Reinforced thermal energy storage pressure vessel for an adiabatic compressed air energy storage system

Abstract

A thermal energy storage system comprises a pressure vessel configured to withstand a first pressure, wherein the pressure vessel has a wall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface surrounding an interior volume of the pressure vessel. The interior volume of the pressure vessel has a first end in fluid communication with one or more compressors and one or more turbines, and a second end in fluid communication with at least one compressed air storage component. A thermal storage medium is positioned in the interior volume, and at least one reinforcement structure is affixed to the outer surface of the wall, wherein the at least one reinforcement structure configured to reinforce the wall to withstand a second pressure greater than the first pressure.

1 . A thermal energy storage system comprising:
 a pressure vessel configured to withstand a first pressure, the pressure vessel having a wall comprising:
 an outer surface; and 
 an inner surface surrounding an interior volume of the pressure vessel, the interior volume having:
 a first end in fluid communication with one or more compressors and one or more turbines; and 
 a second end in fluid communication with at least one compressed air storage component; 
 
   a thermal storage medium positioned in the interior volume; and   at least one reinforcement structure affixed to the outer surface of the wall; the at least one reinforcement structure configured to reinforce the wall to withstand a second pressure greater than the first pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one reinforcement structure comprises a plurality of steel rods interconnected to form a trussed framework about the outer surface of the wall. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 2  further comprising a steel rim disposed about an outer circumference of the trussed framework. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one reinforcement structure extends into the interior volume of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one reinforcement structure comprises a plurality of steel rods forming a spoke-shaped framework within the interior volume of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one reinforcement structure comprises:
 a plurality of first rods interconnected between a plurality of wall-mounted anchors and a circumferential rim to form a trussed framework about the outer surface of the wall; and 
 a plurality of second rods forming a spoke-shaped framework within the interior volume of the pressure vessel. 
 
     
     
         7 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one reinforcement structure comprises a plurality of reinforcement structures disposed along a length of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the wall of the pressure vessel is formed of concrete. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the thermal storage medium is a porous thermal storage medium disposed within the interior volume of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 9  wherein the porous thermal storage medium comprises at least one of natural stone, ceramic, concrete, cast iron, nitrate salt, and mineral oil. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the pressure vessel is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a thermal energy storage pressure vessel, the method comprising:
 forming a wall having a predetermined height and thickness, wherein an inner surface of the wall bounds an interior volume therein;   affixing a reinforcement structure to a surface of the wall at a first location;   affixing at least one additional reinforcement structure to a surface of the wall at another location along the height of the wall; and   disposing a porous thermal storage medium within the interior volume.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the affixing of a reinforcement structure to the surface of the wall comprises:
 affixing a plurality of anchors to an outside surface of the wall; 
 attaching a plurality of rods to the anchors at a first end of the rods; and 
 attaching the plurality of rods to a rim at a second end of the rods such that the plurality of anchors, the plurality of rods, and the rim form a trussed framework about an outside surface of the wall. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein affixing the reinforcement structure to the surface of the wall comprises:
 affixing a plurality of anchors to an outside surface of the wall; and 
 affixing a plurality of rods to the plurality of anchors, the plurality of rods passing through the wall to form a spoke-shaped framework within the interior volume of the wall. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein affixing the reinforcement structure to the surface of the wall comprises:
 affixing a plurality of anchors to an outside surface of the wall; 
 attaching a plurality of first rods to the anchors at a first end of the first rods; 
 attaching the plurality of first rods to a rim at a second end of the first rods such that the plurality of anchors, plurality of first rods, and the rim form a trussed framework about an outside surface of the wall; and 
 affixing a plurality of second rods to the plurality of anchors, the plurality of second rods passing through the wall to form a spoke-shaped framework within the interior volume of the wall. 
 
     
     
         16 . A thermal energy storage pressure vessel comprising:
 a concrete cylindrical wall bounding an interior volume, wherein the interior volume is configured to allow air passage therethrough;   at least one reinforcing structure affixed to an outer surface of the concrete cylindrical wall; and   a porous thermal matrix material disposed within the interior volume of the concrete cylindrical wall, wherein the porous thermal matrix material is configured to allow air passage therethrough.   
     
     
         17 . The thermal energy storage pressure vessel of  claim 16  wherein the at least one reinforcing structure comprises a steel ring and a plurality of trusses interconnected to form a framework about the outer surface of the concrete cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal energy storage pressure vessel of  claim 16  wherein the at least one reinforcing structure extends into the inner volume of the concrete cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         19 . The thermal energy storage pressure vessel of  claim 18  wherein the at least one reinforcing structure comprises a plurality of interconnected steel rods affixed at a common centerpoint within the inner volume of the concrete cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         20 . The thermal energy storage pressure vessel of  claim 16  wherein the at least one reinforcing structure is secured to the outer surface of the concrete cylindrical wall by a plurality of anchors.