Regenerative thermal energy storage apparatus for an adiabatic compressed air energy storage system

Abstract

A system and method for a thermal energy storage system is disclosed, the thermal energy storage system comprising a plurality of pressure vessels arranged in close proximity to one another, each of the pressure vessels having a wall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface spaced from the outer surface by a respective wall thickness and surrounding an interior volume of the pressure vessel. The interior volume 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 of one or more additional compressors, one or more additional turbines, and at least one compressed air storage component. The thermal energy storage system further comprises a thermal storage medium positioned in the interior volume of each of the plurality of pressure vessels.

1 . A thermal energy storage system comprising:
 a plurality of pressure vessels arranged in close proximity to one another, each of the pressure vessels having a wall comprising:
 an outer surface; and 
 an inner surface spaced from the outer surface by a respective wall thickness and 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 of one or more additional compressors, one or more additional turbines, and at least one compressed air storage component; and 
 
   a thermal storage medium positioned in the interior volume of each of the plurality of pressure vessels.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of pressure vessels comprises a first pressure vessel and a second pressure vessel, the first pressure vessel arranged within the interior volume of the second pressure vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 2  wherein the wall of the first pressure vessel has a first wall thickness and a first diameter and wherein the wall of the second pressure vessel comprises a second wall thickness and a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 2  wherein the first pressure vessel is configured to withstand a higher pressure level than the second pressure vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of pressure vessels arranged in close proximity to one another are arranged according to a pattern, the pattern comprising one of a triangular pattern and a hexagonal pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 5  further comprising an insulation layer disposed around a perimeter of the pattern of the plurality of pressure vessels. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the wall of each of the plurality of pressure vessels is formed of either steel or concrete. 
     
     
         8 . 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 each of the plurality of pressure vessels. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 8  wherein the porous thermal storage medium comprises at least one natural stone material. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of pressure vessels is disposed within a cavern shaft, and wherein the cavern shaft is in fluid communication with the at least one compressed air storage component and is located below ground level. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal energy storage system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of pressure vessels is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a thermal energy storage system, the method comprising:
 forming a first pressure vessel, the first pressure vessel having a wall constructed to have a predetermined height and thickness, wherein an inner surface of the wall of the first pressure vessel bounds an interior volume therein;   forming a second pressure vessel, the second pressure vessel constructed to have a wall of predetermined height and thickness, wherein an inner surface of the wall of the second pressure vessel bounds an interior volume therein;   disposing a porous thermal storage medium within the interior volume of each of the first and second pressure vessels;   arranging the first pressure vessel and the second pressure vessel in close proximity to one another;   connecting a first end of each of the first and second pressure vessels to one or more compressors and to one or more turbines such that each of the first and second pressure vessels is in fluid communication with the one or more compressors and the one or more turbines; and   connecting a second end of each of the first and second pressure vessels to at least one of one or more additional compressors, one or more additional turbines, and one or more compressed air storage components such that each of the first and second pressure vessels is in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more additional compressors, the one or more additional turbines, and the one or more compressed air storage components.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising arranging the first pressure vessel to be disposed within the interior volume of the second pressure vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising forming at least one additional pressure vessel, wherein the first pressure vessel, the second pressure vessel, and the at least one additional pressure vessel are arranged in close proximity to one another to form a grouping of pressure vessels. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising disposing an insulating material about a perimeter of the grouping of pressure vessels. 
     
     
         16 . A thermal energy storage apparatus comprising:
 a first concrete cylindrical wall bounding a first interior volume;   a second concrete cylindrical wall bounding a second interior volume, wherein the second concrete cylindrical wall is arranged within the first interior volume of the first concrete cylindrical wall such that the first concrete cylindrical wall and the second concrete cylindrical wall are coaxial; and   a porous thermal matrix material disposed within the first interior volume of the first concrete cylindrical wall and within the second interior volume of the second concrete cylindrical wall.   
     
     
         17 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 16  wherein a diameter of the second concrete cylindrical wall is smaller than a diameter of the first concrete cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 16  wherein both the first concrete cylindrical wall and the second concrete cylindrical wall have a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is in fluid communication with one or more compressors and one or more turbines, and the second end is in fluid communication with at least one of one or more compressed air storage components, one or more additional compressors, and one or more additional turbines. 
     
     
         19 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the first end of the second concrete cylindrical wall receives a higher pressure input from the one or more compressors than the first end of the first concrete cylindrical wall, and the second end of the second concrete cylindrical wall receives a higher pressure input from the at least one compressed air storage component than the second end of the first concrete cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         20 . The thermal energy storage apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the porous thermal matrix material comprises at least one natural stone material.