Unpressurized heat accumulator with compensation line

Abstract

A heat accumulator for storing and providing heat energy accruing when power is generated, includes a tank for a fluid, including an expansion line, which exits from the tank and which extends above the tank in order to increase the static pressure in the tank, the expansion line having an open end opposite the tank-side end for establishing a connection between the tank interior and the atmosphere, wherein the expansion line extends into the tank. A method for storing and providing heat energy accruing when power is generated wherein the fluid is used in a district heating grid and is stored in a tank.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for storing and providing heat energy, which occurs during the generation of electricity, by means of a fluid, wherein the fluid is used in a district heating grid and is stored in a tank of the heat accumulator, wherein an operating pressure in a the hottest part of a heat accumulator comes to lie above a saturation pressure of the fluid corresponding to a maximum possible district heat supply temperature, the method comprising:
 storing the fluid in a tank, and   increasing the static pressure in the tank by a compensation line which starts from the tank and extends above the latter,   wherein the compensation line extends into the tank, and   wherein a connection of the tank interior to the atmosphere is established with an open end, opposite the tank-side end, of the compensation line, and the fluid, which is water, below an upper region of the tank passes into the compensation line.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 ,
 wherein the compensation line is kept filled.