Heat Store

Abstract

A heat accumulator for storing thermal energy may include a container with a horizontally-extending longitudinal axis, and a heat storage material in the form of a plurality of stone-like elements contained in the container. The container may include a first opening formed at a first portion of the container, and a second opening formed at a second portion of the container, the second opening being vertically offset with respect to the first opening. An average diameter of the stone-like elements arranged in the first portion of the container may be larger than an average diameter of the stone-like elements arranged in the second portion of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat store for storing thermal energy, the heat store comprising:
 a container with a horizontally extending longitudinal axis, the container comprising:   a heat store material comprising a plurality of stone-like elements,   a first partial region of the container in which a first portion of the stone-like elements are arranged, the first partial region having a first opening, and   a second partial region of the container in which a second portion of the stone-like elements are arranged, the second partial region having a second opening that is offset vertically with respect to the first opening,   wherein a mean diameter of the stone-like elements arranged in the first partial region is greater than a mean diameter of the stone-like elements arranged in the second partial region.   
     
     
         2 . The heat store of  claim 1 , wherein the stone-like elements comprise at least one of stones, bricks, or a ceramic material. 
     
     
         3 . The heat store of  claim 1 , wherein a vertical extent of the heat store perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is at most 10 m. 
     
     
         4 . The heat store of  claim 1 , comprising at least one fluid-permeable distributor plate arranged between the stone-like elements arranged in the first partial region and the stone-like elements arranged in the second partial region. 
     
     
         5 . The heat store of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one distributor plate comprises a heat-resistant steel. 
     
     
         6 . The heat store of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one distributor plate comprises a nonwoven material. 
     
     
         7 . The heat store of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one distributor plate comprises a wire grid. 
     
     
         8 . The heat store of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is located at a first side of the container and the second opening is located at a second side of the container opposite the first side. 
     
     
         9 . The heat store of  claim 1 , comprising a third opening arranged in the first partial region of the container and a fourth opening arranged in the second partial region of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The heat store of  claim 8 , wherein the first opening and the fourth opening are located at a first side of the container, and the second opening and third opening are located at a second side of the container. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 providing a heat store including a container having a heat store material comprising a plurality of stone-like elements, with a first portion of the stone-like elements are arranged in a first partial region of the container having a first opening and a second portion of the stone-like elements arranged in a second partial region of the container having a second opening offset vertically from the first opening, wherein a mean diameter of the stone-like elements arranged in the first partial region is greater than a mean diameter of the stone-like elements arranged in the second partial region;   delivering a fluid into the container of the heat store via the first opening or second opening and bringing the fluid into thermal contact with the heat store material; and   at least one of:
 discharging the heat store by causing the fluid to flow in through the first opening and out through the second opening; or 
 charging the heat store by causing the fluid to flow in through the second opening and flow out through the first opening. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the heat store further comprises a third opening arranged in the first partial region of the container and a fourth opening arranged in the second partial region of the container, and   the heat store is discharged by additionally causing the fluid to flow in through the third opening and flow out through the fourth opening.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the heat store further comprises a third opening arranged in the first partial region of the container and a fourth opening arranged in the second partial region of the container, and   the heat store is charged by additionally causing the fluid to flow in through the fourth opening and flow out through the third opening.