Energy Store, Power Plant having an Energy Store, and Method for Operating the Energy Store

Abstract

An energy storage device for a power plant includes a heat exchanger arranged in a floating manner in a lower basin that is fillable with water via a first supply line. A second supply line supplies water from the lower basin. A third supply line is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. A heat pump provides coolant to the heat exchanger via the third supply line such that energy is extracted via the heat exchanger while freezing of the water in the lower basin or in the form of sensible heat from the water in the lower basin, wherein the energy is passed on to a consumer for heat dissipation or for cold dissipation.

1 - 18 : (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An energy storage device, comprising:
 a heat exchanger arranged in a floating manner in a lower basin that is fillable with water via a first supply line;   a second supply line, wherein water is supplied from the lower basin via the second supply line;   a third supply line in fluid communication with the heat exchanger;   a heat pump, wherein coolant is provided to the heat exchanger from the heat pump via the third supply line such that energy is extracted via the heat exchanger while freezing of the water in the lower basin or in the form of sensible heat from the water in the lower basin, the energy passed on to a consumer for heat dissipation or for cold dissipation.   
     
     
         20 . The energy storage device according to  claim 19 , with which the heat exchanger is formed by pipes through which the coolant flows. 
     
     
         21 . The energy storage device according to  claim 20 , wherein the pipes are arranged in the form of a spiral ring. 
     
     
         22 . The energy storage device according to  claim 21 , further comprising radially arranged struts that support the pipes arranged in the spiral ring. 
     
     
         23 . The energy storage device according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat exchanger is surrounded by an outer wall that defines a vertical partition around an outer circumference of the heat exchanger such that the heat exchanger is formed as a ring-shaped body. 
     
     
         24 . The energy storage device according to  claim 23 , wherein the ring-shaped body comprises a diameter of between 50 m to 200 m. 
     
     
         25 . The energy storage device according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat exchanger is anchored to a base of the lower basin. 
     
     
         26 . The energy storage device according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat exchanger is formed by pipes through which the coolant flows and configured such that an ice layer forms in the heat exchanger radially from an inside towards an outer circumference of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         27 . The energy storage device according to  claim 19 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises an upper inlet through which water is introduced into the heat exchanger above the ice layer during freezing, such that the ice layer is located below the water surface of the lower basin. 
     
     
         28 . The energy storage device according to  claim 27 , wherein the water supplied above the ice layer forms an insulating layer between the ice layer and ambient air. 
     
     
         29 . The energy storage device according to  claim 27 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises an air inlet through which air is introduced to form an air cushion below the ice layer. 
     
     
         30 . The energy storage device according to  claim 26 , wherein the pipes are arranged in the heat exchanger such that multiple superimposed layers of ice can be formed within the outer circumference of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         31 . The energy storage device according to  claim 30 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises one or more air inlets or water inlets disposed so as to form insulating layers of air or water between the superimposed layers of ice. 
     
     
         32 . A power plant, comprising:
 a lower basin of a pump storage power plant that can be filled with water, the lower basin connected to a pump via a first supply line and to an upper reservoir via the pump and a supply line between the pump and the upper reservoir;   the lower basin further comprising an energy storage device, the energy storage device comprising:
 a heat exchanger arranged in a floating manner in the lower basin that is fillable with water via the first supply line; 
 a second supply line, wherein water is supplied from the lower basin via the second supply line; 
 a third supply line in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; and 
 a heat pump, wherein coolant is provided to the heat exchanger from the heat pump via the third supply line such that energy is extracted via the heat exchanger while freezing of the water in the lower basin or in the form of sensible heat from the water in the lower basin, the energy passed on to a consumer for heat dissipation or for cold dissipation. 
   
     
     
         33 . The power plant according to  claim 32 , wherein the upper reservoir is part of a wind power plant, and the pump is driven by electrical energy generated by the wind power plant to pump water from the lower basin into the upper reservoir. 
     
     
         34 . A method for the operation of an energy storage device according to claim  1 , the method comprising controlling the heat pump as a function of ambient temperature, solar radiation, and water temperature, such that an ice layer is formed on the heat exchanger when no energy can be extracted from the water temperature of the lower basin. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising lowering the ice layer in the water in the lower basin to protect the ice layer from solar radiation. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising forming multiple superimposed ices layers on the heat exchanger, wherein the ice layer closest to a surface of the water in the lower basin is a thin layer as compared to the other ice layers to absorb solar radiation or to insulate the lower basin.