Thermal storage system with coupled tanks
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for high-efficiency thermal storage with a fluid-filled “battery” tank positioned within a fluid-filled “reservoir” tank. Fluid loops couple the tanks to a heat pump and a building. The heat pump can charge the battery tank or deliver thermal energy (cold or heat) to a building, using the reservoir tank or ambient air as a thermal energy source. The battery tank can discharge energy to the building jointly with the heat pump or, at periods of peak electricity usage, with the heat pump switched off. Operating modes allow significant savings in electricity usage and mitigate the “duck curve.” Low duty cycle usage of the reservoir enables efficient underground thermal storage with less digging than conventional geothermal technologies. Additional efficiency is achieved with phase change materials installed inside a tank or in a tank wall, providing temperature regulation. Control methods are disclosed.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1925018
- Patent Number(s):
- 11421914
- Application Number:
- 17/434,264
- Assignee:
- UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN); University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) (Knoxville, TN)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24D - DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24H - FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT GENERATING MEANS, IN GENERAL
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 03/13/2020
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY; 15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Citation Formats
Liu, Xiaobing, Qu, Ming, Warner, Joseph K., and Shi, Liang. Thermal storage system with coupled tanks. United States: N. p., 2022.
Web.
Liu, Xiaobing, Qu, Ming, Warner, Joseph K., & Shi, Liang. Thermal storage system with coupled tanks. United States.
Liu, Xiaobing, Qu, Ming, Warner, Joseph K., and Shi, Liang. Tue .
"Thermal storage system with coupled tanks". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1925018.
@article{osti_1925018,
title = {Thermal storage system with coupled tanks},
author = {Liu, Xiaobing and Qu, Ming and Warner, Joseph K. and Shi, Liang},
abstractNote = {Methods and apparatus are disclosed for high-efficiency thermal storage with a fluid-filled “battery” tank positioned within a fluid-filled “reservoir” tank. Fluid loops couple the tanks to a heat pump and a building. The heat pump can charge the battery tank or deliver thermal energy (cold or heat) to a building, using the reservoir tank or ambient air as a thermal energy source. The battery tank can discharge energy to the building jointly with the heat pump or, at periods of peak electricity usage, with the heat pump switched off. Operating modes allow significant savings in electricity usage and mitigate the “duck curve.” Low duty cycle usage of the reservoir enables efficient underground thermal storage with less digging than conventional geothermal technologies. Additional efficiency is achieved with phase change materials installed inside a tank or in a tank wall, providing temperature regulation. Control methods are disclosed.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2022},
month = {8}
}
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