Patent · US Expired

Thermal energy storage by means of reversible heat pumping utilizing industrial waste heat

US4110987A · kind A · utility

171Cited by
8References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 2, 1977
Grant dateSep 5, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 2, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF01K3/185
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An improved process for storing the off-peak electrical output of an electricity generating plant in the form of heat by using said off-peak electrical output to raise the temperature level of a quantity of stored low vapor pressure thermal energy retention material and recalling said stored heat during periods of peak power demand in the form of electrical power, or industrial process heat wherein the excess electrical power, running a compressor (i.e. heat pump), compresses low grade heat containing vapor thereby raising the temperature and said compressed high heat is transferred to a LVP thermal energy retention material, the improvement comprising using as a source of low grade heat the waste heat generated by industrial and/or municipal installation such as refineries, steel mills, incinerators, etc. The process utilizes hot low vapor pressure (LVP) thermal energy retention material and appropriate storage means and cold LVP thermal energy retention material and appropriate storage means, low level, low grade waste heat either alone or in combination with stored hot water, most preferably alone, heat exchanger means, heat pumping means, turbine means, electric motor means and…

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