Single bi-temperature thermal storage tank for application in solar thermal plant

Litwin, Robert Zachary; Wait, David; Lancet, Robert T.

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A01 - agriculture
A21 - baking
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Title: Single bi-temperature thermal storage tank for application in solar thermal plant

Abstract

Thermocline storage tanks for solar power systems are disclosed. A thermocline region is provided between hot and cold storage regions of a fluid within the storage tank cavity. One example storage tank includes spaced apart baffles fixed relative to the tank and arranged within the thermocline region to substantially physically separate the cavity into hot and cold storage regions. In another example, a flexible baffle separated the hot and cold storage regions and deflects as the thermocline region shifts to accommodate changing hot and cold volumes. In yet another example, a controller is configured to move a baffle within the thermocline region in response to flow rates from hot and cold pumps, which are used to pump the fluid.

Inventors:: Litwin, Robert Zachary; Wait, David; Lancet, Robert T.

Issue Date:: 2017-05-23

Research Org.:: SOLARRESERVE, Santa Monica, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1358260

Patent Number(s):: 9657966

Application Number:: 12/639,056

Assignee:: SOLARRESERVE

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT

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F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS
F24S60/10 - using latent heat
F24S60/30 - storing heat in liquids

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
F28D20/0039 - {with stratification of the heat storage material}
F28D2020/0047 - {using molten salts or liquid metals}
F28D2020/0091 - {flexible}

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28F - DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
F28F2265/14 - for preventing damage by freezing, e.g. for accommodating volume expansion

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y02E10/40 - Solar thermal energy
Y02E60/14 - Thermal storage
Y02E70/30 - Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

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DOE Contract Number:: FOA-0000065

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2009 Dec 16

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 14 SOLAR ENERGY

Citation Formats


                    Litwin, Robert Zachary, Wait, David, and Lancet, Robert T. Single bi-temperature thermal storage tank for application in solar thermal plant.  United States: N. p., 2017. 
        Web.

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                    Litwin, Robert Zachary, Wait, David, & Lancet, Robert T. Single bi-temperature thermal storage tank for application in solar thermal plant.  United States.

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                    Litwin, Robert Zachary, Wait, David, and Lancet, Robert T. Tue .  
        "Single bi-temperature thermal storage tank for application in solar thermal plant".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1358260.

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@article{osti_1358260,

  title        = {Single bi-temperature thermal storage tank for application in solar thermal plant},

  author       = {Litwin, Robert Zachary and Wait, David and Lancet, Robert T.},

  abstractNote = {Thermocline storage tanks for solar power systems are disclosed. A thermocline region is provided between hot and cold storage regions of a fluid within the storage tank cavity. One example storage tank includes spaced apart baffles fixed relative to the tank and arranged within the thermocline region to substantially physically separate the cavity into hot and cold storage regions. In another example, a flexible baffle separated the hot and cold storage regions and deflects as the thermocline region shifts to accommodate changing hot and cold volumes. In yet another example, a controller is configured to move a baffle within the thermocline region in response to flow rates from hot and cold pumps, which are used to pump the fluid.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2017},

  month        = {5}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Hot Water Heater
patent, May 1931

Denney, L.S.
US Patent Document 1,805,165
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/1805165

Muffler
patent, October 1940

Munzer, William
US Patent Document 2,218,063
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/2218063

Sensible heat storage unit
patent, September 1983

Schwartz, Jacob
US Patent Document 4,405,010
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4405010

Method and apparatus for operating an improved thermocline storage unit
patent, June 1985

Copeland, Robert James
US Patent Document 4,523,629
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4523629

Thermal storage systems with antiblending disc
patent, May 1986

Tamblyn, Robert T.
US Patent Document 4,590,992
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4590992

Water heater partition and method
patent, July 1986

Cromer, Charles J.
US Patent Document 4,598,694
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4598694

Hot liquid thermal energy storage tank and method
patent, February 1987

Rothrock, Elmer W.
US Patent Document 4,643,212
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4643212

Storage tank for two fluids of different density
patent, January 1991

Andrepont, John S.; Wozniak, Robert S.; Saint, Chapin O.
US Patent Document 4,987,922
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4987922

Expansion bellows for use in solar molten salt piping and valves
patent, April 2005

Litwin, Robert Z.
US Patent Document 6,877,508
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/6877508

Solar dish concentrator with a molten salt receiver incorporating thermal energy storage
patent, May 2006

Murphy, Terrence; Otting, William; Frye, Patrick E.
US Patent Document 7,051,529
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/7051529

Solar collector and method
patent, June 2006

Litwin, Robert Z.
US Patent Document 7,055,519
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/7055519

Solar power system and method for power generation
patent, November 2007

Litwin, Robert Z.
US Patent Document 7,296,410
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/7296410

Solar dish concentrator with a molten salt receiver incorporating thermal energy storage
patent, November 2007

Murphy, Terrence; Otting, William; Frye, Patrick E.
US Patent Document 7,299,633
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/7299633

Storage tank for hot water systems
patent, December 2008

Sienel, Tobias H.
US Patent Document 7,458,418
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/7458418

Development of a Molten-Salt Thermocline Thermal Storage System for Parabolic Trough Plants
journal, January 2002

Pacheco, James E.; Showalter, Steven K.; Kolb, William J.
Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 124, Issue 2, p. 153-159
https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1464123

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Similar Records

Title: Single bi-temperature thermal storage tank for application in solar thermal plant

Abstract

Citation Formats

Hot Water Heater patent, May 1931

Muffler patent, October 1940

Sensible heat storage unit patent, September 1983

Method and apparatus for operating an improved thermocline storage unit patent, June 1985

Thermal storage systems with antiblending disc patent, May 1986

Water heater partition and method patent, July 1986

Hot liquid thermal energy storage tank and method patent, February 1987

Storage tank for two fluids of different density patent, January 1991

Expansion bellows for use in solar molten salt piping and valves patent, April 2005

Solar dish concentrator with a molten salt receiver incorporating thermal energy storage patent, May 2006

Solar collector and method patent, June 2006

Solar power system and method for power generation patent, November 2007

Solar dish concentrator with a molten salt receiver incorporating thermal energy storage patent, November 2007

Storage tank for hot water systems patent, December 2008

Development of a Molten-Salt Thermocline Thermal Storage System for Parabolic Trough Plants journal, January 2002

Hot Water Heater
patent, May 1931

Muffler
patent, October 1940

Sensible heat storage unit
patent, September 1983

Method and apparatus for operating an improved thermocline storage unit
patent, June 1985

Thermal storage systems with antiblending disc
patent, May 1986

Water heater partition and method
patent, July 1986

Hot liquid thermal energy storage tank and method
patent, February 1987

Storage tank for two fluids of different density
patent, January 1991

Expansion bellows for use in solar molten salt piping and valves
patent, April 2005

Solar dish concentrator with a molten salt receiver incorporating thermal energy storage
patent, May 2006

Solar collector and method
patent, June 2006

Solar power system and method for power generation
patent, November 2007

Solar dish concentrator with a molten salt receiver incorporating thermal energy storage
patent, November 2007

Storage tank for hot water systems
patent, December 2008

Development of a Molten-Salt Thermocline Thermal Storage System for Parabolic Trough Plants
journal, January 2002