Energy recuperation system

Abstract

An energy recuperation system for storing energy in a process for subsequent supply to an energy demand in the process comprises a recuperation storage system having a phase-change storage material. Recuperation circuitry between the energy loss/availability, the energy demand of the process/processes and the recuperation storage system to allow heat exchanges therebetween. A controller obtains temperature data with respect to the storage material, the energy loss/availability and/or the recuperation circuitry so as to selectively actuate the recuperation circuitry. An energy level calculator determines a storage capacity in the recuperation storage system as a function of temperature data of the storage material. An operation identifier determines when to store energy in the recuperation storage system and when to supply energy to the process as a function of the storage capacity and of process data, whereby the controller actuates the recuperation circuitry to store and supply energy from/to the process.

1 . An energy recuperation system for storing energy from an energy loss/availability in a process/processes for subsequent supply to an energy demand in the process/processes, comprising:
 a recuperation storage system having a storage material being selected so as to change phase during heat exchanges with the process/processes;   at least one recuperation circuit between the energy loss/availability, the energy demand of the process/processes and the recuperation storage system for heat exchanges between (1) the energy loss/availability and the recuperation storage system, and (2) the recuperation storage system and the energy demand;   a controller for obtaining temperature data with respect to at least one of the storage material, the energy loss/availability and the at least one recuperation circuit so as to selectively actuate the recuperation circuit;   an energy level calculator for determining a storage capacity in the recuperation storage system as a function of temperature data of the storage material; and   an operation identifier for determining when to store energy in the recuperation storage system and when to supply energy to the process/processes as a function of the storage capacity and of process data;   whereby the controller actuates the at least one recuperation circuit to store energy from the process/processes in the recuperation storage system and to supply energy from the recuperation storage system to the process/processes.   
   
   
       2 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy recuperation system is used between a heating demand and a cooling demand of a process/processes, with the operation identifier determining when to store in the recuperation storage system cold energy from the heating demand and hot energy from the cooling demand, and when to supply hot energy to the heating demand and cold energy to the cooling demand of the process/processes as a function of the storage capacity and of the process data, whereby the controller actuates the at least one refrigeration circuit (1) to store in the recuperation storage system cold energy recuperated from the heating demand of the process/processes and to supply said cold energy from the recuperation storage system to the cooling demand of the process/processes, and (2) to store in the recuperation storage system hot energy recuperated from the cooling demand of the process/processes and to supply said hot energy from the recuperation storage system to the heating demand of the process/processes. 
   
   
       3 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy loss/availability is a cold energy loss. 
   
   
       4 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 1 , comprising two of said recuperation circuit, with one said recuperation circuit being provided between the energy loss/availability and the recuperation storage system for heat exchanges therebetween, and the other one of said recuperation circuit being provided between the recuperation storage system and the energy demand. 
   
   
       5 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the operation identifier is connected to a process controller controlling the process/processes, so as to obtain said process data from the process controller. 
   
   
       6 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 2 , wherein the recuperation storage system has two separated storage materials, with a first one of the storage materials provided to store cold energy from the heating demand to then supply the cold energy to the cooling demand, and with a second one of the storage materials provided to store hot energy from the cooling demand to then supply the hot energy to the heating demand. 
   
   
       7 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 6 , wherein the two separated storage materials are different storage materials. 
   
   
       8 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy loss/availability is cold energy available from any one of a cooling tower, dry cooler and heat rejection apparatus, with the at least one recuperation circuit being connected between the cooling tower and the recuperation storage system for heat exchanges between the cooling tower and the recuperation storage system, to store cold energy in the recuperation storage system. 
   
   
       9 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 8 , further comprising a heat transfer apparatus and a cold transfer circuit, with the at least one recuperation circuit being provided between the energy availability and the heat transfer apparatus, and the cold transfer circuit being provided between the heat transfer apparatus and the recuperation storage system. 
   
   
       10 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 9 , wherein the heat transfer apparatus is any one of a heat exchanger, a chiller and a heat pump. 
   
   
       11 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heat transfer apparatus provided between the energy availability and the recuperation storage system. 
   
   
       12 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat transfer apparatus is any one of a heat pump, a chiller, a heat pipe and a heat exchanger. 
   
   
       13 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heat recovery unit in heat exchange relation with the at least one recuperation circuit and with an alternative energy source, to store energy in the recuperation storage system from the alternative energy source. 
   
   
       14 . The energy recuperation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage material is a compound comprising at least one of alkanes, N-paraffin hydrocarbon chain, glycerin, water, tridecane, tetradecanes, pentadecane, hexadecane, heptadecane, hydrocarbon wax, glycerol, 1,2,3-Propanetriol, glyceritol, glycerol, estol, 1,2,3-trihydroxypropane, glycyl alcohol, triglycerides, fatty acids, esthers, iso-propyl palmitate, silicone gel, salt hydrates. 
   
   
       15 . A method for recuperating energy comprising:
 identifying energy loss/availability from an energy source;   storing energy from the energy loss/availability by heat exchange between the energy loss/availability and a storage material such that the storage material changes phase through the heat exchange;   identifying an energy demand in a process; and   supplying energy to the energy demand by heat exchange between the storage material and the energy demand.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein identifying the energy loss/availability comprises identifying the energy loss/availability from a heating demand of a first process, and identifying the energy demand comprises identifying a cooling demand in the first process or in a second process, whereby storing energy comprises subsequently storing cold and hot energy in the storage material. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein storing energy comprises storing cold energy from the heating demand in a first one of the storage material, and storing hot energy from the cooling demand in a second one of the storage material such that the storage materials respectively change phase through the heat exchanges. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising identifying energy loss/availability from an alternative energy source, and storing energy from the energy loss/availability by heat exchange between the alternative energy source and a storage material such that the storage material changes phase through the heat exchange.