Method and apparatus for operating an improved thermocline storage unit

Patent · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:865485

Copeland, Robert J ^[1]

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1. Lakewood, CO

A method and apparatus for operating a thermocline storage unit in which an insulated barrier member is provided substantially at the interface region between the hot and cold liquids in the storage tank. The barrier member physically and thermally separates the hot and cold liquids substantially preventing any diffusing or mixing between them and substantially preventing any heat transfer therebetween. The barrier member follows the rise and fall of the interface region between the liquids as the tank is charged and discharged. Two methods of maintaining it in the interface region are disclosed. With the structure and operation of the present invention and in particular the significant reduction in diffusing or mixing between the hot and cold liquids as well as the significant reduction in the thermal heat transfer between them, the performance of the storage tank is improved. More specifically, the stability of the interface region or thermocline is enhanced and the thickness of the thermocline is reduced producing a corresponding increase in the steepness of the temperature gradient across the thermocline and a more efficiently operating thermocline storage unit.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO
• DOE Contract Number: EG-77-C-01-4042
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4523629
• OSTI ID: 865485
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/165/126/
apparatus
barrier
charged
cold
corresponding
diffusing
discharged
disclosed
efficiently
efficiently operating
enhanced
fall
follows
gradient
heat
heat transfer
hot
improved
increase
insulated
interface
interface region
liquids
maintaining
method
methods
mixing
operating
operation
particular
performance
physically
preventing
producing
provided
reduced
reduction
region
rise
separates
significant
significant reduction
specifically
stability
steepness
storage
storage tank
storage unit
structure
substantially
substantially prevent
substantially preventing
tank
temperature
temperature gradient
therebetween
thermal
thermal heat
thermally
thermocline
thermocline storage
thickness
transfer
unit