Thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement

Abstract

A thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement is provided. The arrangement has a first thermal energy storage, a compression and expansion unit coupled thereto, and a second thermal energy storage coupled to the compression and expansion unit. The first and second thermal energy storage are adapted to work at a temperature equal to or higher than ambient temperature. In a charging mode, the first thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving and releasing thermal energy to a received working medium. The compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving and compressing the working medium from the first thermal energy storage. The second thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium and thermal energy therefrom and storing at least part of this energy. The compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium from the second thermal energy storage and expanding the compressed working medium.

1 . A thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement, the arrangement comprising
 a first thermal energy storage,   a compression and expansion unit coupled to the first thermal energy storage, and   a second thermal energy storage coupled to the compression and expansion unit,   wherein, in a charging mode,
 the first thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving a working medium being supplied to the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement and for releasing thermal energy to the received working medium, 
 the compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving the working medium from the first thermal energy storage and for compressing the working medium, 
 the second thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium from the compression and expansion unit, for receiving thermal energy from the compressed working medium and for storing at least a part of this energy, and 
 the compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium from the second thermal energy storage and for expanding the compressed working medium, 
   wherein the first thermal energy storage and the second thermal energy storage are adapted to work at a temperature being equal to or higher than the ambient temperature of the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein, in a discharging mode,
 the compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving a working medium and for compressing the received working medium,   the second thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium from the compression and expansion unit and for releasing thermal energy to the compressed working medium,   the compression and expansion unit is adapted for receiving the compressed working medium from the second thermal energy storage and for expanding the compressed working medium, and   the first thermal energy storage is adapted for receiving the expanded working medium from the compression and expansion unit, for receiving thermal energy from the expanded working medium, for storing at least a part of this energy and for outputting the working medium.   
     
     
         3 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the first thermal energy storage is adapted to work at a first pressure, and the second thermal energy storage is adapted to work at a second pressure being higher than the first pressure,   wherein the first pressure corresponds to an ambient pressure of the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement.   
     
     
         4 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the compression and expansion unit comprises at least one compression means and at least one expansion means.   
     
     
         5 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a heat exchanging device, wherein a first side of the heat exchanging device is coupled between the compression and expansion unit and the first thermal energy storage.   
     
     
         6 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 5 ,
 wherein the first side of the heat exchanging device is coupled between an expansion means of the compression and expansion unit and the first thermal energy storage, and   wherein a second side of the heat exchanging device is coupled to an external device.   
     
     
         7 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 5 ,
 wherein the first side of the heat exchanging device is coupled between a compression means of the compression and expansion unit and the first thermal energy storage, and   wherein a second side of the heat exchanging device is coupled between the second thermal energy storage and an expansion means of the compression and expansion unit.   
     
     
         8 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the working medium is gas.   
     
     
         9 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first thermal energy storage comprises a liquid medium as storage material.   
     
     
         10 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the temperature of the medium being supplied to the system corresponds to an ambient temperature of the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement.   
     
     
         11 . A thermal energy storage and recovery system comprising
 a thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 1 , and   a heat consumption arrangement, which is connected directly or indirectly to the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement and which is adapted to receive thermal energy from the medium of the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement.   
     
     
         12 . The thermal energy storage and recovery system as set forth in  claim 11 ,
 wherein the heat consumption arrangement comprises a district heating installation system.   
     
     
         13 . The thermal energy storage and recovery system as set forth in  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first thermal energy storage is part of the district heating installation system.   
     
     
         14 . A method for storing and recovering thermal energy in a thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement, the method comprising
 in a charging mode, receiving, by a first thermal energy storage, a working medium being supplied to the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement and releasing, by the first thermal energy storage, thermal energy to the received working medium,   receiving, by a compression and expansion unit coupled to the first thermal energy storage, the working medium from the first thermal energy storage and compressing, by the compression and expansion unit, the working medium,   receiving, by a second thermal energy storage coupled to the compression and expansion unit, the compressed working medium from the compression and expansion unit, receiving, by the second thermal energy storage, thermal energy from the compressed working medium and storing at least a part of this energy in the second thermal energy storage, and   receiving, by the compression and expansion unit, the compressed working medium from the second thermal energy storage and expanding, by the compression and expansion unit, the compressed working medium,   wherein the first thermal energy storage and the second thermal energy storage are adapted to work at a temperature being equal to or higher than the ambient temperature of the thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement.   
     
     
         15 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the working medium is gas comprising air. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal energy storage and recovery arrangement as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the first thermal energy storage comprises a liquid medium as storage material, wherein the liquid medium comprises water.