperature steam compared to the single isothermal unit case.

[0086] Each of the above embodiments can be used in a heat storage and transfer method, comprising the following main steps: [0087] providing a plurality of heat storage and transfer modules, arranged thermally in series, [0088] each module of said plurality comprising a bed of fluidizable solid particles as a heat storage means; [0089] adducting a flow of a heat transfer fluid (HTF) to cross said modules in serial thermal sequence to charge thermal energy therein, or providing thermal energy to the beds with other means, in such a way that each (intermediate) bed of the sequence has a temperature lower than the preceding one and higher than the following one; [0090] fluidizing each of said beds of fluidizable solid particles so as to foster heat exchange between the bed particles with said heat transfer fluid or with the other heat charging means.

[0091] A preferred arrangement is such that the heat transfer fluid is used also to extract thermal energy from the modules. In this case, the heat transfer fluid can cross the modules in sequence according to opposite directions, to charge or extract thermal energy, respectively, into/from the beds of particles.

[0092] Charging heat in the modules can also be done in combination by the HTF and by other sources, like electricity.

[0093] The selected HTF arrangement and/or the alternative heat sources allows bringing each module at the desired operating temperature.

[0094] Following the above description, several design parameters can be selected to optimise storage cycles capabilities and HTF generation, such as the number of compartments, the particle mass in each compartment, the in-bed heat exchange surface, the heat charging and discharging phases duration, the HTF flow rate, the temperature in each compartment and the possibility for hybrid charging of the beds by HTF and electricity.

Numerical Examples

Serial Arrangement of Fluid-Bed Compartments

[0095] As an example, FIG. 11 shows the scheme of a fluidized bed system, with four compartments in series. In this example, the fluid bed mass can be assumed the same in each compartment and it can be noted that: [0096] maximal particle (sand) temperature is the same for all modules (e.g. at 620 C.), due, for instance, to a combination of energy charging, such as electricity plus superheated steam; [0097] a different minimum sand temperature is used in each module: [0098] from a sand temperature T.sub.1,min in in module 1 (higher than the desired outlet steam temperature, e.g. T.sub.1,min>500 C.) [0099] to a lower temperature T.sub.4,min in module 4 (T.sub.4,min higher than feedwater temperature, e.g. T.sub.4,min>130 C.) [0100] T (T.sub.max-T.sub.min) increases from compartment 1 to 4.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 11, charging of energy happens by process steam which enters compartment 1 (e.g. at 550 C.) and undergoes a progressive cooling across the compartments, which may allow condensation of steam until compartment 4. Heat released by the steam across the compartments is captured by the fluid bed mass in each compartment and is there stored. Thermal energy storage capacity is different in each compartment and shows an increasing profile from compartment 1 to compartment 4, in association to the increasing T profile.

[0102] In addition to heat charging by steam, electricity can be used (simultaneously or not) to increase, by Joule effect, the fluid bed temperature of each compartment up to the desired value (for example 620 C.) and, correspondingly, relevant heat storage capacity.

[0103] During thermal energy storage discharge, water enters (for example at 130 C.) compartment 4 and undergoes there a first step of heating, then exits compartment 4 and enters compartment 3, with a second step of heating, and so on until it exits compartment 1, as steam at the desired temperature (for example 500 C.).

[0104] The series of compartment, in this way, allow a progressive heating of the produced HTF during discharging phase: this is made possible by the progressively higher values of the solid particles minimum temperature T.sub.min.

[0105] The maximum operating temperature (T.sub.max) in each module, same or different among modules, can be decided according to the need and in compliance with the availability of the heating sources (electricity, waste heat, or other).

[0106] The system total heat storage capacity Q.sub.tot will be given by adding the single heat storage capacities of each module i, as per formula below.

[00002]$\begin{array}{cc}{Q}_{\mathrm{tot}}={.Math.}_1^n{Q}_i={.Math.}_1^n{m}_i*c_{p,i}*T_i& \left(\mathrm{formula}2\right)\end{array}$

wherein in the present case i=(1, . . . , 4).

[0107] In a system based on such configuration, as said, several parameters can be combined to realize the desired energy charging, storage and discharging cycles, such as the number of compartments, the heat charging and discharging phases duration, the fluid bed mass in each compartment, the in-bed heat exchange surface in each compartment, the HTF flow rate and quality during charging and discharging phases, the operational fluid bed temperatures temperature (T.sub.min, T.sub.max) in each compartment and, in case of hybrid charging by HTF and electricity, the electric power in each compartment.

Comparison Between Multi-Compartment Vs Single-Compartment Arrangement

[0108] To better appreciate the advantages of the multi-compartment solution according to the invention compared to the conventional single compartment, in this section some non-limitative numerical examples are given.

[0109] A first case is analysed, as a Heat to Heat configuration, where the fluidized bed energy storage system is charged by heat, available as superheated steam, and after a certain storage time, stored thermal energy is released to generate steam again.

[0110] A comparison is made between the single-compartment vs the multi-compartment, assuming for the latter a division in 2, 4 and 6 compartments. In this comparison, the same boundary conditions have been assumed, namely:

TABLE-US-00001 Steam quality, charge phase: 555 C./60 bar Steam flow rate, charge phase: 20 kg/s Steam quality, discharge phase: 300 C./30 bar Feedwater temperature: 146 C. Total fluid bed mass: 500 tons Total in-bed heat exchange surface: 600 m.sup.2 Duration of charge phase: 5 h Duration of discharge phase: 5 h

[0111] The following Table 1 shows the operational temperature range (T.sub.min, T.sub.max) of each compartment, where compartment 1 is where steam is introduced for thermal charging and last compartment is where feedwater is introduced for steam generation during discharge, in countercurrent to the charging steam flow.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Single Compartment Multi Compartment Number of compartments 1 2 4 6 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 1 477-295 520-319 538-374 546-407 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 2 461-221 516-262 531-294 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 3 484-232 513-254 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 4 446-191 491-237 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 5 467-213 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 6 443-176 Thermal energy storage capacity (MWh, t) 33.9 40.8 43.0 43.4 Increase in storage capacity (%) 20.4 26.8 28.0 Increase in steam flow rate generation (%) 20.4 26.8 28.0

[0112] Table 1 above shows that in the multi-compartment system a temperature gradient is created among the compartments: fluid bed temperature profile across the series of compartments decreases from the first to the last compartment, during charge and increases from last compartment to first one during discharge.

[0113] In this way, the heat content of charging steam is better utilized, in fact steam leaving the last compartment has an enthalpy which becomes lower and lower as the number of compartments increases, thus allowing a higher energy storage with higher number of compartments, keeping unchanged all the other boundary conditions.

[0114] Table 1 shows, particularly, the expected increase of the thermal storage capacity and of the generated steam flow rate provided by the multi-compartment solution, which, for this specific case, are evaluated as 20.4%, 26.8%, 28.0%, respectively for 2, 4 and 6 compartments.

[0115] A second case is now analysed, as a Power to Heat configuration, where the fluidized bed energy storage system is charged only by electricity, available at low cost at certain hours, typically due to overproduction of intermittent renewables such as PV and wind; after a certain storage time, stored thermal energy is released to generate high quality steam.

[0116] In this case, the comparison is made between a single compartment vs two multi-compartment solutions, for example with 2 and 6 compartments, with the same boundary conditions in all cases, specifically:

TABLE-US-00003 Total fluid bed mass: 3000 tons Total in-bed heat exchange surface: 3000 m.sup.2 Steam quality, discharge phase: 500 C./30 bar Duration of charge phase: 5 h Duration of discharge phase: 5 h

[0117] Electricity for heating is charged at the maximum possible power, taking into in consideration parameters such as the heaters design limits (here assumed for example at 80 kW/m.sup.2 of available surface) and the maximum design temperature limit of the fluid bed (in this example assumed at 620 C.).

[0118] Table 2 below shows some major results of this analysis. As it can be noted, in this example the limit of fluid bed design temperature (620 C.) and the need to produce high quality steam (500 C./30 bar) cause, in the case of the single compartment solution, a limitation of the usable electric power for the electric heaters, well below their maximum allowable value (80 kW/m.sup.2). The multi-compartment solution, on the contrary, allows an operational fluid bed temperature profile, in the compartments after the first one, which offers the possibility to install electric heaters reaching their full maximum allowable power, which is of course advantageous.

[0119] As a consequence, the expected thermal storage capacity and the generated steam flow rate are both higher in the case of the multi-compartment solution compared to the single-compartment one, as shown, for this specific example, in Table 2 below: particularly the increase over the single compartment solution is evaluated as 37.7% and 56.5%, respectively for the solution with 2 and with 6 compartments.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 2 Single Compartment Multi Compartment Number of compartments 1 2 6 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 1 620-502 620-499 620-519 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 2 468-251 540-335 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 3 491-277 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 4 470-257 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 5 453-237 Sand temperature regime ( C.) - Comp. 6 418-195 Sand average temperature difference ( C.) 118 169 195 Total electric heaters power (MW) 27.7 38.2 44.1 Thermal energy storage capacity (MWh, t) 138 190 216 Increase in storage capacity (%) 37.7 56.5 Increase in steam flow rate generation (%) 37.7 56.5

[0120] The present invention has been described so far with reference to preferred embodiments. It is intended that there may be other embodiments which refer to the same inventive concept as defined by the scope of the following claims.