BG113829A - AUTOMATED THERMAL ACCUMULATION SYSTEM FOR ENERGY FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES - Google Patents

Abstract

It is intended for optimized use of energy from renewable energy sources. Its main advantage is the use of on-site "green" synergy - "green" generation with "green" accumulation, and 0% carbon emissions are released during the working processes of the product. The system according to the invention is extremely operational and automated. The charging and discharging processes can be sequential without wasting time preparing the different work processes. It can be activated very quickly (in one or the opposite direction), which is an indisputable advantage for the balance of the electrical network. An important functional advantage of the system is that it can be scaled to cover energy needs on site - for domestic/industrial electricity consumption. The construction of the system according to the invention can be done by partially burying in the ground mass or building in height, not requiring large open areas and representing a compact way for safe and long-term storage of potential energy at a low cost.

Description

The present invention relates to an automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources. It is intended for optimized use of energy from renewable energy sources and improvement of energy efficiency in general.

PRIOR ART

Natural energy storage, by producing green hydrogen from water, or non-natural hydrogen, are ways of energy storage that we do not find in practice for at least two reasons.

Production of green hydrogen is unprofitable for energy accumulation, because it is known from physics that the energy required for atomic splitting of the water molecule (H20=H+H+0) is always greater than the energy that is obtained when the H20 molecule is newly formed from its atoms .

The second reason is that hydrogen atoms H are the smallest known in nature, and so is the hydrogen molecule H2. Therefore, during its storage and transport, there is always a leak and a risk of explosion with the oxygen from the air, which is why its storage is permissible for a short time under strict safety measures.

From Australian patent document AU2020222393(A1) is a known renewable energy storage system that uses hydrogen as a storage medium. The system contains a module for generating hydrogen by electrolysis of water, where the module for generating hydrogen is powered by one or more renewable energy sources. And hydrogen storage module compressed hydrogen. The system also contains a hydrogen fuel cell for converting at least part of the accumulated hydrogen into electricity.

In US patent document US2021292917(A1), a hydrogen production and storage system using solar energy is disclosed. It converts solar energy into electricity through a solar panel, using the electricity to produce hydrogen in a water electrolysis reactor. The resulting hydrogen is stored under high pressure in a hydrogen tank in a water tank. This innovative system offers an innovative solution for storing hydrogen in a tank submerged in water. But this complicates it and makes it more expensive. At the same time, it is not as safe as the previously discussed one, because hydrogen is stored under high pressure, and it itself is explosive. And that is why similar systems have not found distribution in energy practice.

China Patent Document CN111219769(A) published on 2020-06-02 discloses a dual-mode power supply system consisting of a wind thermal unit and a photovoltaic unit. The wind thermal unit includes a wind turbine, a compressor, a throttle valve, an evaporator and a condenser. The turbine rotates, via a drive shaft, the compressor. And it is connected to the evaporator and the condenser through refrigerant lines. The condenser is connected to the evaporator through the refrigerant lines and through the throttle valve.

A photovoltaic unit consists of photovoltaic panels. The system accumulates thermal energy generated at the expense of the sun and wind. But thermal energy is not suitable for long-term storage, because thermal insulation is expensive, and yet there are always heat-energy losses. And heat compressor systems are expensive and unreliable because they operate at high refrigerant pressures. Therefore, such systems have not found applications from energy investors.

The most widespread, and long-known, energy storage system is through pumped-generator hydroelectric plants, which now cover more than 90% of the globally installed energy storage capacity. These systems are suitable for both long- and short-term storage and are competitive in terms of investment costs. But they have a significant drawback that they can only be built in places with specific relief conditions. And water also has losses during transmission and storage from leaks and evaporation. And their water reservoirs (upper and lower) become muddy over time. Anaerobic life develops in them, rotting, which releases methane, which is about 20 times more dangerous for global warming than CO2.

When the water reservoirs are also used for agricultural irrigation, the mentioned adverse effects are partially compensated, since the agricultural crops photosynthesize and absorb CO2. Such is the case described in Taiwan patent document TW202119911(A1). A combined irrigation water storage system with water storage in overhead tanks is proposed, which is also used for potential energy storage. Pumping water into the upper reservoirs becomes energy from solar generators. This system requires certain topography and availability of water. Therefore, it has limited application.

There are various other energy storage systems, such as by changing the state of matter of selected substances. They go from solid to liquid and vice versa, where they accumulate and release energy. Such an innovative solution is known from patent document of China WO2021109067(A1). But it has a relatively small capacity and is not used for large energy systems. There are similar innovations that differ mainly in the thermoplastic material used.

In the document CN106705188А, published on 2017-05-24, it refers to off-peak solid state energy storage equipment. The equipment has a heat accumulator, a heat exchanger and a control unit; the heat exchange unit and the heat storage unit are controlled by the heat exchange control unit with the end user, wherein the heat storage unit includes a heat storage body, a heating unit assembly and a heat insulation layer; the set of heating units is located in the heat storage body to convert the off-peak electrical energy into heat energy and store the heat energy in the heat storage body. The heat-insulating layer is located on the outer periphery of the heat-accumulating body; the heat exchange module includes a fan, a heat exchanger, an air flue and an air chamber, and outputs the heat energy in the heat storage body to the user through a heat exchange mode; and the control unit includes power cabinet, control cabinet, PLC and touch screen.

US2023203967A1, published 06-29-2023, relates to an Energy Storage System that converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) into continuous heat at over

1000° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is supplied continuously on demand. An array of bricks, including internal radiant cavities, is heated directly by thermal radiation. Cavities facilitate rapid, uniform heating by re-radiation. The delivery of heat by flowing gas creates a thermocline that maintains a high outlet temperature during discharge. The gas flows through structured pathways in the array, delivering heat that can be used for processes including calcination, hydrogen electrolysis, steam generation, and heat and cogeneration production. WO2022160004A1 published on 04-08-2022 relates to an Energy Storage Device comprising: a heat storage body having a heat exchanger channel and a heating element channel adapted to receive a movable heating element; and a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, wherein at least a portion of the heat exchanger is located along the channel. Also provided are methods of reversibly storing and/or extracting energy, a heating element, and an energy storage array including a plurality of energy storage devices. Document US11378282B2 published 05-07-2022 relates to a Thermal Energy Accumulator capable of receiving, storing and releasing thermal energy over a range of more than one temperature to/from at least one thermal energy source and/or sink , said thermal energy accumulator comprising: a configuration of three or more thermal energy storage banks, each of said thermal energy storage banks having an operating temperature range; at least one or more of the thermal energy storage banks contains a thermal energy storage material comprising a single material or a mixture of materials.

In another patent document of China CN112894789(A1), a vertical automated gravity system of building exterior structure is presented. It includes a housing, a drive motor and an output shaft. The external structure is attached to a building and its safe use is not always structurally justified and permissible. Moreover, this limitation does not help its energy use on a large scale. It is not integrated with photovoltaic panels to improve its environmental friendliness and energy efficiency. This integrated technical solution is designed for energy accumulation from three different renewable resources - namely solar, wind and hydrokinetic energy from a river current.

TECHNICAL ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

The task of the invention is to provide an automated thermal storage system for energy generated from other sources (mainly renewable) for automatic optimal operation in real time, which thanks to the specific shape of the heaters (7) and the air channels of the thermal core discharge system (17) to have a unique output characteristic, allowing constant power to be supplied to the consumer, independent of the degree of discharge of the thermal accumulator.

The presented thermal system is not only for energy storage, but is an intelligent system for energy storage and optimal management of energy flows.

The task was solved by an automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, including a thermal core (17), high-temperature electric heaters (7), internal high-efficiency thermal insulation (4), metal casing (3), external thermal insulation (2), carrying a metal a structure (1), a charging system consisting of an external power source (20), an electric heater control panel (19), and a thermal core temperature measurement system, (17), a discharge system consisting of fan (8), a system of insulated air ducts (12), shutters for closing the battery (14) and (15), three-way inlet and outlet valves (9) and (11) and special air ducts with variable cross-section and location (6 ), A control system consisting of sensors, actuators and specially developed control software. The thermal core (17) as well as the other process envelopes, insulations and housings are mounted in the form of a vertical tower supported mechanically by the metal structure (1). The charging system is electric with a 10-stage system for adjusting the input power. The discharge of the thermal accumulator is achieved by forced air circulation through the thermal core with the help of the fan (8) and the precise regulation with the three-way electronically controlled valves (9) and (11). The control system (13) is based on programmable controllers (PLC). The thermal core (17) is composed of ceramic blocks of different shape and arrangement with high heat capacity. Thanks to the organization of incoming energy flows in the thermal core, the energy charge is uniform throughout the entire volume of the core. Due to the discharge air channels with a variable cross-section (6), the discharge of the thermal core is also uniform throughout its volume, which allows the maintenance of multiple stable discharge modes at different consumer powers. The thermal core (17) as well as the connecting air ducts (12) are effectively insulated with a newly developed insulation product with extremely low thermal conductivity, which significantly increases the efficiency of the energy conversion. The control system (12) regulates the charging process by managing the charging power in accordance with a set program, as well as the discharge process depending on the power of the consumer (9). The system allows a mode of operation in which the charging and discharging of the thermal accumulator can be carried out simultaneously.

In a preferred embodiment of an automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, the internal thermal insulation can be a highly effective combination of nitro concrete, fireclay bricks and stone wool.

In another preferred embodiment of an automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, the control system consisting of sensors, actuators is controlled by specially developed control software.

In another preferred embodiment of an automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, the control system is based on programmable controllers (PLC), making it remotely controllable and programmable.

The main advantage of an automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, according to the invention, is the use of green synergy in place of green generation with green storage.

The main advantage of the system is that it optimally integrates energy accumulation from different renewable resources. It can be installed at sites with energy generation from the sun, wind or hydrokinetic energy from river currents. It is the integration of hourly variable wind generation with day-only photovoltaic electricity generation and constant hydrokinetic electricity generation that is the basis of the high energy efficiency of the system, according to the invention.

The construction of the system, according to the invention, in height does not require large open areas and represents a compact way for safe and long-term storage of potential energy at a low cost. This contrasts with the ever-increasing cost of energy in the world and is an undeniable investment advantage.

An important functional advantage of the system is that it can be scaled to be used in populated areas to cover energy needs of domestic/industrial electricity consumption.

Advantages of the system are its flexibility and universality.

The system, according to the invention, is extremely operational and can be activated very quickly (in the process of generation or in the process of charging), which is an indisputable advantage for the balance of the electrical network.

Important environmental and energy advantages of the system, according to the invention, that it minimizes the cost of electricity generation, by balancing the peaks and troughs of the electronic load in the electrical network, which becomes fully automatic.

A functional advantage of the system is that it works automatically in an optimal way under the intelligent control of its programmable elements.

EXPLANATION OF THE ATTACHED FIGURE

The figure represents a schematic illustration of an automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, according to the invention.

EXAMPLE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The diagram in the figure is an exemplary embodiment of an automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, according to the invention. The types of applications of the invention are not limited by what is shown.

Automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, includes thermal core (17), high-temperature electric heaters (7), internal high-efficiency thermal insulation (4), metal casing (3), external thermal insulation (2), supporting metal structure (1) , a charging system consisting of an external power source (20), an electric heater control panel (19), and a thermal core temperature measurement system, (17), a discharge system consisting of a fan (8) , a system of insulated air ducts (12), shutters for closing the battery (14) and (15), three-way inlet and outlet valves (9) and (11) and special air ducts with variable cross-section and location (6), System for control consisting of sensors, actuators and specially developed control software. The thermal core (17) as well as the other process envelopes, insulations and housings are mounted in the form of a vertical tower supported mechanically by the metal structure (1). The charging system is electric with a step system for adjusting the input power. The discharge of the thermal accumulator is achieved by forced air circulation through the thermal core with the help of the fan (8) and the precise regulation with the three-way electronically controlled valves (9) and (11). The control system (13) is based on programmable controllers (PLC). The thermal core (17) is composed of ceramic blocks of different shape and arrangement with high heat capacity. Thanks to the organization of incoming energy flows in the thermal core, the energy charge is uniform throughout the entire volume of the core. Due to the discharge air channels with a variable cross-section (6), the discharge of the thermal core is also uniform throughout its volume, which allows the maintenance of multiple stable discharge modes at different consumer powers. The thermal core (17) as well as the connecting air ducts (12) are effectively insulated with a newly developed insulation product with extremely low thermal conductivity, which significantly increases the efficiency of the energy conversion. The control system (12) regulates the charging process by managing the charging power in accordance with a set program, as well as the discharge process depending on the power of the consumer (9). The system allows a mode of operation in which the charging and discharging of the thermal accumulator can be carried out simultaneously.

USE OF THE INVENTION

The thermal system for energy from renewable sources, according to the invention, can work as a fully autonomous system.

At the same time, it is connected to the energy grid with reversible equipment and can automatically store excess energy in the grid.

Budget variants of the system according to the invention can be implemented with only a part of what is provided for in the invention.

The know-how for the system according to the invention is explicitly described in patent claims 2 to 4 inclusive.

A separate know-how is the expert system that manages it in real time, the description of which follows:

Depending on the various operating conditions of the system, we have developed different algorithms for its operation, and in particular under the control of programmable controllers (PLC).

Thanks to the accumulated experience, after numerous computer simulated tests, as well as from the many collected data and facts, we have structured separate databases and separate fact bases. The system monitors and records energy consumption in real time. On this basis, it creates (self-learning) specific rules and forecasts, with which the energy storage capacity of the system is optimally achieved.

The collected and formed databases with data, facts, rule bases are an integral part of the algorithmic design of a technical-technological expert system for automatic real-time operation of the system, according to the invention.

The expert system is implemented using an object-oriented algorithmic language containing its own inference mechanism for automatic decision making and execution in real time. The software prepared in this way works as an artificial intelligence, independently making the necessary decisions for optimal operation of the system, according to the invention.

The main function of the expert system is to minimize the cost of electricity generation by balancing the peaks and troughs of electricity consumption in the electricity network, which is fully automatic thanks to the programmable elements.

The system according to the invention is composed of known parts on the market, which are implemented according to known technologies. Therefore, its industrial applicability and its maintenance are not a difficulty.

Claims (4)

1. Automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, including a thermal core (17), high-temperature electric heaters (7), internal high-efficiency thermal insulation (4), metal casing (3), external thermal insulation (2), supporting metal structure ( 1), a charging system consisting of an external power source (20), an electric heater control panel (19), and a thermal core temperature measurement system, (17), a discharge system consisting of a fan ( 8), a system of insulated air ducts (12), shutters for closing the accumulator (14) and (15), three-way inlet and outlet valves (9) and (11) and special air ducts with variable cross-section and arrangement (6), A control system consisting of sensors, actuators and specially developed control software. The thermal core (17) as well as the other process envelopes, insulations and housings are mounted in the form of a vertical tower supported mechanically by the metal structure (1). The charging system is electric with a 10-stage system for adjusting the input power. The discharge of the thermal accumulator is achieved by forced air circulation through the thermal core with the help of the fan (8) and the precise regulation with the three-way electronically controlled valves (9) and (11). The control system (13) is based on programmable controllers (PLC). The thermal core (17) is composed of ceramic blocks of different shape and arrangement with high heat capacity. Thanks to the organization of incoming energy flows in the thermal core, the energy charge is uniform throughout the entire volume of the core. Due to the discharge air channels with a variable cross-section (6), the discharge of the thermal core is also uniform throughout its volume, which allows the maintenance of multiple stable discharge modes at different consumer powers. The thermal core (17) as well as the connecting air ducts (12) are effectively insulated with a newly developed insulation product with extremely low thermal conductivity, which significantly increases the efficiency of the energy conversion. The control system (12) regulates the charging process by managing the charging power in accordance with a set program, as well as the discharge process depending on the power of the consumer (9). The system allows a mode of operation in which the charging and discharging of the thermal accumulator can be carried out simultaneously. The task of the invention is to provide an automated thermal storage system for energy generated from other sources (mainly renewable) for automatic optimal operation in real time, which thanks to the specific shape of the heaters (7) and the air channels of the thermal core discharge system (17) to have a unique output characteristic, allowing constant power to be supplied to the consumer, independent of the degree of discharge of the thermal accumulator. The presented thermal system is not only for energy storage, but is an intelligent system for energy storage and optimal management of energy flows. 2. Automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal thermal insulation is a highly efficient combination of nitro concrete, fireclay bricks and stone wool. 3. Automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources, according to claim 1 and 2, the control system consisting of sensors, actuators is controlled by specially developed control software. 4. Automated thermal storage system for energy from renewable sources according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control system is based on programmable controllers (PLC), making it remotely controllable and programmable.