Regenerative thermal energy system and method of operating the same

Abstract

A regenerative thermal energy system includes a heat exchange reactor that includes a top entry portion, a lower entry portion, and a bottom discharge portion. The system also includes at least one fluid source coupled in flow communication with the at least one heat exchange reactor at the lower entry portion. The system also includes at least one cold particle storage source coupled in flow communication with the at least one heat exchange reactor at the top entry portion. The system further includes at least one thermal energy storage (TES) vessel coupled in flow communication with the heat exchange reactor at each of the bottom discharge portion and the top entry portion. The heat exchange reactor is configured to facilitate direct contact and counter-flow heat exchange between solid particles and a fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A regenerative thermal energy system comprising:
 a heat exchange reactor comprising a top entry portion, a lower entry portion, and a bottom discharge portion;   at least one fluid source coupled in flow communication with said at least one heat exchange reactor at said lower entry portion;   at least one cold particle storage source coupled in flow communication with said at least one heat exchange reactor at said top entry portion; and   at least one thermal energy storage (TES) vessel coupled in flow communication with said heat exchange reactor at each of said bottom discharge portion and said top entry portion, wherein said heat exchange reactor is configured to facilitate direct contact and counter-flow heat exchange between solid particles and a fluid.   
     
     
         2 . A regenerative thermal energy system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fluid source comprises at least one fluid compressor and at least one fluid storage source, wherein said at least one fluid compressor is configured to channel fluid at a first temperature into said heat exchange reactor and said at least one fluid storage source is configured to channel fluid at a second temperature into said heat exchange reactor, wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature. 
     
     
         3 . A regenerative thermal energy system in accordance with  claim 2  further comprising at least some moisture removal apparatus comprising at least one of:
 at least one moisture removal apparatus coupled in flow communication with said at least one fluid compressor upstream of said at least one fluid compressor; 
 at least one moisture removal apparatus coupled in flow communication with said at least one fluid compressor downstream of said at least one fluid compressor; and 
 at least one interstage moisture removal apparatus within said at least one fluid compressor. 
 
     
     
         4 . A regenerative thermal energy system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising at least one solids transfer pump coupled in flow communication with said at least one TES vessel and said top entry portion of said heat exchange reactor. 
     
     
         5 . A regenerative thermal energy system in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising at least one cyclone filter coupled in flow communication with said heat exchange reactor between said top entry portion and said lower entry portion, wherein said at least one cyclone filter is configured to receive fluid exiting said heat exchange reactor and solid particles entrained therein. 
     
     
         6 . A regenerative thermal energy system in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said at least one cyclone filter is further coupled in flow communication with said at least one cold particle storage source. 
     
     
         7 . A regenerative thermal energy system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said at least one TES vessel comprises at least some insulation and is configured to contain solid particles within a predetermined range of temperatures for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         8 . A regenerative thermal energy system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said at least one heat exchange reactor defines a heat transfer cavity therein that is configured to facilitate the direct contact and the counter-flow heat exchange between the solid particles and the fluid, said heat transfer cavity at least partially encloses at least one device configured to increase a residence time of the solid particles and the fluid, said at least one device comprises at least one of:
 at least one fluid and particle deflector device;   at least one heat transfer projection; and   at least one heat transfer channel.   
     
     
         9 . A power generation facility comprising:
 at least one power generation apparatus; and   at least one regenerative thermal energy system coupled to said at least one power generation apparatus, said at least one regenerative thermal energy system comprising:
 a heat exchange reactor comprising a top entry portion, a lower entry portion, and a bottom discharge portion; 
 at least one fluid source coupled in flow communication with said at least one heat exchange reactor at said lower entry portion; 
 at least one cold particle storage source coupled in flow communication with said at least one heat exchange reactor at said top entry portion; and 
 at least one thermal energy storage (TES) vessel coupled in flow communication with said heat exchange reactor at each of said bottom discharge portion and said top entry portion, wherein said heat exchange reactor is configured to facilitate direct contact and counter-flow heat exchange between solid particles and a fluid and channel hot pressurized air to said at least one power generation apparatus. 
   
     
     
         10 . A power generation facility in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said at least one fluid source comprises at least one fluid compressor and at least one fluid storage source, wherein said at least one fluid compressor is configured to channel fluid at a first temperature into said heat exchange reactor and said at least one fluid storage source is configured to channel fluid at a second temperature into said heat exchange reactor, wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature. 
     
     
         11 . A power generation facility in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising at least one cyclone filter coupled in flow communication with said heat exchange reactor between said top entry portion and said lower entry portion, wherein said at least one cyclone filter is configured to receive fluid exiting said heat exchange reactor and solid particles entrained therein. 
     
     
         12 . A power generation facility in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said at least one cyclone filter is further coupled in flow communication with said at least one cold particle storage source and said at least one power generation apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . A power generation facility in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said at least one TES vessel comprises at least some insulation and is configured to contain solid particles within a predetermined range of temperatures for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         14 . A power generation facility in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising at least one combustion apparatus coupled in flow communication with said at least one cyclone filter and said at least one power generation apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a power generation facility, said method comprising:
 channeling solid particles downward through a heat exchange reactor;   channeling pressurized air upward through the heat exchange reactor;   transferring heat from the pressurized air to the solid particles through direct contact; and   channeling the solid particles into at least one thermal energy storage (TES) vessel.   
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising:
 channeling the solid particles from the TES vessel downward through the heat exchange reactor; 
 channeling pressurized air upward through the heat exchange reactor; 
 transferring heat from the solid particles to the pressurized air through direct contact; and 
 channeling the pressurized air to at least one power generation apparatus. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein channeling solid particles downward through a heat exchange reactor comprises injecting the solid particles at the top of the heat exchange reactor and channeling the solid particles downward with the assistance of gravity. 
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein channeling pressurized air upward through the heat exchange reactor comprises channeling the air through a cyclone filter to remove at least a portion of solid particles entrained therein. 
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein channeling the solid particles into at least one thermal energy storage (TES) vessel comprises containing the solid particles within a predetermined temperature range for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising:
 wherein:
 operating the heat exchange reactor at a first pressure; and 
 operating the at least one TES vessel at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure, and the second pressure has a value that is approximately atmospheric pressure.