Patent · US Active

Systems and methods for energy storage and retrieval

US10012448B2 · kind B2 · utility

41Cited by
49References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 25, 2015
Grant dateJul 3, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 25, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/16
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The present disclosure provides pumped thermal energy storage systems that can be used to store electrical energy. A pumped thermal energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump or refrigerator, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output. Systems of the present disclosure can employ solar heating for improved storage efficiency.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.