Hybrid Pumped Thermal Systems

Abstract

The present disclosure provides pumped thermal energy storage systems that can be used to store electrical energy. A pumped thermal energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump or refrigerator, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output. Systems of the present disclosure can employ solar heating for improved storage efficiency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a compressor;   a hot side heat exchanger;   a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium;   a turbine;   a cold side heat exchanger;   a cold thermal storage (“CTS”) medium;   a first additional heat exchanger;   a second additional heat exchanger;   a working fluid;   a fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in a hybrid mode, wherein the fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the first additional heat exchanger, the turbine, and the cold side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat source in the first additional heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the CTS medium in the cold side heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external heat source is selected from a solar heater, a combustor, a flue gas from a combustor, and a waste heat source. 
     
     
         3 . A system comprising:
 a compressor;   a hot side heat exchanger;   a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium;   a turbine;   a cold side heat exchanger;   a cold thermal storage (“CTS”) medium;   a first additional heat exchanger;   a second additional heat exchanger;   a working fluid;   a fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in a hybrid mode, wherein the fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, both the hot side heat exchanger and the first additional heat exchanger, the turbine, and the cold side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the HTS medium in the hot side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat source in the first additional heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the CTS medium in the cold side heat exchanger.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the working fluid is circulated through both the hot side heat exchanger and the first additional heat exchanger in parallel such that a first portion of the working fluid flows through the hot side heat exchanger and a second portion of the working fluid flows through the first additional heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the external heat source is selected from a solar heater, a combustor, a flue gas from a combustor, and a waste heat source. 
     
     
         6 . A system comprising:
 a compressor;   a hot side heat exchanger;   a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium;   a turbine;   a cold side heat exchanger;   a cold thermal storage (“CTS”) medium;   a first additional heat exchanger;   a second additional heat exchanger;   a working fluid;   a fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in a hybrid mode, wherein the fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, both the hot side heat exchanger and the first additional heat exchanger, the turbine, and the second additional heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the HTS medium in the hot side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat source in the first additional heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat sink in the second additional heat exchanger.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the working fluid is circulated through both the hot side heat exchanger and the first additional heat exchanger in parallel such that a first portion of the working fluid flows through the hot side heat exchanger and a second portion of the working fluid flows through the first additional heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the external heat source is selected from the group consisting of a solar heater, a combustor, a flue gas from a combustor, and a waste heat source. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the external heat sink is selected from a body of water and an environmental heat sink. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a compressor;   a hot side heat exchanger;   a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium;   a turbine;   a cold side heat exchanger;   a cold thermal storage (“CTS”) medium;   a first additional heat exchanger;   a second additional heat exchanger;   a working fluid;   a fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in a hybrid mode, wherein the fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the turbine, and both the cold side heat exchanger and the second additional heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the HTS medium in the hot side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the CTS medium in the cold side heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat sink in the second additional heat exchanger.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the working fluid is circulated through both the cold side heat exchanger and the second additional heat exchanger in parallel such that a first portion of the working fluid flows through the cold side heat exchanger and a second portion of the working fluid flows through the second additional heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the external heat sink is selected from a body of water and an environmental heat sink. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a compressor;   a hot side heat exchanger;   a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium;   a turbine;   a cold side heat exchanger;   a cold thermal storage (“CTS”) medium;   a first additional heat exchanger;   a second additional heat exchanger;   a working fluid;   a fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in a hybrid mode, wherein the fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the hot side heat exchanger, the turbine, and the second additional heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the HTS medium in the hot side heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat sink in the second additional heat exchanger.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the external heat sink is selected from a body of water and an environmental heat sink. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a compressor;   a hot side heat exchanger;   a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium;   a turbine;   a cold side heat exchanger;   a cold thermal storage (“CTS”) medium;   a first additional heat exchanger;   a second additional heat exchanger;   a working fluid;   a fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid in a hybrid mode, wherein the fluid path circulates the working fluid through, in sequence, the compressor, the first additional heat exchanger, the turbine, and both the cold side heat exchanger and the second additional heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat source in the first additional heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the CTS medium in the cold side heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat sink in the second additional heat exchanger.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the working fluid is circulated through both the cold side heat exchanger and the second additional heat exchanger in parallel such that a first portion of the working fluid flows through the cold side heat exchanger and a second portion of the working fluid flows through the second additional heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the external heat source is selected from a solar heater, a combustor, a flue gas from a combustor, and a waste heat source. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the external heat sink is selected from the a body of water and an environmental heat sink. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a compressor;   a hot side heat exchanger;   a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium;   a turbine;   a cold side heat exchanger;   a cold thermal storage (“CTS”) medium;   a first additional heat exchanger;   a second additional heat exchanger;   a working fluid;   a fluid path configured to circulate the working fluid through, in sequence:
 the compressor, 
 one or more of the hot side heat exchanger or the first additional heat exchanger, 
 the turbine, and 
 one or more of the cold side heat exchanger or the second additional heat exchanger, 
   wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the HTS medium in the hot side heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat source in the first additional heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with the CTS medium in the cold side heat exchanger, and wherein the working fluid exchanges heat with an external heat sink in the second additional heat exchanger; and   a plurality of valves configured to control whether the working fluid is circulated through one or more of the hot side heat exchanger or the first additional heat exchanger and whether the working fluid is circulated through one or more of the cold side heat exchanger or the second additional heat exchanger.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the external heat source is selected from a solar heater, a combustor, a flue gas from a combustor, and a waste heat source, and
 wherein the external heat sink is selected from a body of water and an environmental heat sink.