Arrangement for storing thermal energy

Abstract

An arrangement for storing thermal energy, which has a three-dimensionally configured heat accumulator is provided. The latter contains a solid natural material for heat storage. The heat-storage material is enclosed by a fluid-impermeable, flexible layer such that the heat-storage material is insulated at least in a pressure-tight manner with regard to the environment of the heat accumulator. A flexible cover layer is provided, which is coupled to the fluid-impermeable flexible layer such that the flexible cover layer applies a surface force to the fluid-impermeable flexible layer. As a result, the fluid-impermeable flexible layer is pressed areally onto the heat-storage material. The flexible cover layer (i) has the form of a mesh or (ii) is configured in the form of sheet-metal plates overlapping one another in an imbricated manner.

Claims

1. An arrangement for storing thermal energy, comprising: a heat-storage system which is configured in three dimensions and which includes a heat-storage material, wherein the heat-storage material is surrounded by a flexible fluid-impermeable layer in a manner that at least provides pressure-tight isolation of the heat-storage material from the environment of the heat-storage system, wherein a flexible outer layer is provided, coupled to the flexible fluid-impermeable layer in a manner such that the flexible outer layer exerts an areal force on the flexible fluid-impermeable layer and the flexible fluid-impermeable layer therefore exerts areal pressure on the heat-storage material, and the flexible outer layer takes the form of a mesh, and in order to generate the areal force, hydraulic cylinders are provided, wherein the hydraulic cylinders are configured to press the flexible outer layer onto the flexible fluid-impermeable layer.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible fluid-impermeable layer is a film.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein, insofar as the flexible outer layer takes the form of a mesh, the mesh is configured as metallic mesh.

4. The arrangement as claimed claim 1, wherein the mesh is manufactured from heavy material.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a top cover of the heat-storage system is configured movably in a manner such that the movable top cover is pressed onto the flexible fluid-impermeable layer.

6. The arrangement as claimed claim 1, wherein the mesh is manufactured from metal.

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 the principles of a cross section of a heat-storage system of embodiments of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows, with reference to FIG. 1, another embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows, with reference to FIG. 1, another embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows, with reference to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 shows, with reference to FIG. 1, an alternative embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 shows, with reference to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the invention; and

(8) FIG. 7 shows the cross section, described in the introduction, of a heat-storage system constructed as in the conventional art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows the principles of a cross section of a first embodiment of a heat-storage system WSP1 of embodiments of the invention. Here, and in the figures below, neither the shape-defining basal structure BST shown in FIG. 6 nor the insulation DMG is depicted in detail, but these can have been provided, or can be arranged, at the appropriate locations.

(10) The heat-storage system WSP1 comprises a solid natural material MAT for storing heat. The heat-storage material MAT is surrounded by a flexible fluid-impermeable layer FUS, in this case by way of example a film, in a manner that at least provides pressure-tight isolation of the heat-storage material MAT from the environment of the heat-storage system WSP1.

(11) The resultant pressure during operation by way of example in the interior of the heat-storage system WSP1 is 200 mbar; this finally acts on the film FUS by way of resultant uniformly areally distributed forces F.sub.p.

(12) Embodiments of the invention provide a flexible outer layer FDS1 which takes the form of a mesh and which applies an areal force F.sub.mesh to the film FUS. The mesh is indicated here as broken line above the film FUS. The film FUS is pressed areally by means of the mesh onto the heat-storage material MAT, and conforms thereto.

(13) The areal force F.sub.mesh is generated by way of example by applying a layer made of sand to the mesh, thus generating an areal force F.sub.sand=F.sub.mesh by way of the intrinsic weight of the sand.

(14) Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the mesh could also have been manufactured from appropriately heavy material (metal) in order to generate an appropriate gravitational force F.sub.weight=F.sub.mesh. The mesh can therefore be a metallic mesh, i.e. manufactured from metal.

(15) The term “mesh” means a meshed system of fibers, cords or wires. The meshed system comprises points of connection at which the fibers, cords or wires have been interlaced with one another. A mesh is an areal structure within which forces become well distributed. Between the fibers, cords or wires that form mesh elements there are vacant spaces or apertures. The configuration of the mesh elements or apertures can by way of example be rhombic, square or hexagonal. It is exemplary that the connections between the fibers, cords or wires at their points of connection are of floating and/or knot-free type. It is thus possible to achieve leveling of different forces in a manner such that, despite said differences, the mesh forms a single uniform areal structure, with no protuberances or indentations.

(16) The mesh is configured with mesh elements sufficiently small to prevent the film from passing through mesh-element apertures.

(17) FIG. 2 shows, with reference to FIG. 1, another embodiment of the invention. In the case of the heat-storage system WSP2 shown here, a mesh FDS2 is pressed onto the film FUS with the aid of an anchoring device (not depicted in any greater detail here, e.g. by means of tension straps, etc.), and not with the aid of a sand layer.

(18) The detail depicts a configuration of the contact between the film FUS and the upward extension of the edge of the heat-storage system WSP2. The film FUS has been additionally shaped (e.g. in the manner of a bulge) in this transition region in order to permit compensation of forces F.sub.p acting thereon. Accordingly, the film FUS is free from the mesh FDS2 in this region.

(19) FIG. 3 shows, with reference to FIG. 1, another embodiment of the invention. In the case of the heat-storage system WSP3 shown here, a mesh FDS3 is pressed onto the film FUS with hydraulic cylinders HYD, and not with the aid of a sand layer.

(20) The plan view shows respective positioning points POS at which respective hydraulic cylinders HYD have been arranged in order to exert vertically oriented forces onto the film FUS by using one end of the hydraulic cylinder HYD. Correspondingly for this purpose, the other end of the hydraulic cylinders HYD has been secured to securing equipment (e.g. to a top cover of the heat-storage system WSP3).

(21) FIG. 4 shows, with reference to FIG. 3, an alternative, slightly modified, embodiment of the invention.

(22) In the case of the heat-storage system WSP4 shown here, a mesh FDS4 is pressed onto the film FUS with the aid of a movable top cover DEK of the heat-storage system WSP4, and not with the aid of hydraulic cylinders.

(23) The top cover slides on extensions of lateral edges of the heat-storage system WSP4; the gravitational force exerted by the top cover DEK is increased by use of tension cables SPS.

(24) The position of the top cover DEK with reference to the film FUS, and also the required areal force, is defined by way of the tension cables SPS and with the aid of prefabricated, defined spacers ABS.

(25) FIG. 5 shows, with reference to FIG. 1, another cross section of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

(26) The heat-storage system WSP5 comprises a solid natural material MAT for storing heat. The heat-storage material MAT is surrounded by a flexible fluid-impermeable layer FUS, in this case by way of example a film, in a manner that at least provides pressure-tight isolation of the heat-storage material MAT from the environment of the heat-storage system WSP5 and/or in relation to the surroundings of the heat-storage system WSP5.

(27) In this case embodiments of the invention provide an at least to some extent flexible outer layer FDS5 which simulates scale armor and has sheet-metal plates overlapping one another in imbricated manner—cf. in this connection the detail in FIG. 5.

(28) The film FUS is thus pressed areally onto the heat-storage material MAT, and conforms thereto.

(29) The required areal force is generated by laying traction cables ZS in respective tubes over the scales of the outer layer FDS5. These traction cables ZS are in turn tensioned by way of tension cables SPS in a manner such that the sheet-metal plates FDS5 overlapping one another in imbricating manner exert pressure on the film FUS.

(30) FIG. 6 shows, with reference to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the invention. In the case of the heat-storage system WSP6 shown here, a gastight mesh structure FDS6 is pressed onto the film FUS with the aid of gas pressure.

(31) The heat-storage system WSP6 in this embodiment has a gastight top cover DEK6.

(32) FIG. 7 moreover shows the cross section, described in the introduction, of a heat-storage system constructed as in the conventional art.

(33) 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.

(34) 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.