Thermal energy storage by means of reversible heat pumping
US4089744A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1976 |
| Grant date | May 16, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF01K3/006
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method is described for storing the offpeak electrical output of an electricity generating plant in the form of heat by using it to raise the temperature level of a quantity of stored heat retention material and recalling said stored heat during periods of peak power demand in the form of electrical power. During low power demand periods hot water is drawn from a hot water storage means and cooled by flashing it at successively lower pressures. The cold condensate is sent to a cold water storage means while the various flash vapors are fed to appropriate stages of a steam compressor driven by excess power drawn from the electricity generating station. The steam which has been compressed by means of the excess electrical power is directed to heat exchanger means where it is used to heat a low vapor pressure (LVP) thermal energy retention material flowing from cold to hot storage means through the heat exchanger means. By the practice of this invention, heat is transferred, by means of the steam compressor powered by excess electrical power, from hot water (.about. 210.degree. F) to the LVP material raising its temperature from a cold storage temperature of about 190.degree.-300.de…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.