Energy storage and utilisation system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a method for providing steam. In particular, the present invention relates to a steam delivery system comprising a thermal energy storage apparatus for heating a flow of feedwater to produce steam at a predetermined temperature and/or a predetermined pressure.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A steam delivery system for providing industrial steam, the system comprising:
 a feedwater control system for providing a flow of feedwater;   a thermal energy storage apparatus in fluid communication with the feedwater control system to heat the feedwater flowing through a conduit of the thermal energy storage apparatus to provide steam; and   a desuperheater in fluid communication with the thermal energy storage apparatus to receive the steam and regulate the steam temperature;   a sparge system in fluid communication with the desuperheater;   such that in use, the steam delivery system provides industrial steam having at least one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure; and the steam delivery system operates in configurations comprising:   an excess-steam configuration, wherein at least a portion of the steam provided by the desuperheater is redirected to the sparge system;   a no-demand configuration, wherein the steam provided by the desuperheater is redirected to the sparge system.   
     
     
         32 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the sparge system comprises a sparger tank comprising:
 a volume of water;   at least one nozzle for injecting the steam provided by the desuperheater into the water; such that in use, the steam is condensed and the water is heated.   
     
     
         33 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 32 , wherein at least a portion the water is recycled to mix with the feedwater. 
     
     
         34 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein an aerosol of cooling water is introduced into the desuperheater and mixed with the steam for reducing the temperature of the steam. 
     
     
         35 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the desuperheater comprises a heat exchanger, preferably the heat exchanger is a shell and tube type, a tube-in-tube type, or a plate type. 
     
     
         36 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the desuperheater comprises a pressure regulator for regulating the steam pressure at an outlet of the desuperheater. 
     
     
         37 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 31 , further comprising a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the desuperheater to receive the steam from the desuperheater and regulate the steam pressure, preferably the pressure regulator is a pressure control valve, more preferably a pressure reducing valve or a pressure sustaining valve. 
     
     
         38 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the feedwater control system comprises a pump, preferably a positive-displacement pump, a centrifugal pump, an axial-flow pump, or a combination thereof connected in series or parallel. 
     
     
         39 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the feedwater control system comprises a filter to remove contaminants from the feedwater, preferably the filter is a reverse osmosis filter. 
     
     
         40 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the feedwater control system comprises a demineraliser to demineralise the feedwater. 
     
     
         41 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 31 , wherein the feedwater control system comprises a heated water tank for pre-heating the feedwater, preferably the feedwater is pre-heated by heat recovered from the steam using heat recovery means. 
     
     
         42 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 31 , further comprising a storage unit in fluid communication with the desuperheater, such that the storage unit stores excess steam, preferably the storage unit is a steam accumulator or a steam drum. 
     
     
         43 . The steam delivery system according to  claim 42 , wherein the stored steam is released to meet peak steam demand. 
     
     
         44 . A method of providing industrial steam, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing feedwater through a feedwater control system;   flowing the feedwater from the feedwater control system to a thermal energy storage apparatus to heat the feedwater to provide steam; and   desuperheating the steam to regulate the steam temperature;   sparging the steam provided by the desuperheater to a sparge system in configurations comprising:
 an excess-steam configuration, wherein at least a portion of the steam provided by the desuperheater is redirected to the sparge system; 
 a no-demand configuration, wherein the steam provided by the desuperheater is redirected to the sparge system; 
   to thereby provide industrial steam having at least one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure.   
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the sparge system comprises a sparger tank comprising:
 a volume of water;   at least one nozzle for injecting the steam provided by the desuperheater into the water;   to thereby condense the steam and heat the water.   
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein at least a portion the water is recycled to mix with the feedwater. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein an aerosol of cooling water is introduced into the desuperheater and mixed with the steam for reducing the temperature of the steam. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the desuperheater comprises a heat exchanger, preferably the heat exchanger is a shell and tube type, a tube-in-tube type, or a plate type. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the desuperheater comprises a pressure regulator for regulating the steam pressure at an outlet of the desuperheater. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 44 , further comprising a step of regulating the steam pressure using a pressure regulator, preferably the pressure regulator is a pressure control valve, more preferably a pressure reducing valve or a pressure sustaining valve. 
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the feedwater control system comprises a pump, preferably a positive-displacement pump, a centrifugal pump, an axial-flow pump, or a combination thereof connected in series or parallel. 
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the feedwater control system comprises a filter that removes contaminants from the feedwater, preferably the filter is a reverse osmosis filter. 
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the feedwater control system comprises a demineraliser to demineralise the feedwater. 
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein the feedwater control system comprises a heated water tank for pre-heating the feedwater, preferably the feedwater is pre-heated by heat recovered from the steam using heat recovery means. 
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 44 , further comprising a step of storing excess steam provided by the desuperheater in a storage unit, preferably the storage unit is a steam accumulator or a steam drum. 
     
     
         56 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the stored steam is released to meet peak steam demand.