CN102149987A

CN102149987A - Thermal energy storage device

Info

Publication number: CN102149987A
Application number: CN2009801355200A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 裘松刚; 莫里斯·A·怀特; 戴维·J·雅各尔; 罗斯·加尔布雷斯
Original assignee: Infinia Corp
Current assignee: Infinia Corp
Priority date: 2008-07-10
Filing date: 2009-07-10
Publication date: 2011-08-10
Also published as: US20100212656A1; WO2010006319A2; EP2318779A2; WO2010006319A3

Abstract

A thermal energy storage (''TES'') device including a vessel housing a continuous volume of a TES media, an input portion, an output portion, and a plurality of thermal energy transport members connected to the input portion and/or the output portion. The input portion receives thermal energy from a thermal energy source. The received thermal energy is transported by one or more of the thermal energy transport members to the output portion and/or the TES media for storage. One or more of the thermal energy transport members connected to the output portion transport stored thermal energy from the TES media to the output portion. The output portion is coupled to an external device, such as a Stirling engine, and configured to transfer thermal energy the external device. Optionally, selected ones of the thermal energy transport members connected to both the input and output portions may be insulated from the TES media.

Description

Thermal energy storage device

The cross reference of related application

The application advocates the rights and interests of No. the 61/079th, 787, the U.S. Provisional Patent Application of filing an application on July 10th, 2008, and it is for reference that this application is incorporated this paper in this integral body.

About the research of federal government's initiation or the statement of exploitation

Invention described herein is to initiate to make under the research and development uniting for N00014-07-M-0409 number with Department of the Navy contract, and can or be used for government's purpose for U.S. government by U.S. government and make and use and do not need to pay any patent royalties.

Technical field

The present invention relates in general to thermal energy storage device.

Background technology

Stirling engine in 1816 patents of authorizing Scotland pastor who is called Robert's Stirling at first is described.A lot of modification of Stirling circulation are accomplished and be applied to such as from the mine pump up water with the application of power is provided to ship during ensuing whole century.Stirling engine even as the obtainable cooling fan that acts as a fuel and supply with kerosene among the early stage Searscatalogs.All these application are subsequently owing to the appearance of motor and internal combustion engine (" IC ") is substituted.

Before nineteen forties began the material in modern times and thermodynamic analysis be applied to the Stirling circulation, all stirling engines all were to utilize the air under the atmospheric pressure to operate at Fei Lipu.Helium or hydrogen working fluid that use is under the stuffing pressure of remarkable increase can be raised the efficiency and specific power significantly.Many improvement that Stirling engine and cooler are made of Fei Lipu, its assignee and other people research and development are to use on a large scale in order to be used for, but except several subcolling condensers are used, do not have effective commercialization.Main cause is owing to the slipper seal in all kinematic stirling engines causes restriction (wherein the motion of piston and shift unit (displacer) is subjected to the restriction of traditional crank axle and associated mechanisms) to original life and reliability and expensive, and expensive is owing to have to utilize and comprehensively make and the production in enormous quantities of assembling design (" DFMA ") realization engine from the model machine to the engine.

Typical Stirling engine comprises heat heat exchanger and cooling heat exchanger.Heat is at high temperature T _hBe supplied to the heat exchanger and of heating at low temperature T _cBe discharged into the environment from cooling heat exchanger.Heat between heat exchanger and the cooling heat exchanger backheat heat exchanger (regenerator heat exchanger) heat energy storage and heat energy is delivered to the different piece of circulation.In double-piston Alpha configuration, the phase difference between two pistons motions is used for by having most of gas and have most of gas in cool region during compression phase (or stage) (volume between two pistons reduces) to extract net work from circulation at thermal region during the expansion phase place (or stage) (volume between two pistons increases).Because greater than the negative circulation merit of importing by the compression cold air, therefore clean direct circulation merit is applied to piston from the circulation merit that makes hot gas expander output.The inertia that is associated with the piston motion makes engine pass through the compression work stage.Owing to act on the phase relation that resonance power on the free-piston can't obtain to make positive work output, therefore single-lift Alpha's engine only can be used as the kinematics machine.

Single power piston is all adopted in configuration of beta Stirling engine and the configuration of gamma Stirling engine, but increases displacement piston (displacer piston) so that working gas moves back and forth between hot junction and cold junction.Shift movement can not change global cycle volume (except the situation under the second order level that produces in the physical diameter by the displacement drive rod), make most of gas between hot-zone and cold-zone, replace but gas is moved back and forth by heat exchanger, in periodic duty gas, produce pressure wave.This pressure wave that is applied to power piston produces clean circulation merit, thereby makes reciprocating motion of the pistons.Beta engine configurations and gamma engine configurations can be used as kinematics engine or free piston engine.The shift unit (gas is only moved back and forth pass through heat exchanger) that the free piston engine utilization is loaded easily is dynamic with the different resonance of the power piston that difficultly loads (obtaining merit from the engine circulation), so that system resonance is coordinated, thus suitable stroke and phase relation between motion of acquisition piston and the shift unit motion.The beta engine configurations is limited to identical diameter with different beta engine configurations, shift unit and power pistons of being between the gamma engine configurations, so they can move back and forth in identical cylinder.On the contrary, the gamma engine configurations provides piston and shift unit more design flexibility in the cylinder that separates.These engines are originally as single-lift.

Traditional dynamic Stirling engine extracts power by mechanical linkage from the Stirling circulation.The complex structure of described Stirling engine and costliness, and need crankcase, piston and shaft seal and the bearing of apply oil, thus limiting performance and ultimate life.Power output is difficult to change aspect kinematic design, and described kinematic design moves back and forth between engine and storage with the complication system that changes the average working pressure in the engine by suction helium or hydrogen working fluid usually and realizes.On the contrary, free-piston type Stirling engine (" FPSE "), the engine that can buy from the Infinia company of the Houston of Texas for example, comprise independent shift unit of installing and the power piston that is directly connected to linear alternator, described shift unit and power piston in fact all use deflection bearing and the clearance seal spare of the infinite life that does not need lubricant.Power (or power) can change in very wide output horizontal extent, and also therefore changing piston stroke keeps high efficiency to change terminal voltage by using engine to regulate electronic equipment simultaneously.The free-piston type Stirling engine can be configured to have simple frame for movement, thereby carries the product of high efficiency, low maintenance or Maintenance free.

As mentioned above, Stirling engine provides power by heat energy.For continuous running, Stirling engine need be located heat energy without interruption in its hot junction usually.Heat energy is used to keep the high temperature T in hot junction _hYet some heat energies are not continuous.For example, solar energy is interrupted.Further, some heat energies can be supplied than the required energy more energy of operation Stirling engine.Therefore, exist being configured to by Stirling engine or other thermal energy consumption device heat energy storage for the need for equipment of using subsequently.Present as knowing from following detailed description and accompanying drawing, the application provides this advantage and other advantage.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram that shows the exemplary embodiment of thermal energy storage (" TES ") device;

Fig. 2 is the schematic diagram of the first optional embodiment that shows the TES device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is the schematic diagram that shows the electric heating system of the TES device that comprises Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is the side cross-sectional view of the second optional embodiment of TES device of Fig. 1 that is used for being assembled in the electric heating system of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is the part three-dimensional cutaway view of the 3rd optional embodiment of TES device of Fig. 1 that is used for being assembled in the electric heating system of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is the chart that shows the gross energy memory capacity of three TES media of comparing with the liquid salt storage system of the typical prior art that is used for groove;

Fig. 7 is the phase diagram of KF/NaF binary system;

Fig. 8 is the three-dimensional cutaway view of the 4th optional embodiment that is configured to the TES device of Fig. 1 of using with the external heat energy;

Fig. 9 is the three-dimensional cutaway view of the 5th optional embodiment that is configured to the TES device of Fig. 1 of using with the external heat energy;

Figure 10 is the three-dimensional cutaway view of the 6th optional embodiment that is configured to the TES device of Fig. 1 of using with the external heat energy;

Figure 11 is the three-dimensional cutaway view of the 7th optional embodiment that is configured to the TES device of Fig. 1 of using with the external heat energy;

Figure 12 is the three-dimensional cutaway view of disconnection of the 8th optional embodiment that is configured to the TES device of Fig. 1 of using with the internal heat energy;

Figure 13 is the part three-dimensional cutaway view of drive system that comprises the TES device of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is the enlarged drawing of omission TES medium, Stirling engine and the fuel tank of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is the three-dimensional cutaway view of the 9th optional embodiment that is configured to the TES device of Fig. 1 of using with the internal heat energy;

Figure 16 is the three-dimensional cutaway view of the tenth optional embodiment that is configured to the TES device of Fig. 1 of using with the internal heat energy;

Figure 17 is the amplification three-dimensional cutaway view of combustor component of the TES device of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is the three-dimensional cutaway view of the 11 optional embodiment that is configured to the TES device of Fig. 1 of using with the internal heat energy;

Figure 19 is the amplification three-dimensional cutaway view of combustor component of the TES device of Figure 18;

Figure 20 is the schematic diagram of the 12 optional embodiment of the display structure TES device that becomes the Fig. 1 that uses with the internal heat energy;

Figure 21 provides three charts, and described three chart display model results: the highest chart shows TES medium 110 time dependent temperature; Middle plot shows the indoor time dependent ignition temperature of internal-combustion; And the temperature that minimum chart shows the temperature of the combustion product (" returning (Return) ") of combustion chamber internally discharging and fuel that enters by reclaiming (recuperation) (" recover ") acquisition and oxidant over time;

Figure 22 provides from two charts of demonstration by the model acquisition of the power flow of TES device;

Figure 23 provides two charts, described two chart display model results: the highest chart shows energy accumulation and the extraction from the TES medium, and minimum chart shows the JP10 fuel consumption of transition;

Figure 24 is the chart as the combustor efficiency of the function of the percentage of the diluent (dilutent) of the embodiment of the TES device that is used to comprise the fin with different thermal conductivity;

Figure 25 is the chart as the efficiency of combustion of the function of the combustion power of the embodiment of the TES device that comprises the varying number heat pipe;

Figure 26 is a block diagram of controlling the method for the thermal energy storage in the TES device according to the temperature of the heater head of the Stirling engine of the heat energy efferent that is connected to the TES device;

Figure 27 is the stereogram of the dash receiver of the temperature sensor that comprises that the electric heating system with Fig. 3 uses; And

Figure 28 is the block diagram that comes the method for the thermal energy storage in the TES device of control chart 1 by the engine strokes of the Stirling engine of the heat energy efferent that change to connect the TES device.

The specific embodiment

Summary

The application provides a kind of thermal energy storage (" TES ") and conveying device, and described device is used for the heat energy of store heat energy generation and described heat energy is transported to different physical locations.The heat energy that stores can be after a while by the power generating unit that drives such as heat energy or need the reception structure or the device of any other device (for example, Stirling engine or steam turbine) of heat energy to use.The TES device can be described as: heat energy is provided for the buffer unit that the heat energy that is provided by heat energy before structure or the device is provided.Therefore, the TES device can be used for the power generating unit that drives by heat energy and introduces between the generation of heat energy and consumption of heat energy and postpone the period.Alternatively, the TES device can be configured to heat energy is provided to the power generating unit of heat energy driving and does not need to introduce delay.To illustrate that as following the TES device can be suitable for various heat energies and various reception structure or device (comprising the power generating unit that various heat energy drive) use.

Fig. 1 provides the block diagram that shows example T ES device 10.TES device 10 comprises the container 90 that limits the seal inner chamber 100 of holding TES medium 110 (following can the detailed description in detail).The amount of the heat energy that stores according to TES medium 110, the TES medium that is contained in the inner room can be solid or liquid.Container 90 is configured to stand the freeze thawing circulation repeatedly of TES medium.Container 90 has heat energy input part 102 and heat energy efferent 104.

Each all is configured to heat energy input part 102 and heat energy efferent 104 by at least one heat transfer pattern (for example, conduction and/or convection current) transfer heat.As limiting examples, heat energy input part 102 and/or heat energy efferent 104 can be embodied as simple conductor.Alternatively, heat energy input part 102 and/or heat energy efferent 104 can be embodied as heat pipe (as described below) or similar structures.

Heat energy (shown in arrow " A1 ") is transported to the heat energy input part 102 of TES medium 110 from heat energy 130.Heat energy 130 can perhaps alternatively, be contained in the inner room 100 outside the inner room 100 of container 90.Heat energy 130 can use any suitable thermal source to realize.

The heat energy (shown in arrow " A1 ") that is sent to heat energy input part 102 heats the TES medium 110 that is contained in the inner room 100.TES device 10 comprises and is configured to transmit one or more heat transfer members of heat or install 140 by at least one heat transfer pattern (for example, conduction and/or convection current).As limiting examples, heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 can be embodied as simple conductor (for example, heat conducting material).

Alternatively, heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 can be embodied as one or more conventional heat pipe.Heat pipe will arrive colder position from the thermal energy transfer than thermal site.Heat pipe can be configured to even also can carry out this function when having the little temperature difference between than thermal site and colder position.Heat pipe has hot interface than the thermal site place, and heat pipe has cold interface in colder position.Heat pipe also has liquid-tight inner space (for example, passage or chamber), and the working fluid that the lateral wall by the material structure with high-termal conductivity limits is equipped with in described liquid-tight inner space.Working fluid is loaded in the described inner space under the partial vacuum with the steam pressure that is near or below working fluid.Therefore, in described inner space, a part of working fluid is a liquid phase, and a part of working fluid is a gas phase.In other words, working fluid is in and comprises the mutually saturated of saturated liquid and saturated vapor.

In described inner space, heat energy is sent to cold interface by the process that is called two relative currents from hot interface.Particularly, in heat pipe, working fluid evaporates at the interface in heat and forms saturated vapor.The part that makes the working fluid evaporation of heat pipe can be called evaporimeter.The working fluid of evaporation flows towards cold interface as gas, the described immediately working fluid liquid that condenses back.The part that working fluid is condensed of heat pipe can be called condenser.The liquid working fluid then turns back to hot interface.As an example, the inner space of heat pipe can comprise capillarity core (wick), and described capillarity core moves the liquid working fluid by capillarity and turns back to hot interface, and working fluid can evaporate once more immediately.Alternatively, gravity or some other power can be used to make the liquid working fluid to turn back to hot interface, and working fluid can evaporate once more immediately.Therefore, in described inner space, working fluid is circulating between gas phase and the liquid phase and between hot interface and cold interface repeatedly.

Heat pipe does not need to have any specific shape.For example, heat pipe can have elongated extrusion shapes (for example, the cylinder form of hollow), non-elongated shape (for example, the plate-like of hollow) and analogous shape.One skilled in the art will appreciate that heat pipe can be along single direction or a plurality of direction conveying heat energy.Carrying along a plurality of directions in the embodiment of heat energy, when than the temperature change of thermal site and/or colder position, hot interface and cold interface can change the physical location on heat pipe.Therefore, the heat energy direction that flows through heat pipe can respond than the temperature change of thermal site and/or colder position and change.

Except passing through two relative current transferring heat energy, heat pipe can also be by heat conduction transferring heat energy.For example, as mentioned above, the inner space of heat pipe is limited by the lateral wall that the heat conducting material structure forms.Lateral wall arrives surrounding medium (for example, TES medium 110) and/or structure (for example, the heat energy efferent 104) with thermal energy conduction.

Heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 is shown as

heat pipe

140A, 140B, 140C, 140D and the 140E that is arranged in the TES medium 110.Heat pipe 140A--140E will be stored in the heat energy efferent 104 that heat energy in the TES medium is sent to container 90.Heat pipe 140A--140E can be configured for heat energy is transported to heat energy efferent 104 and heat energy is transported to TES medium 110 from heat energy efferent 104 from TES medium 110.In other words, heat pipe 140A--140E can provide two-way heat energy stream.The direction that heat energy flows can according in heat energy efferent 104 and the TES medium 110 which heat determine.If heat energy efferent 104 is than TES medium 110 warm, then heat pipe 140A--140E is transported to TES medium 110 with heat energy from heat energy efferent 104.On the other hand, if TES medium 110 than heat energy efferent 104 heat, then heat pipe 140A--140E is transported to heat energy efferent 104 with heat energy from TES medium 110.Alternatively, heat pipe 140A--140E can be configured to only on single flow direction heat energy is transported to heat energy efferent 104 from TES medium 110.

Optionally heat loss through conduction sheet (for example, being connected to the fin 836 that shows among Fig. 8 of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810B) can be connected to heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 or interact with heat transfer unit (HTU) 140.Under specific situation, described heat loss through conduction sheet can improve the performance of TES device 10.Other parts of heat pipe 140A--140E and/or TES device 10 can comprise suitable thermal insulation, so that transmit for required purpose influence heat.Heat pipe 140A--140E can be configured for the thermal energy transfer that provides variable, makes that the flowing of heat energy in the TES device 10 can be made amendment according to the demand of heat energy.

TES device 10 can comprise sensor " HF1 ", " HF2 " and " HF3 ".Sensor " HF1 ", " HF2 " and " HF3 " are positioned at the position of TES medium final set when from TES medium extraction heat energy.Sensor " HF1 ", " HF2 " and " HF3 " also are positioned at the position of the last fusing of TES medium when described thermal energy storage is in the TES medium.When container 90 has roughly cylinder form, one or more sensors " HF1 " are arranged in interior chamber 100 and heat energy input part 102 position adjacent, one or more sensors " HF2 " are arranged in interior chamber 100 and heat energy efferent 104 position adjacent, and one or more sensors " HF3 " are arranged in the interior chamber 100 along the central axis that extends between heat energy input part 102 and heat energy efferent 104 of described interior chamber.Sensor " HF1 ", " HF2 " and " HF3 " are configured to measure temperature information and transmit this information.When the final area of TES medium 110 will solidify or solidify or the final area of TES medium will melt or melt the time, can measure the temperature of TES medium 110 and determine the energy content of TES medium.

Although do not show among Fig. 1, one or more in the heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 can be connected to heat energy input part 102, and are configured to heat energy is delivered to TES medium 110 from heat energy input part 102.As limiting examples, heat pipe 140A--140E can extend to the TES medium 110 from heat energy input part 102.In such an embodiment, heat pipe 140A--140E can be configured to heat energy is transported to TES medium 110 from heat energy input part 102, and heat energy is transported to heat energy input part 102 from TES medium 110.In other words, heat pipe 140A--140E can provide two-way heat energy stream.As described above, the direction that heat energy flows can according in heat energy input part 102 and the TES medium 110 which heat determine.If heat energy input part 102 is than TES medium 110 warm, then heat pipe 140A--140E is transported to TES medium 110 with heat energy from heat energy input part 102.On the other hand, if TES medium 110 than heat energy input part 102 heat, then heat pipe 140A--140E is transported to heat energy input part 102 with heat energy from TES medium 110.Alternatively, heat pipe 140A--140E can be configured to only carry heat energy on single flow direction,, heat energy is transported to TES medium 110 from heat energy input part 102 that is.

As another optional embodiment, one or more can being connected between heat energy input part 102 and the heat energy efferent 104 in the heat transfer unit (HTU) 140.As limiting examples, heat pipe 140A--140E can extend to heat energy efferent 104 from heat energy input part 102.Heat pipe 140A--140E can be configured to heat energy directly is transported to heat energy efferent 104 from heat energy input part 102, and heat energy directly is transported to heat energy input part 102 from heat energy efferent 104.In other words, heat pipe 140A--140E can provide two-way heat energy stream.As mentioned above, the direction that flows of heat energy can according in heat energy input part 102 and the heat energy efferent 104 which heat determine.If heat energy input part 102 is than heat energy efferent 104 warm, then heat pipe 140A--140E is transported to heat energy efferent 104 with heat energy from heat energy input part 102.On the other hand, if heat energy efferent 104 than heat energy input part 102 heat, then heat pipe 140A--140E is transported to heat energy input part 102 with heat energy from heat energy efferent 104.Alternatively, heat pipe 140A--140E can be configured to only carry heat energy on single flow direction,, heat energy is transported to heat energy efferent 104 from heat energy input part 102 that is.

In heat pipe 140A--140E was connected embodiment between heat energy input part 102 and the heat energy efferent 104, heat pipe 140A--140E can pass through TES medium 110, perhaps can with 110 thermal insulation of TES medium.If heat pipe 140A--140E is through TES medium 110, then at least a portion of the heat energy of being carried by heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 can be sent to TES medium 110 and store.If the heat energy that heat pipe 140A--140E is configured to provide two-way flows, can according to which the hotter direction of determining that heat energy flows in heat energy input part 102, heat energy efferent 104 and the TES medium 110.If heat energy input part 102 is than heat energy efferent 104 and TES medium heat, then heat pipe 140A--140E will be transported to heat energy efferent 104 with heat energy from heat energy input part 102 by TES medium 110.On the other hand, if heat energy efferent 104 than heat energy input part 102 and TES medium 110 heat, then heat pipe 140A--140E will be transported to heat energy input part 102 with heat energy from heat energy efferent 104 by TES medium 110.Alternatively, if TES medium 110 is all warmmer than heat energy input part 102 and heat energy efferent 104, then heat pipe 140A--140E is transported to heat energy efferent 104 and heat energy input part 102 with heat energy from TES medium 110.

Alternatively, the heat guard (not shown) can be used to make heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 adiabatic also restrictions to be sent to the thermal energy of TES medium 110 from heat transfer unit (HTU) 140.

Heat energy efferent 104 comprises inwardly having and the heat transmission assembly 150 of outer surface 160 separated inner surfaces 145.Heat transmission assembly 150 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.Heat transmission assembly 150 comprises the liquid-tight inner room 165 that is limited at least in part between separated inner surface 145 and the outer surface 160.Two-phase mixture or working fluid 167 such as sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and similar substance are contained in the inner room 165.In inner room 165, heat transmission assembly 150 can be very similar to traditional heat pipe condensing working fluid 167 and pass through wicks working fluid 167 (as mentioned above).

As mentioned above, one or more heat transfer unit (HTU)s 140 are fixed to inner surface 145 and are configured to heat energy is sent to from TES medium 110 inner surface 145 of heat transmission assembly 150.In certain embodiments, heat pipe 140A--140E makes fluid 167 two-phase fluids with the thermal technology of heat transmission assembly 150 and is communicated with.Inner surface 145 is by the heat energy heating from heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 and/or TES medium 110.Working fluid 167 in the inner room 165 of the inner surface 145 heating heat transmission assemblies 150 of heating.Then, the outer surface 160 of the working fluid 167 heating heat transmission assemblies 150 of heating.The heat energy that is sent to the inner surface 145 of heat transmission assembly 150 by heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 and/or TES medium 110 mixes in the inner room 165 of heat transmission assembly 150 mutually, so that generate relative even temperature and heat flux along outer surface 160.

Heat energy (shown in arrow " A2 ") is sent to from outer surface 160 to be received structure or installs 170, for example the power generating unit of heat energy driving.Therefore, the outer surface 160 of heat transmission assembly 150 is a heat-exchange surface.Receive structure or install 170 and can comprise any proper device that needs heat energy.Comprise engine, Stirling engine, generator, heat exchanger and similar device with the suitable reception structure of TES device 10 uses or the limiting examples of device.

In the optional embodiment (not shown), heat transport assembly 150 can omit from the heat energy efferent 104 of container 90.In such an embodiment, heat energy efferent 104 can comprise at least a portion of the outer surface of interior chamber 100, and described outer surface is as heat-exchange surface.One or more described parts that are fixed to the outer surface of interior chamber 100 in the heat transfer unit (HTU) 140, and heat energy is sent to the described part of the outer surface of interior chamber 100 from TES medium 110.Receive structure or install 170 can be connected to interior chamber 100 outer surface described part and be configured to receive heat energy from described part.

In the embodiment of heat energy 130 outside interior chamber 100, interior chamber 100 can comprise hot joining receipts outer surface 180.In such an embodiment, the outer surface 160 of heat transmission assembly 150 and heat reception outer surface 180 all is a heat-exchange surface.The outer surface 160 of heat transmission assembly 150 can form with the constructed in any manner that is suitable for realizing container 90 and reception structure or installing the interface (interface) between 170.Similarly, heat reception outer surface 180 can be to be suitable for realizing that the constructed in any manner at the interface (interface) between container 90 and the heat energy 130 forms.For example, one or two in these surfaces can be configured to have fin, heat exchanger, conduction device and the similar device of heat exchanger, use liquid.Further, one or two in these surfaces can comprise the one or more part in the heat transfer unit (HTU) 140.

In specific embodiment as described below, the outer surface of heat transmission assembly 150 is essentially the plane.What in such an embodiment, the outer surface that is essentially the plane 160 of heat transmission assembly 150 can be configured to be attached to Stirling engine is essentially plane or smooth basically heater head.

TES device 10 can be characterized as heat energy is sent to second area (for example, receive structure or install 170) from primary importance or zone (for example, heat energy 130).Further, as mentioned above, because the transmission of heat energy can postpone by TES medium 110, therefore according to described implementation detail, the specific embodiment of TES device 10 can be used to cushion heat energy when heat energy transmits between first area and second area.TES device 10 can be as the thermal capacitance (thermal capacitor) that heat flux need be applied to equably from non-homogeneous first area any system of second area.

As limiting examples, TES device 10 can be configured to carry out one or more following functions:

● heat energy is passed the interior chamber 100 that holds TES medium 110 from heat energy input part 102 be sent to heat energy efferent 104;

● heat energy is sent to TES medium 110 to store from heat energy input part 102;

● the variable quantity of rate of heat transfer when making the heat energy buffering enter TES device 10 and/or heat energy discharge TES device 10 to reduce heat energy;

● heat energy is sent out from TES device 10, make outer surface 160 isothermal ideally of heat transmission assembly 150;

● the localized hyperthermia district (also being called focus) in the outer surface of elimination heat transmission assembly 150;

● make be provided to receive structure or install 170 heat transmission steady;

● heat energy only is sent to TES medium 110 from heat energy input part 102; And

● control heat energy is sent to the speed of heat energy efferent 104 from TES medium 110 and/or heat energy input part 102.

Receive structure or install 170 and can be embodied as the prime mover that is configured to thermal power transfer is become machine power, Pneumatic pressure power, hydraulic power, electric power and similar power.Usually, prime mover will have the temperature range of peak efficiency.Because TES device 10 is under the saturated state and can operates at TES medium 110, therefore can be under desired temperatures ideally isothermal ground latent heat is transferred to prime mover.If it is desirable to extract the heat energy that is stored in the TES medium 110, then just can also use sensible heat to exchange in case set up suitable temperature gradient to be used for prime mover.

Heat energy 130 can be embodied as single source or a plurality of independent thermal source.For example, TES device 10 can be configured to use with the single source such as radiated solar energy or solar energy.Alternatively, TES device 10 can be configured to use with the multi-mode thermal source of the heat that comprises solar energy and produce by burning.Heat energy 130 can use geothermal energy or any other grade calorie source to carry out function individually or with combining form.Use this instruction by those skilled in the art, the geometry of TES device 10 can change to hold reception structure or the device that any heat energy or needs heat is transmitted.

The TES medium

TES medium 110 is phase change material (" PCM ").Use the latent heat of fusion of the phase transformation TES medium 110 in the TES device 10, can improve proportion and volume with respect to the TES device that uses single-phase TES medium.Therefore, the TES device can be assembled into integrated source/TES/ receiver (sink) module (electric heating system 300 that for example, shows among Fig. 3).In source/TES/ receiver module, described source is meant the energy input that comprises the sun, burning or waste heat flux; Receiver is meant the Energy extraction that comprises industrial process heat, water heating and Thermal Motor (for example, Stirling engine).

Have many refined salt and eutectic salt (eutectic salt) that have as the characteristic of the attraction of TES medium 110, great majority are alkali halide.The selection of TES medium 110 depends on the fusing point coupling that makes described TES medium and uses, that is, the radiator place needs, temperature range.TES device 10 provides the almost heat transmission of isothermal during can being formed at the solidification stages of heat extraction.In addition, according to the acceptable operating temperature range of radiator, can be under near the melt temperature of two-phase TES medium 110, extracting sensible heat from two-phase TES medium 110 in its liquid phase and solid phase.TES device 10 can be as the thermal capacitance that need heat flux be applied to equably from non-homogeneous source any system of receiver.

TES medium 110 is used for two functions.At first, the TES medium is as the heat transmission medium between heat energy input part 102 and the heat energy efferent 104.Secondly, TES medium 110 heat energy storages, and the heat energy that will not store when heat energy 130 receives heat energy when heat energy input part 102 is provided to heat energy efferent 104.The TES medium 110 that uses can have the high melting temperature and the high latent heat of fusion.For example, can use eutectic salt.As limiting examples, can use LiF/NaF/MgF ₂, LiF/NaF, NaF/NaCl and similar substance mixture.These mixtures have the melt temperature of higher relatively heat of fusion and about 1200 ℉.

When above-mentioned TES medium is suitable for this application, there is the substitute material that can be used for obtaining high energy storage.For example, can use Li, LiOH, LiH, LiF/CaF ₂, LiF, NaF, CaF ₂And MgF ₂

Concrete equipment is to be configured such that to receive structure or install 170 and operate in the temperature range of about 900 ℉ at about 1800 ℉.For example, Stirling engine can be formed at running effectively in this temperature range.In this equipment, lithium hydride (" LiH ") is because it is than (fusing) energy with at about 1800 ℉ obtainable energy and can become desirable material on the specified for temperature ranges of about 900 ℉.The melting heat of LiH is almost LiF/NaF/MgF ₂Three times of the melting heat of eutectic.In addition, the high heat capacity of LiH provides extra high sensible heat to increase to LiH at about 1800 ℉ in the temperature range of about 900 ℉.

Above-mentioned TES medium is based on balance and the equivalence slightly better of volume quilt.For the TES medium that shows rational melt temperature, LiF is owing to for during fusing and show very outstandingly for best execution material at about 1800 ℉ to the energy density in the temperature range of about 900 ℉.In this case, LiH is not among the best executor one owing to its low-density makes the melting heat of per unit volume, but LiH is again because its high heat capacity and still can provide second-best energy density at about 1800 ℉ in the temperature range of about 900 ℉.LiFNaF/MgF ₂The congruent melting rate is fairly good in this case, thereby the performance much at one with LiH is provided.Yet,, can more easily prepare and realize such as the unification compound of LiH or LiF according to implementation detail.

Be known in the art LiF/NaF/MgF ₂The melting heat of eutectic and the different value of melt temperature: a heat chemistry performance data that provides based on Infinia company (" Infinia ") by the Houston of Texas; Another is provided by NASA research widely.Described heat chemistry performance data provides TES performance slightly preferably.Yet, believe that the chemical composition of the eutectic that is used to obtain these characteristics is identical.

If the interior chamber 100 of container 90 has about 0.545ft ³Volume.Below form A1 list material weight and can be from comprising LiH, LiF and LiF/NaF/MgF ₂The energy that the various TES media of eutectic obtain.As shown in Table A 1, by using LiH and LiF/NaF/MgF ₂Eutectic is compared and weight can be reduced 50lb and can significantly not change energy storage.

Table A 1

Table A 2 and A3 list other characteristic of the material that is suitable for use as TES medium 110 below.

Table A 2

Table A 3

Fluoride salt (for example, LiF, NaF and MgF ₂) in most of environment, can both use quite safely and handle.These materials itself are indicated as its high melting temperature to be stable.Described material is nonflammable, can not explode and have hypoergia under ambient condition.In the described material some are considered to the poison of medium health risk and/or mitigation, and therefore need the personal protection (for example, goggles, gloves, laboratory clothing, breathing mask or ventilator cowling) of reasonable amount in use.Fluoride salt can chafe and air vent and can not eat (although NaF is considerably less batching) in some toothpaste brand.

Table A 4 is summed up by most MSDS tabulation below and is given LiF, NaF, MgF ₂National fire prevention association (" NFPA ") and harmful substance recognition system (" HMIS ") grade with LiH.Each rating system provides 0-4 mark in three specific grades, and " 0 " is roughly represented not special dangerous and " 4 " are used for serious or breakneck potentiality.

Table A 4

According to Table A 4, fluoride salt integral body presents quite low danger.Further, fluoride salt at room temperature transportation and roughly handle and seem can not cause any special danger or measurement.Many potential health risks that are associated with fluoride salt (1-2 grade) are because fluoride salt is used as/is processed into fine powder.Powder is because its high surface (and therefore because its reactivity) and can easily suck and/or swallow and have higher danger usually.Yet TES medium 110 can not be powder type.TES medium 110 can be very effective as continuous solid or liquid substance the time as accumulation of heat or heat-transfer matcrial.

The common warning of another of these materials is such as very high temperature (promote decompose) or at high temperature be exposed under the situation in the water and may discharge hydrogen fluoride, hydrofluoric acid or fluorine gas.Yet, if TES medium 110 be stored in anhydrous airtight container/vessel and keep below almost extreme (＞2500 ℉) temperature, this situation can not take place, as the situation of using TES medium 110 in TES device (for example, the tES device 10) of explanation here.Yet unessential is that TES medium 110 is being used to prevent that above-mentioned gas is completely dried before forming.Naturally, the corrosion of container 90 should be limited and remain to minimum.

LiH may be above-mentioned as the most harmful material in the TES medium 110.This is the high response owing to LiH and water, thereby causes lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and the lithia (Li that produces highly flammable hydrogen and highly stimulate ₂O) solid.Yet LiH itself is highly stable, unless and (wherein LiH resolves into Li metal and H more than being heated to 1800 ℉ ₂Otherwise will can not decompose gas).However, described decomposition reaction can heat release, thereby needs energy input constantly to keep this decomposition reaction.Be noted that in above-mentioned Table A 4 LiH is presented the NFPA flammability rating of the scope of covering 0 to 4.This depends on report source (reporting source).Obviously some supplier/producers only consider material itself whether inflammable (LiH is nonflammable), perhaps the potential water byproduct of reaction (hydrogen) of material whether inflammable (hydrogen is inflammable).This inconsistency obviously can cause some confusions in the MSDS data analysis.

Equally, be that 3 health risk grade is owing to be LiOH and Li for LiH ₂The water product of O, this is two kinds stimulates and has corrosive material very much to skin and air vent.

ARL has used LiH to generate material as hydrogen in experiment test and in the TES of the restriction research.In two schemes, LiH uses repeatedly under solid and molten condition and does not have an accident.Main precautionary measures are to adopt when handling LiH, and described precautionary measures comprise maintenance LiH away from water or moist surrounding air, and have avoided the generation of LiH dust.Typically, LiH processed in the glove-box of the argon atmosphere of steam plant/transmit.When this does not sound feasible when feasible, above the LiH container of opening, keep the Argon degasification, and when handling, wear breathing mask and protective gloves.

TES medium and material typically use in the application of high temperature and long duration.Therefore, the etch state of the containment vessel of TES medium and material and durability must be key issues.Although data are nowhere near complete, the common austenitic stainless steel that studies show that out that NASA and Infinia make is reasonably well supported the fluoride salt of fusion, as Ni-based Inconel and Hastelloy.Chromium component in these metals shows the most fragile, and this is because have the ability to anticipate CrF ₂And CrF ₃Compound is compared with other metal fluoride with higher equilibrium concentration and is formed.As mentioning, NASA research has also shown the importance of removing residual water before salt being loaded in the airtight container from salt.This has reduced and has at high temperature generated hydrofluoric possibility, and hydrogen fluoride is the material that the nearly all material that comprises metal is very easy to reaction.

Only in 316 rustless steel containers, carry out by the LiH research that ARL carries out.Although the total open-assembly time under the molten condition is lacked (several hrs) relatively, container display surface degraded never or any visual signal that weakens.Container 90 can be by making such as the stainless steel of 304 stainless steels, 316 stainless steels and similar material.Yet the material that is used to construct container 90 should suitably be analyzed corrosivity and stress cracking.

Alkali metal halide salt and low melting eutectics salt provide many advantages as the TES medium 110 in the TES device 10 time.This salt has the high latent heat of fusion and good sensible heat performance, thereby produces very high energy storage density.The alkali metal halide salt is relative with low melting eutectics salt advantageously cooperates with each other, and can not need degraded by thousands of fusing/solidify cycling, and produces insignificant corrosive attack on traditional rustless steel container.According to described implementation detail, by TES device 10 " is recharged " more quickly than traditional electrochemical cell with high heat transfer rate heating and refuse TES medium 110.

Design TES system (for example, TES device 10) challenge the time from heat energy 130 to TES media 110 (for example provides, salt) available heat transmission and providing from TES medium 110 to receiving structure or installing 170 available heat transmission keeps TES device 10 to be in uniform temperature simultaneously and avoid big thermograde during heating process and hot transmission course.The characteristic that produces the TES medium 110 of this challenge is the high density of its thermal conductivity low relatively when being in solid phase and the solid phase when comparing with liquid phase.For example, solid phase can be than the density of liquid phase larger about 20%-25%.

When liquid phase TES medium 110 (for example, salt) by receiving structure or install 170 when being cooled, liquid TES medium will begin to change being thermally connected to best by one or more in the heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 to receive structure or install in 170 the zone with respect to the mass fraction of solid TES medium.For specific embodiment, analysis has before demonstrated TES medium 110 should be apart from the heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 no more than 1 inch to 2 inches.Demonstrated heat pipe (for example, heat pipe 140A--140E) enough heat transfer potential are provided, received structure or install 170 effectively TES medium 110 is connected to.By comprising that optional heat loss through conduction sheet can improve this heat transfer potential.

The latent heat of fusion of solid TES medium 110 under fixed temperature is far longer than the sensible heat that obtains from liquid TES medium in specific temperature range (for example, about 1800 ℉ are to about 900 ℉).Identical principle is used for prior art by the TES system.If use near receiving structure or installing the fusing point of 170 peak efficiency temperature, then 10 mosts of the time of TES device all under near best state to receiving structure or installing 170 and operate.TES device 10 can be as the heat energy buffer that can keep constant relatively heat flux for heat energy efferent 104.Can prevent by this constant relatively heat flux " focus " do not expected.

TES medium 110 can be according to receiving structure or 170 the action required condition of installing is selected.For example, can select TES medium 110 according to the specific embodiment of the TES device that wherein uses the TES medium.

For the typical TES medium of the form of salt or low melting eutectics salt has low heat conductivity.This operating period at TES device 10 is caused performance difficulty, and this is because TES medium 110 is stored in the interior chamber 100 of container 90 as bulk material.For sensible heat transfer and latent heat transmission, being arranged on heat is sent in the block TES medium 110 equably and heat is sent out the aspect equably from the TES medium 110 of bulk of the heat energy structure for conveying of prior art may not have effect.This problem is because may be more complicated by the TES medium of experience Volume Changes when changing state.The Volume Changes that is typically the TES medium is in 30% scope.

The bad thermal conductivity of many TES media, by the caused Volume Changes of phase transformation, be used for increasing or extracting the device of heat and be present in solid or the space of TES medium poor quality from the TES medium, in the TES of the prior art that comprises heat energy structure for conveying device, produced challenge and bad heat transmission and combination property.Some one type of prior art syringe, for example authorize people's such as Baker United States Patent (USP) the 5th on May 19th, 1992, the device of record has been attempted overcoming these problems by the TES medium being stored in the junior unit or by around the heat energy structure for conveying metal can being set in 113, No. 659.Yet this method also has defective.For example, described structure does not allow the thermal capacitance or the storage of discernable amount.In addition, the introducing of intermetallic metal jar is because contact resistance and convection losses have influenced the heat transmission to medium unfriendly.

During steady state operation, heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 (for example, heat pipe 140A--140E) each can be considered as ideally be isothermal.According to the described structure and the layout of heat transfer unit (HTU) 140, the block TES medium 110 in this interior chamber 100 that can allow uniform heat to be passed to be stored in container 90 is to be used to increase or extract the purpose of latent heat or sensible heat.Transmit in order to carry out uniformly heat, heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 (for example, heat pipe 140A--140E) can be formed at the existence that reduces or eliminates solid in the TES medium 110 during the specific operator scheme.

Under specific situation, it is desirable to the complete phase transformation of TES medium 110 experience.In order to make TES medium 110 be transformed into liquid from solid, sensible heat at first is sent in the TES medium 110.Then, latent heat is sent in the TES medium 110.Alternatively, liquid TES medium 110 can be further heated by increasing more sensible heat.Therefore, for thermal energy storage in TES medium 110, may must make all TES media or a part of TES medium change liquid into from solid.

In order to obtain all heat energy that are present in the TES medium 110, may must make TES medium 110 be transformed into solid from liquid.This will need to transmit latent heat from TES medium 110, to cause the phase transformation that becomes solid from liquid.Then, if there is suitable temperature gradient, can obtain remaining sensible heat from TES medium 110.The ordinary person of this area will be understood that before obtaining latent heat, liquid medium 110 can store some sensible heats.When in this case, medium is a single-phase liquid and unsaturated.Before extracting latent heat, can transmit sensible heat from single-phase liquid TES medium 110.

Some exemplary embodiments of TES device 10 below will be described.

The embodiment of mixed mode

Fig. 2 shows the TES device 200 that is configured to heat energy 130 uses that are embodied as first heat energy 208 and second heat energy 210.In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, identical Reference numeral has been used to represent identical structure.The TES device 200 that shows is configured to mixed mode operations.As limiting examples, first and

second heat energies

208 and 210 each can be embodied as solar energy source, burner, geothermal source, be any other source or the similar source of high-grade heat.Use this instruction by those of ordinary skill in the art, the geometry of TES device 10 can change, to hold reception structure or the device that any heat energy or needs heat is transmitted.

In TES device 200, heat energy is sent to TES medium 110 from first and second heat energies 208 with 210 along different direction (being represented respectively by arrow " A1 " and " A3 ").If heat energy 210 is positioned at outside the interior chamber 100, then heat energy 210 can be sent to TES medium 110 with heat energy by heat-exchange surface 220.As limiting examples, different heat energies can be used for adding heat energy to TES device 200 along different planes, axis or direction.Can control the amount that is sent to the heat energy the TES device 200 from heat energy 208 and/or heat energy 210 when needing.In Fig. 2, receive structure or install 170 and be shown as prime mover 230.

The solar electrothermal system embodiment

Forward Fig. 3 to, TES device 10 can be configured to receive heat energy and described heat energy is sent to any suitable thermic load.For example, the heat energy that is produced by the sun 280 can be supplied to the heat energy input part 102 of TES device 10.The heat energy input part 102 of TES device 10 can be connected to heat pump, steam turbine, three coproduction machines (tri-generation machine) and similar devices.Alternatively, the heat energy input part 102 of TES device 10 can be connected to and be configured to generate mechanical output to be used for the device of various purposes from heat energy.

Forward Fig. 3 to, TES device 10 can be integrally formed with electric heating system 300.In order to make explanation simple, in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, identical Reference numeral has been used to represent identical structure.But the desired characteristics based on the electric heating system of solar energy comprises and can electric power is provided and can provide electric power in short-term with during non-daylight time what overcast with send mode.Because TES device 10 can provide this heat energy storage with predetermined speed for using after a while also by heat energy storage, so the TES device can be used for helping to obtain these desired characteristics of electric heating system 300.

Electric heating system 300 comprises heating module 312 and power module 314.In described embodiment, heating module 312 is embodied as Stirling engine 315, and described Stirling engine can be configured to extract effectively the energy that is stored in the TES medium 110.Heating module 312 can also directly receive heat energy from heat energy input part 102 and/or from one or more external heat energy (not shown).

Stirling engine is by alternately compressing in different temperatures and working fluid or other gas (that is, hydrogen, helium and air) of expansion fixed amount become mechanical output with heat or thermal power transfer.Heat energy is at high temperature T _hBe supplied to the reheat heat exchanger part or the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315 down, and at low temperature T _cBe discharged into the environment from cooling heat exchanger part 315B down.Working fluid is compressed in colder 315C of Stirling engine 315 usually and expands in the hotter 315D of portion, thereby causes the clean conversion of heat to merit.The function of Stirling engine and parts are known in the art and can illustrate in further detail.

In order to convert mechanical movement to electric power, Stirling engine 315 can be connected to power module 314 or integrally formed with power module 314.For example, Stirling engine 315 can comprise shift unit 316 and the working fluid 318 that is communicated with power piston 320 fluids, and described power piston is the part of power module 314.The power piston 320 of power module 314 can be connected to traditional linear electrical system 322 by the axle 323 that is connected to mover 324.Linear electrical system 322 further comprise stator 326 and with the power transmission line 328 of described stator pairing with supply or receive electric power.Mover 324 produces electric current with respect to the motion of stator 326, and described electric current can be transported by the power transmission line 328 of pairing, so that power is provided for one or more external electrical devices 330.Known several optional Stirling engine structures in this area, and present disclosure is not limited to the accordance with any particular embodiment of Stirling engine and uses.

In case Stirling engine 315 startings just can realize control by the output of control engine.For example, just as shown in Figure 3, Stirling engine 315 is just at output AC electricity (" AC ").Stirling engine 315 can be exported and controls by controlling its AC.For the free-piston type Stirling engine of Infinia, engine strokes is for the temperature relation of being inversely proportional to of any fixing rate of heat transfer that is applied to heater head 315A and heater head 315A.Stroke is meant the peak value-peak amplitude of the linear movement of piston or shift unit.Therefore, stroke is meant the peak value-peak amplitude of mover 324 with respect to the linear movement of stator 326.This occurs near mean place usually.Because engine strokes is big or small directly related rectification input and voltage, so temperature that can control heater head 315A.Therefore, by control mover 324 can control heater head 315A with respect to the motion of stator 326 temperature.

Electric heating system 300 comprises one or

more sensor

327A, 327B and/or the 327C that is configured to sensing temperature information, can determine heat flux from described

temperature information.Sensor

327A, 327B and/or 327C are positioned in the position that heat energy is transported to TES device 10 or receives heat energy from the TES device.

Sensor 327A is placed on the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315 in the position of fully cooling off or place of safety (that is, providing the zone of high sensor reliability), can be used to be provided to the feedback of stroke adjuster or controller 329.Alternatively, sensor 327A can be placed on the outer surface 160 of heat transmission assembly 150.Sensor 327A collects provides the temperature information of representing the heater head temperature.The Carnot efficiency of Stirling engine 315 increases when the temperature of heater head 315A increases.Remain unchanged if can be used for the heat energy of heater head 315A, then when stroke increased, the temperature of heater head 315A descended or reduces.On the other hand, remain unchanged if can be used for the heat energy of heater head 315A, then when stroke reduced, the temperature of heater head 315A increased.

Sensor 327A is sent to controller 329 with temperature information, and controller 329 utilizes described temperature information to determine the stroke setting.Controller 329 can be determined the stroke setting for given operating parameter the best.Controller 329 is connected to mover 324 and is configured to determine the stroke of described mover, thereby determines the temperature of heater head 315A.

The heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315 is connected to the outer surface 160 of the heat transmission assembly 150 of TES device 10.The outer surface 160 of heat transmission assembly 150 is sent to the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315 with heat energy, thereby drives shift unit 316 and power piston 320 and produce electric current in power transmission line 328.

Electric heating system 300 comprises concentrator 340, for example, makes solar energy focus on parabolic reflector or speculum on the absorber 350.Concentrator 340 can be installed on underframe/support 360 and by tracking drive device 362 and locate.As limiting examples, the improved or not improved 3kW solar dish that concentrator 340 can be sold for Infinia.Absorber 350 can be the parts of the heat energy input part 102 of TES device 10.For example, absorber 350 can receive outer surface 180 for the heat of TES device 10.Alternatively, absorber 350 can be sent to the other structure of the heat energy input part 102 of TES device 10 for the solar energy that is configured to absorb.

Alternatively, electric heating system 300 can comprise the solar heat receiver 370 adjacent with the heat energy input part 102 of TES device 10, and described solar heat receiver is configured to from concentrator 340 receiver radiation solar energy.Receiver 370 can comprise the dash receiver 373 that wherein has hole 374, and described dash receiver is configured to reduce the sun loss of energy that focuses on the absorber 350.As mentioned above, absorber 350 can receive outer surface 180 for the heat of TES device 10.Alternatively, absorber 350 can be the parts of receiver 370.As limiting examples, electric heating system 300 can concentrate solar energy (" CSP ") system to be configured to TES device 10 is assembled between receiver 370 and the Stirling engine 315 by improving the commercial dish formula Stirling of being sold by Infinia of buying of 3kW.

With reference to Figure 26, providing can be by the method 2600 of controller 329 (referring to Fig. 3) execution.At first square frame, 2610 places, sensor 327A (referring to Fig. 3) sensing is from the temperature information of the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3), and described temperature information is sent to controller 329 (referring to Fig. 3).At determination block 2620 places, controller 329 judges according to the temperature information that receives from sensor 327A whether heater head 315A is overheated.

If heater head 315A is overheated, then be judged to be "Yes" in the determination block 2620, and at square frame 2630 places, controller 329 guiding Stirling engines 315 are increasing the stroke of described Stirling engine, thus cooling heater head 315A.Subsequently, heater head 315A will cool off the heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 10.

At determination block 2640 places, whether the new colder temperature of judging heat energy efferent 104 is less than the temperature of TES medium 110.If the new colder temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is less than the temperature of the TES medium 110 in the interior chamber 100 of container 90, then be judged to be "Yes" in the determination block 2640, and at square frame 2650 places, heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 is transported to heat energy efferent 104 with the heat energy that stores from TES medium 110.Subsequently, heat energy efferent 104 is sent to heater head 315A with the described heat energy that receives.Therefore, heater head 315A receives the heat energy that is stored in advance in the TES medium 110.Then, method 2600 turns back to square frame 2610.

If the new colder temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is not less than the temperature of the TES medium 110 in the interior chamber 100 of container 90, then be judged to be "No" in the determination block 2640, and method 2600 advances to determination block 2655.

At determination block 2655 places, judge whether the new colder temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is higher than the temperature of TES medium 110.If the new colder temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is higher than the temperature of the TES medium 110 in the interior chamber 100 of container 90, then be judged to be "Yes" in the determination block 2655, and at square frame 2660 places, heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 is transported to TES medium 110 to store with the heat energy that stores from heat energy efferent 104.This will cool off heat energy efferent 104, and make heater head 315A that heat energy is sent to heat energy efferent 104, thus cooling heater head 315A.Then, method 2600 turns back to square frame 2610.

If the new colder temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is not higher than the temperature of the TES medium 110 in the interior chamber 100 of container 90, then be judged to be "No" in the determination block 2655, and method 2600 turns back to square frame 2610.

If heater head 315A does not have overheated, then be judged to be "No" in the determination block 2620, and method 2600 advances to determination block 2675.At determination block 2675 places, controller 329 judges according to the temperature information that receives from sensor 327A whether heater head 315A is cold excessively.

If heater head 315A is cold excessively, then be judged to be "Yes" in the determination block 2675, and at square frame 2680 places, controller 329 guiding Stirling engines 315 are reducing the stroke of described Stirling engine, thus heating heater head 315A.Subsequently, heater head 315A will heat the heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 10.

At determination block 2685 places, judge whether the new hotter temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is higher than the temperature of TES medium 110.If the new hotter temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is higher than the temperature of the TES medium 110 in the interior chamber 100 of container 90, then be judged to be "Yes" in the determination block 2685, and at square frame 2688 places, heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 is transported to TES medium 110 with heat energy from heat energy efferent 104, thereby stores.This will cool off heat energy efferent 104, and make heater head 315A that heat energy is sent to heat energy efferent 104, thus cooling heater head 315A.Then, method 2600 turns back to square frame 2610.

If the new hotter temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is not higher than the temperature of the TES medium 110 in the interior chamber 100 of container 90, then be judged to be "No" in the determination block 2685, and method 2600 advances to determination block 2690.

At determination block 2690 places, judge whether the new hotter temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is lower than the temperature of TES medium 110.If the new hotter temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is lower than the temperature of the TES medium 110 in the interior chamber 100 of container 90, then be judged to be "Yes" in the determination block 2690, and at square frame 2695 places, heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 is transported to heat energy efferent 104 with the heat energy that stores from TES medium 110.Subsequently, heat energy efferent 104 is sent to heater head 315A with described heat energy.Therefore, heater head 315A receives the heat energy that is stored in advance in the TES medium 110.Then, method 2600 turns back to square frame 2610.

If the new hotter temperature of heat energy efferent 104 is not less than the temperature of the TES medium 110 in the interior chamber 100 of container 90, then be judged to be "No" in the determination block 2690, and method 2600 turns back to square frame 2610.

If heater head 315A did not have cold, then be judged to be "No" in the determination block 2675, and method 2600 turns back to square frame 2610.Can be periodically or carry out the sensing of carrying out in the square frame 2610 with random interval.

Turn back to Fig. 3, sensor 327B can be placed on the heat receiving surface 180 of TES device 10 in enough cold position or place of safety (that is the zone of high sensor reliability, is provided).In the embodiment that shows, sensor 327B is positioned on the absorber 350.In such an embodiment, sensor 327B can be configured to utilize the conductibility of absorber 350.

With reference to Figure 27, alternatively, sensor 327C can be placed on the dash receiver 373, and is used to measure the heat flux of the heat energy of the heat energy input part 102 that enters TES device 10.As mentioned above, the sensor 327A heater head 315A that is placed on Stirling engine 315 go up or the outer surface 160 of heat transmission assembly 150 on.Therefore, the difference of measured heat flux can be used for calculating the heat energy that is stored in TES medium 110 in the past along with the time between sensor 327A and the 327B.Further, the difference of measured heat flux can be used for calculating the heat energy that is stored in TES medium 110 in the past along with the time between sensor 327C and the 327B.In other words, enter the input rate of heat energy input part 102 and the difference that heat withdraws from the output speed of heat energy efferent 104 by the monitoring heat, controller 329 can be determined the amount of the heat energy that TES medium 110 stores.

The temperature transition heat flux is measured in the flux sensor utilization.This is used to set up thermal gradient to measure heat transmission.For certain embodiments,

sensor

327A, 327B and 327C can be positioned such that described sensor can the operation of overtemperature degree.Though shown the exemplary position of

sensor

327A, 327B and 327C, but be applied to this instruction by those skilled in the art and can determine optional position, described position also is adapted to determine the difference of heat transfer rate and the heat transfer rate that comes out from TES device 10 in the TES device 10, and this embodiment is also in the scope of this instruction.

Further, as mentioned above, TES device 10 comprises sensor " HF1 ", " HF2 " and " HF3 ", the temperature information in the interior chamber 100 of described sensor Sensing container 90.Sensor " HF1 ", " HF2 " and " HF3 " can be connected to controller 329, and are configured to temperature information is sent to controller 329.Sensor " HF1 ", " HF2 ", " HF3 ", 327A, 327B and/or 327C can be connected to controller 329 with communication mode by wired and/or wireless connections.

As mentioned above, when the final area of TES medium 110 solidifies or during the final area fusing of TES medium, can measure the temperature of TES medium 110 and determine the energy content of TES medium.These time points can be as the time started of the method 2800 that shows among Figure 28.Method 2800 can be carried out by controller 329 (referring to Fig. 3).

At first square frame, 2810 places,

sensor

327A, 327B and/or 327C sensing temperature information also are sent to controller 329 (referring to Fig. 3) with this temperature information.Controller 329 these temperature informations of monitoring, and in square frame 2820, use described temperature information to calculate the amount that is stored in the heat energy in the TES device 10.

In square frame 2830, temperature information in the interior chamber 100 of sensor " HF1 ", " HF2 " and " HF3 " Sensing container 90, this temperature information is sent to controller 329 (referring to Fig. 3), and controller 329 uses this temperature information to determine the temperature of the TES medium 110 in the container 90 (referring to Fig. 3).

At determination block 2840 places, controller 329 judges whether the amount (amount of the heat energy that calculates) that is stored in the heat energy in the TES device 110 surpasses predetermined threshold in square frame 2820.Surpass described predetermined threshold if be stored in the amount of the heat energy in the TES device 110, then the judgement in the determination block 2840 is "Yes" in square frame 2850, controller 329 guiding Stirling engines 315 increase its stroke, so that make heater head 315A be cooled to be lower than the temperature (temperature of determining) of TES medium 110 in square frame 2830.Subsequently, heater head 315A will cool off the heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 10.

Then, in square frame 2860, heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 will be transported to heat energy efferent 104 from the heat energy of the storage of TES medium 110.Subsequently, heat energy efferent 104 is sent to heater head 315A with described heat energy.Therefore, heater head 315A receives the heat energy that is stored in advance in the TES medium 110.Then, method 2800 turns back to square frame 2810.

If the amount that is stored in the heat energy in the TES device 110 is less than predetermined threshold, then be judged to be "No" in the determination block 2840, and in square frame 2870, controller 329 guiding Stirling engines 315 reduce its stroke, so that heater head 315A is heated to the temperature (temperature of determining in the square frame 2830) that exceeds TES medium 110.Subsequently, heater head 315A will heat the heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 10.Then, heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 is transported to TES medium 110 with heat energy from heat energy efferent 104, to store.Then, method 2800 turns back to square frame 2810.

Described predetermined threshold can be at least in part based on the amount of the required heat energy of Stirling engine 315 running predetermined amount of time.For example, predetermined threshold can be set the amount that equals the required heat energy of Stirling engine 315 running predetermined amount of time (for example, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours etc.) for.

Fig. 4 show can with the embodiment of the integrally formed TES device 400 of aforesaid electric heating system 300.In order to make explanation simple, identical Reference numeral has been used to represent identical structure in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.The TES medium 110 that uses in the TES device 400 can comprise having at about 600 ℃ of dystectic one or more stable TES salt in about 700 ℃ scope, so as in the wide region of operating temperature by utilizing the latent heat of fusion and sensible capacity to make the energy storage density maximization.In order to prevent that TES medium 110 from solidifying, TES device 400 is configured to not have pump, valve or additional thermic load and operate under the situation that does not have pump, valve or additional thermic load.

The heat energy input part 102 of TES device 400 comprises heat receiving unit 404.In the embodiment that shows, heat receiving unit 404 comprises absorber 350 and inside and the separated inwall 406 of absorber.Heat receiving unit 404 can comprise inner room 407, and described inner room holds working fluid 408, for example sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and class quasi-fluid.The inner room 407 that one skilled in the art will appreciate that heat receiving unit 404 can comprise the capillarity cored structure, described capillarity cored structure provide with conventional heat pipe in the substantially the same function of function (as mentioned above) that provides of capillarity core.In this certain embodiments, heat receiving unit 404 is as conventional heat pipe.Heat receiving unit 404 can be embodied as heat pipe, vaporium and similar device.Alternatively, heat receiving unit 404 can be configured to only transmit heat energy by conduction.

TES device 400 comprises two ring-types of organizing separately or the heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A and the 410B of cylinder blanket shape.First group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A is so that alternately arrangement mode and second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410B are crisscross arranged.First group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A and second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410B separate and TES medium 110 is arranged between first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A and the second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410B.Yet in optional embodiment, the heat transfer unit (HTU) (not shown) of single group cylinder blanket shape can be directly connected to heat energy efferent 104 with heat energy input part 102.

First group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A extends to the TES medium 110 but no show heat energy efferent 104 from the heat energy input part 102 of TES device 400.The solar flux that concentrates on the absorber 350 by concentrator 340 (referring to Fig. 3) is transported in the TES medium 110 by first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A, and described first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A is shown as the annular heat pipe 412A to 412D of a plurality of arranged concentric.Among the ring-type heat pipe 412A to 412D each all has the internal channel 414 that is limited between the separated first heat conduction annular sidewall 416 and the second heat conduction annular sidewall 418.In the internal channel 414 each all has the open end 420 that is communicated with the inner room 407 of heat receiving unit 404.Therefore, working fluid 408 can be in the inner room 407 of the internal channel 414 of first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A and heat receiving unit 404 and is moved between the inner room 407 of the internal channel 414 of first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A and heat receiving unit 404.

The heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 400 comprises the heat transmission assembly 450 substantially the same with heat transmission assembly 150 (referring to Fig. 1).Heat transmission assembly 450 inwardly has and outer surface 460 separated inner surfaces 451.In the embodiment that shows, outer surface 460 is and the similar basically heat-exchange surface of outer surface 160 (referring to Fig. 1).Heat transmission assembly 450 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.Heat transmission assembly 450 comprises liquid-tight inner room 465, and described inner room is limited between separated inner surface 451 and the outer surface 460 at least in part.Two-phase compound or working fluid 467, for example sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and class quasi-fluid are contained in the inner room 465.In inner room 465, heat transmission assembly 450 can more be similar to conventional heat pipe (as mentioned above) condenses working fluid 467 and by wicks working fluid 467.Yet in the optional embodiment (not shown), heat transmission assembly 450 can be configured to only transmit heat energy by conduction.

Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410B extends to the TES medium 110 but no show heat energy input part 102 from the heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 400.Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410 is shown as the annular heat pipe 432A to 432C of a plurality of arranged concentric.Among the annular heat pipe 432A to 432C each all has the internal channel 434 that is limited between the separated first heat conduction annular sidewall 436 and the second heat conduction annular sidewall 438.In the internal channel 414 each all has the open end 440 that is communicated with the inner room 465 of the heat transmission assembly 450 of the heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 400.Therefore, working fluid 467 can be in the inner room 465 of the internal channel 434 of second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410B and heat transmission assembly 450 and is moved between the inner room 465 of the internal channel 434 of second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410B and heat transmission assembly 450.

In described embodiment, the outer surface 460 of heat transmission assembly 450 comprises the part of the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3).Because condensing of working fluid 467 taken place under the situation of approximate isothermal, and this structure can provide the even heating of heater head 315A.If the peak value circulating temperature that occurs in Stirling engine to the heat transmission of Stirling engine (for example, about 600 ℃ to about 700 ℃) to descend rather than occur in the inconsistent temperature range, then even heating can improve the system effectiveness of Stirling engine 315.Further, whole heater head 315A can be heated to that peak value is allowed metal temperature but not lower weighted mean.This has and reduces because the beneficial effect of the increase of the localized heat stress that causes of thermal gradient.Heater head 315A can comprise can arrive the outer annular lip 470 of electric heating system 300 (referring to Fig. 3).Flange 470 can be used to obtain significant efficient to be increased: from the back side of external heat heater head 315A.This temperature that can reduce between thermal source (that is, TES device 10) and the engine working fluid (not shown) descends, and this is because the major part of (according to implementation detail) heater head 315A can be from both sides but not only heated from a side.Any one factor in the above-mentioned factor can increase the highest average gas temperature in the heater head 315A, thereby will increase the actual operating efficiency that therefore Carnot efficiency also increases Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3).

Heater head 315A can be soldered or hard solder to TES device 400, therefore structurally can support the weight of TES devices 400 by Stirling engine 315.Heater head 315A can comprise the hard solder edge or the welded edge 472 of the container 90 that can be soldered to TES device 400.In other words, in described embodiment, the heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 400 is integrally formed with the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3).Yet this is not necessary.

Fig. 5 shows the embodiment of TES device 500, and wherein the heater head 315A of the outer surface 460 of heat transmission assembly 450 and Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) is embodied as independent parts.In order to make explanation simple, identical Reference numeral has been used for the same parts of presentation graphs 4 and Fig. 5.The heat energy efferent 104 of container 90 can adopt any method known in the field to be connected to the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315.For example, the outer surface 460 of heat transmission assembly 450 can weld or arrive with bolting the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315.In this embodiment, the outer surface 460 of heat transmission assembly 450 is essentially the plane.The heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315 also is essentially plane or smooth basically.Yet, in optional embodiment, the TES device 10 that for example shows among Fig. 3, the outer surface 160 of heat transmission assembly 150 can be recessed into and engage with the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315, and wherein said heater head is shown has convex shape.

Turn back to Fig. 4, as mentioned above, heating module 312 (referring to Fig. 3) and power module 314 (referring to Fig. 3) can have in about 600 ℃ of operating temperatures to about 700 ℃ scope.In these embodiments, TES device 400 can be configured to use with TES medium 110, described TES medium experience to about 700 ℃ scope at about 600 ℃ and melts-solidify circulation, thereby utilizes the latent heat of TES medium 110 to store and avoid the aspiration circuit of any complexity or solidify/maintenance issues.Heat can be transported to heater head 315A to be used to produce electric power by second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410B from TES medium 110 as required.

TES device 400 can be configured to provide the high-performance heat reservoir, described high-performance heat reservoir successfully arrives heat delivery phase transformation TES medium 110 and from phase transformation TES medium 110 transfer heat, makes to store the latent heat of fusion and sensible heat in wide temperature range.TES device 400 can be configured to provide as required the Stirling engine running of several hrs.TES device 400 can be configured such that size and the weight with commercially available 3kW Infinia solar heat driver only increases required amount.Electric heating system 300 (referring to Fig. 3) turns round during can being formed at the process in short-term that overcasts, and is providing the power that can send to continue four to seven hours after the sunset.

Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) can or turn round under stop mode with low output during a part of daytime, so that some heat energy are heated TES medium 110 as an alternative from Stirling engine 315 is turned to.For example, if need four hours the duration of runs after daylight, then being equivalent to 315 4 hours heat of normal Stirling engine can turn to heating TES medium 110 from making engine running.

Alternatively, can increase the thermal capacity of concentrator 340 to have additional supply of amount to the heat energy of TES device 400.Be supplied to the amount of the heat energy of TES device 400 can enough be used for providing the abundant heat energy of TES medium 110, and provide sufficient heat energy simultaneously so that Stirling engine 315 turns round with maximum output by day.For example, suppose 10 hour running time on daytime of standard, the effective area of the concentrator of realizing with the solar dish of being sold by Infinia 340 can increase by 40%, to provide sufficient heat energy for engine running and TES storage use simultaneously.This increase of effective area can be added to new about 5.7m diameter from its current about 4.8m increasing diameter by the diameter with solar dish and realize.

TES medium 110 can adopt realizes that to sodium in favourable salt of environment and the container 90 or any one the oligometallic combination in the potassium metal wherein said salt experiences phase transformation under operating temperature.Described salt can comprise the KF/NaF of the amount that is approximately 10 to 1000 pounds and/or the eutectic mixture of NaF/NaCl.These salt can be sealed in the container 90 in the useful life of TES device 400.If crackle occurs in the container 90, described salt Fails To Respond, but fluoride poisoning can take place under the situation about being consumed in inside.Will take suitable precautionary measures to minimize to guarantee this exposure.Though for the sodium of metallic forms and potassium are considered to be very easy to reaction, TES device 400 can be configured to use a spot of (for example, about 30 grams) this material is to realize heat transmission.

Return Fig. 3, for the maximum operational benefits that obtains to provide by the TES device 10 in the electric heating system 300 (for example independently CSP system), use compare with the running of the Stirling engine 315 that is used for not having TES device 10 big concentrated, Stirling engine 315 (for example, 3 kilowatts Stirling engine) is turned round by day and duration of runs of engine is enlarged and surpass the heat energy of daylight time with collection.The output of the power of electric heating system 300 can increase by the concentrator 340 (for example, dish) that adopts off-standard size, so that be collected in the heat energy that can be transformed into electric power during night or cloudy period.According to described implementation detail, therefore the recruitment that this power generates can increase the assets value of electric heating system greater than the capital cost that comprises TES.

As mentioned above, TES device 10 do not need can be configured to the aspiration circuit of suction (or pumping) TES medium 110.In these embodiments, TES device 10 can not run into prior art gather the relevant identical maintenance issues of groove and electric power tower electric heating system.A plurality of electric heating systems 300 can be arranged in the array (not shown).For example, two can be gathered into the array (not shown) to thousands of electric heating systems 300.Because TES device 10 do not comprise any pump or can not aspirate any fluid, therefore with high-temperature pump with solidify the problem that the loop is associated and can not make a plurality of electric heating systems 300 in the arrangement become and to operate.If problem only is that an electric heating system 300 goes wrong in the array, and remaining electric heating system can continue operation.Therefore, do not work if having only an electric heating system 300 to become in the array, then idle electric heating system has influence hardly for the overall power generation of described array.

The optical accuracy of the solar energy that maintenance is concentrated on the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315 may be expensive, and this is because heater head need be heated equably to avoid causing the focus of thermal stress.By TES device 10 being assembled between heater head 315A and the receiver 370, heater head 315A separates with receiver 370, thereby allow the solar flux at receiver 370 and/or absorber 350 places to change more, and can on heater head 315A, not cause thermal stress.Further, TES device 10 store heat and described heat is sent to equably the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315.This electric heating system with respect to prior art has reduced the optical accuracy requirement of concentrator 340, and can reduce the relevant cost of various other subsystems with concentrator 340, underframe/support 360, tracking drive device 362, heater head 315A and electric heating system 300.

Because heater head 315A can be heated equably by TES device 10, therefore whole electric heating system 300 is compared with the electric heating system of prior art and can be turned round with higher heat flux.Under the situation that does not have TES device 10, the heater head of Stirling engine can be characterized as with mean temperature and operate, and is about 500 ℃ but name a person for a particular job along some of heater head 315A, and other is named a person for a particular job and is about 650 ℃.Therefore, if attempt to increase mean temperature to about 650 ℃, then the some parts of heater head 315A with heat in 650 ℃.Described part is called as " focus ".If focus is minimized, then the temperature of whole heater head 315A can remain on uniform temperature (for example, about 650 ℃), thereby can increase power output and efficient.As limiting examples, with the relevant initial calculation cost reduction by 20% of definite whole system of effect that TES device 10 is assembled in the electric heating system 300.

Solar energy TES typically is associated with slot type TES system and central receiver formula TES system.Slot type TES system comprises several alternative approach by changing the development phase widely.The LUZ SEGS I groove of the oily heat-transfer fluid of host mineral (HTF) in employing heat jar and the warm jar provided the direct energy source storage capacity on 3 hours daytime between 1985 and 1999.In the nineties later stage, 10-MWSolar 2 central receiver formula systems show the feasibility of fusion TES.These and other direct and indirect solar energy TES system of great majority use the sensible capacity that stores with liquid state, relative efficiency is poor because the solar energy of typical 15-20% converts electrical efficiency to, need complicated pump desorption system, and typically to need to have be that the big equipment of tens MW or hundreds of MW plant layouts is so that feasible economically.The fuse salt system should avoid solidifying of salt.When the parts in the TES need be safeguarded or break down, should under without any situation about freezing, close whole system.By utilizing the latent heat of fusion to provide the phase-change material of the very big increase of energy storage density typically only to be used for the low-temperature storage of space heating and water heating application.

On the contrary, electric heating system 300 uses PCM (TES medium 110), and PCM is closely integrally formed with Stirling engine 315 and solar collector 350 (and alternatively with receiver 370).The container 90 of TES device 10 can be hermetically sealed and Maintenance free.TES device 10 can be characterized as passive heat-transfer system, and described system does not need adiabatic pump, accessory or is used to carry other parts of hot fluid.TES device 10 is not subjected to ambient temperature level or fusing-the solidify influence of circulation.Electric heating system 300 can be assembled into the identical electric heating system 300 of a row.In this arrangement, any problem of formation will only influence single electric heating system 300.

In the TES device, use the latent heat of fusion can greatly improve proportion and specific volume, and can use integral type receiver/TES/ engine block actually with respect to single-phase TES system.Fig. 6 provides total energy storage capacity of three candidates' TES medium to compare with the quantification of the energy storage of the liquid salt storage system of the typical prior art that is used for groove.About 700 ℃ to about 750 ℃ scope, drawing with W-hr/l in the scope of its maximum operating temperature in the minimum function running temperature that from the 3kW engine for Infinia is 250 ℃ is the storage power of unit.

Lithium salts has best energy storage density usually, but also relatively very expensive.Therefore, illustrate that the NaF/NaCl substitution material of non-lithium is to be used for comparison.Though described NaF/NaCl substitution material only provides total measurement (volume) memory capacity only about half of of LiH, " high temperature " that the NaF/NaCl substitution material also is provided as Spain ENEA advances the liquid phase NaNO that uses in the groove TES test loop ₃/ KNO ₃The volume memory capacity that the volume memory capacity of salt is about five times, wherein salt tank is 270 ℃ and 550 ℃ of operations down.Have many pure and eutectic salt with the attractive characteristic that can be used to realize TES medium 110, majority is an alkali halide.

The KF/NaF that describes among Fig. 7 balances each other and is the key property of typical and illustrated eutectic binary salt.Pure KF is 856 ℃ of fusings down, and pure NaF is 990 ℃ of fusings down.When described salt mixed, fusing point reduced, and was about 710 ℃ minimum of a value thereby be issued in the eutectic point of 40Mol%KF and 60Mol%NaF.For off-eutectic mixtures, when the solid mixture temperature increases, when temperature reaches about 710 ℃, will form some eutectic liquid, but some materials will remain solid up to its reach with the corresponding Fig. 7 of given molfraction in the temperature of upper curve till.If described mixture is suitable eutectic ratio, then all fusings will occur in accurate 710 ℃.This causes using the extended operation of the latent heat of fusion under the eutectic melt temperature, but as shown in Figure 6 by on wide temperature range, operating the energy that obtains from a great deal of of sensible capacity.Conversion efficiency will descend and reduce along with temperature, but the 3kW engine will continue to produce useful kWh energy up to reducing at least 250 ℃.For the 3kW Stirling engine interface of Infinia, advantageously select to have TES media at about 600 ℃ of fusing points in about 700 ℃ of scopes, make extended operation during the phase transformation near peak efficiency.Descend and the maximum temperature of heater head 315A when evenly being heated according to temperature, can select to have the TES medium of the fusing point that exceeds 700 ℃ basically from TES medium 110 to heater head 315A.

Implement to challenge low TES medium heat conduction and the big volumetric expansion that comprises between melting stage.Variable orientation angle by solar tracking system, in the All Ranges of container 90, all should obtain to travel to and fro between the heat transmission of TES medium 110 for all directions of container, and the sufficient heat transfer area between heat transfer unit (HTU) 140 (first and second groups of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A that for example, show among Fig. 4 and 410B) and the TES medium 110 is used to keep sufficient TES medium interface.Yet first and second groups of heat transfer unit (HTU) 410A that show among Fig. 4 and 410B can be used for keeping effectively rational temperature to descend.

The size of other parts of TES device 10, receiver 370, concentrator 340 and system 300 can determine according to operating parameter, and described operating parameter has for example stopped will leaning on the duration of the power running that obtains from TES medium 110 after TES medium supply heat energy at heat energy 130 (referring to Fig. 1) for Stirling engine 315.For example, electric heating system 300 can be configured to use one hour, two hours, three hours, four hours etc.As limiting examples, for the situation of using one hour, TES device 10 can axially stretch out about 7 inches and have about 10 inches diameter from heater head 315A.As another limiting examples, for the situation of using four hours, TES device 10 can axially stretch out about 11 inches and have about 16 inches diameter from heater head 315A.

The embodiment that uses with the external heat energy

TES device 400 (referring to Fig. 4) and the TES device 500 (referring to Fig. 5) that uses with electric heating system 300 (referring to Fig. 3) can be characterized as the TES device that uses together with the external heat energy (solar thermal collector 340 that for example, shows among Fig. 3) as mentioned above.Fig. 8-11 also provides and has been configured to the TES device that uses together with the external heat energy (for example, the thermal source of the solar thermal collector that shows among Fig. 3, underground heat heat energy, any sufficiently high grade and similar thermal source).Further, the application by those skilled in the art can be assembled into the TES device that shows among Fig. 8-11 in the electric heating system 300 that shows among Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 has shown TES device 800.In order to make explanation simple, identical Reference numeral has been used to represent identical structure in Fig. 1 and Fig. 8.The TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) that uses in the TES device 800 can comprise the aforesaid any TES medium that is suitable in the TES device 400 (referring to Fig. 4).In order to prevent that TES medium 110 from solidifying, TES device 800 can be configured to not have pump, valve or additional thermic load and operate under the situation that does not have pump, valve or additional thermic load.Optionally thermal insulation member 802 can be arranged near container 90 outsides.

The heat energy input part 102 of TES device 800 comprises: heat receiving unit 804, described heat receiving unit comprise that the heat of heat energy input part 102 receives outer surface 180; Receive outer surface 180 inside separated inwalls 806 from heat; With inner room 807, described inner room is limited to heat at least in part and receives between outer surface 180 and the inwall 806.Heat receiving unit 804 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.The inner room 807 of heat receiving unit 804 can hold working fluid 808, for example sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and similar substance.The inner room 807 that one skilled in the art will appreciate that heat receiving unit 804 can comprise provide basically with conventional heat pipe in the capillarity cored structure (as mentioned above) of the function identical functions that provides of capillarity core.In this specific embodiment, heat receiving unit 804 is as the conventional heat pipe of passing through two phase transformation transferring heat energy under the situation that has conduction or do not have to conduct.In certain embodiments, input energy portion 102 can only carry heat energy by conduction.

TES device 800 comprises two groups of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810A and 810B separately.First group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810A and second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810B separate, and TES medium 110 is arranged between first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810A and the second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810B.First group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810A is distributed in interior chamber 100 between second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810B.

First group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810A extends to the interior chamber 100 that holds TES medium 110 from the inwall 806 of heat receiving unit 804, but no show heat energy efferent 104.The heat energy that is sent to the heat receiving unit 804 of heat energy input part 102 is transported in the TES medium 110 by first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810A, and described first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) is shown as a plurality of elongated cylindrical heat pipe 812.In the heat pipe 812 each all has internal channel 814, and can comprise a plurality of heat loss through conduction sheets 816 that extend radially outwardly in certain embodiments.In certain embodiments, can be with the directed optionally fin of clock angle, thus the best heat transfer of travelling to and fro between the TES medium will be provided.The closed end 820 of each in the internal channel 814 is in abutting connection with the inwall 806 of heat receiving unit 804.Therefore, working fluid 808 can move in heat receiving unit 804 rather than in the internal channel 814 of first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810A.In certain embodiments, first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810A can be communicated with inner room 807 fluids of heat receiving unit 804.In certain embodiments, first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810A can be communicated with 804 conduction of heat receiving unit.

The heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 800 comprises the heat transmission assembly 850 substantially the same with heat transmission assembly 150 (referring to Fig. 1).Heat transmission assembly 850 inwardly has and outer surface 860 separated inner surfaces 851.In the embodiment that shows, outer surface 860 is and the similar basically heat-exchange surface of outer surface 160 (referring to Fig. 1).Heat transmission assembly 850 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.Heat transmission assembly 850 comprises liquid-tight inner room 865, and described inner room is limited between separated inner surface 851 and the outer surface 860 at least in part.Two-phase compound or working fluid 867, for example sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and class quasi-fluid are contained in the inner room 865.In inner room 865, heat transmission assembly 850 can more be similar to conventional heat pipe (as mentioned above) condenses working fluid 867 and by wicks working fluid 867.Yet in the optional embodiment (not shown), heat transmission assembly 850 can be configured to only transmit heat energy by conduction.

Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810B extends to the interior chamber 100 that is used for holding TES medium 110 from the inner surface 145 of the heat transmission assembly 850 of heat energy efferent 104, but no show heat energy input part 102.Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810B is shown as a plurality of elongated cylindrical heat pipe 832.In the heat pipe 832 each all has internal channel 834 and a plurality of fin that extends radially outwardly 836.The closed end 840 of each in the internal channel 834 is in abutting connection with the inner surface 851 of heat transmission assembly 850.Therefore, working fluid 867 can move in heat transmission assembly 850 rather than in the internal channel 834 of second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810B.In certain embodiments, second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810B can be communicated with inner room 865 fluids of heat transmission assembly 850.In certain embodiments, second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 810B can be communicated with 850 conduction of heat transmission assembly.

Fig. 9 has shown TES device 900.In order to make explanation simple, identical Reference numeral has been used to represent identical structure in Fig. 1 and Fig. 9.The TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) that uses in the TES device 900 can comprise the aforesaid any TES medium that is suitable in the TES device 400 (referring to Fig. 4).TES device 900 can be configured to not have pump, valve or additional thermic load and operate under the situation that does not have pump, valve or additional thermic load.Optionally thermal insulation member 902 can be arranged near container 90 outsides.Thermal insulation member 902 can be by being suitable in the structural map 8 showing and any material of aforesaid thermal insulation member 802 is constructed and formed.

The heat energy input part 102 of TES device 900 comprises heat receiving unit 904, and described heat receiving unit comprises that the heat of heat energy input part 102 receives outer surface 180, inwardly receives outer surface 180 separated inwalls 906 with heat and is limited to inner room 907 between heat reception outer surface 180 and the inwall 906 at least in part.Heat receiving unit 904 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.Heat receiving unit 904 can hold working fluid 908, for example sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and class quasi-fluid.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, the inside of the inner room 907 of heat receiving unit 904 can comprise the capillarity cored structure, described capillarity cored structure provide with conventional heat pipe in the substantially the same function of function (as mentioned above) that provides of capillarity core.In this specific embodiment, heat receiving unit 904 is as conventional heat pipe.

The heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 900 comprises the heat transmission assembly 950 substantially the same with heat transmission assembly 150 (referring to Fig. 1).Heat transmission assembly 950 inwardly has and outer surface 960 separated inner surfaces 951.In described embodiment, outer surface 960 is and the similar basically heat-exchange surface of outer surface 160 (referring to Fig. 1).Heat transmission assembly 950 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.Heat transmission assembly 950 comprises liquid-tight inner room 965, and described inner room is limited between separated inner surface 951 and the outer surface 960 at least in part.Two-phase compound or working fluid 967, for example sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and class quasi-fluid are contained in the inner room 965.In inner room 965, heat transmission assembly 950 can more be similar to conventional heat pipe (as mentioned above) condenses working fluid 967 and by wicks working fluid 967.Yet in the optional embodiment (not shown), heat transmission assembly 950 can be configured to only transmit heat energy by conduction.

TES device 900 comprises the heat transfer unit (HTU) 910 that single component separates, and described heat transfer unit (HTU) is distributed in the interior chamber 100 that holds TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).In the heat transfer unit (HTU) 910 each is extended between heat energy input part 102 and heat energy efferent 104.In described embodiment, heat transfer unit (HTU) 910 passes the inner surface 951 that interior chamber 100 extends to the heat transmission assembly 950 of heat energy efferent 104 from the inwall 906 of heat receiving unit 904.

Heat transfer unit (HTU) 910 is shown as a plurality of elongated cylindrical heat pipe 912.In the heat pipe 912 each all has internal channel 914 and a plurality of fin that extends radially outwardly 916.First closed end 920 of each in the internal channel 914 is in abutting connection with the inwall 906 of heat transmission assembly 904, and each second closed end 922 in the internal channel 914 is in abutting connection with the inner surface 951 of heat transmission assembly 950.Therefore, working fluid 908 can move in heat transmission assembly 904 rather than in the internal channel 914 of heat transfer unit (HTU) 910, and working fluid 967 can move in heat transmission assembly 950 rather than in the internal channel 914 of heat transfer unit (HTU) 910.In certain embodiments, heat transfer unit (HTU) 910 can be communicated with the inner room 907 of heat receiving unit 904 and/or inner room 965 fluids of heat transmission assembly 950.In certain embodiments, heat transfer unit (HTU) 910 can be communicated with heat receiving unit 904 and/or 950 conduction of heat transmission assembly.

Figure 10 has shown TES device 1000, and described TES device is formed at a part of heat energy and is transported to TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) to be used for before storage heat energy being provided to heat energy efferent 104.In order to make explanation simple, identical Reference numeral has been used to represent identical structure in Fig. 1 and Figure 10.The TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) that uses in the TES device 1000 can comprise the aforesaid any TES medium that is suitable in the TES device 400 (referring to Fig. 4).TES device 1000 can be configured to not have pump, valve or additional thermic load and operate under the situation that does not have pump, valve or additional thermic load.

The interior chamber 100 of the container 90 of TES device 1000 comprises the middle body " C1 " that is surrounded by peripheral part " P1 ".Container 90 comprises the adiabatic path 10 02 of ring-shaped inner part that extends along the peripheral part of interior chamber 100 " P1 ".Internal insulation path 10 02 can separate with the remainder of interior chamber 100 by continuous sidewall or separator 1005.TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) is contained in the middle body " C1 " of interior chamber 100 rather than in internal insulation path 10 02.Alternatively, internal insulation path 10 02 can be filled with heat-insulating material 1003, for example air, insulating ceramic and similar material.

The heat energy input part 102 of TES device 1000 comprises heat receiving unit 1004, and described heat receiving unit comprises that the heat of heat energy input part 102 receives outer surface 180, inwardly receives outer surface 180 separated inwalls 1006 with heat and is limited to inner room 1007 between heat reception outer surface 180 and the inwall 1006 at least in part.Heat receiving unit 1004 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.Heat receiving unit 1004 can hold working fluid 1008, for example sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and class quasi-fluid.The inner room 1007 that one skilled in the art will appreciate that heat receiving unit 1004 can comprise the capillarity cored structure, described capillarity cored structure provide with conventional heat pipe in the substantially the same function of function (as mentioned above) that provides of capillarity core.In this specific embodiment, heat receiving unit 1004 is as conventional heat pipe.

TES device 1000 comprises the heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010B that the heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A that first component separates and second component separate.Among first and second groups of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A and the 1010B each is separated from one another and be distributed in the interior chamber 100.First and second groups of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A and 1010B can be separated from one another and be distributed in the interior chamber 100, transmit optimization so that travel to and fro between the heat of TES medium 110.First group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A is positioned at internal insulation path 10 02, and second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010B is positioned at outside the internal insulation path 10 02.

The heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 1000 comprises the heat transmission assembly 1050 substantially the same with heat transmission assembly 150 (referring to Fig. 1).Heat transmission assembly 1050 inwardly has and outer surface 1060 separated inner surfaces 1051.In described embodiment, outer surface 1060 is and the similar basically heat-exchange surface of outer surface 160 (referring to Fig. 1).Heat transmission assembly 1050 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.Heat transmission assembly 1050 comprises liquid-tight inner room 1065, and described inner room is limited between separated inner surface 1051 and the outer surface 1060 at least in part.Two-phase compound or working fluid 1067, for example sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and class quasi-fluid are contained in the inner room 1065.In inner room 1065, heat transmission assembly 1050 can more be similar to conventional heat pipe (as mentioned above) condenses working fluid 1067 and by wicks working fluid 1067.Yet in the optional embodiment (not shown), heat transmission assembly 1050 can be configured to only transmit heat energy by conduction.

Among the heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A that first component separates each is extended between heat energy input part 102 and heat energy efferent 104.In described embodiment, the heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A that first component separates extends to the inner surface 1051 of the heat transmission assembly 1050 of heat energy efferent 104 from the adiabatic inner passage 1002 that the inwall 1006 of heat receiving unit 1004 passes interior chamber 100.The amount of the heat energy of the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) in the middle body " C1 " that can be sent to interior chamber 100 from the heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A that first component separates is limited in adiabatic inner passage 1002.Be restricted owing to be sent to the amount of the heat energy of TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1), therefore the more heat energy that received by heat energy input part 102 can directly be sent to heat energy efferent 104 by first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A.

First group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A is shown as a plurality of elongated cylindrical heat pipe 1012.In the heat pipe 1012 each all has internal channel 1014.First closed end 1020 of each in the internal channel 1014 passes the inwall 1006 of heat receiving unit 1004, so that each at least a portion 1020A of first closed end 1020 in the internal channel 1014 is arranged in the inner room 1007 of heat receiving unit 1004.Second closed end 1022 of each in the internal channel 1014 passes the inner surface 1051 of heat transmission assembly 1050, so that each at least a portion 1022A of second closed end 1022 in the internal channel 1014 is arranged in the inner room 1065 of heat transmission assembly 1050.Therefore, working fluid 1008 can move in the inner room 1007 of heat receiving unit 1004 rather than in the internal channel 1014 of first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A, and working fluid 1067 can move in the inner room 1065 of heat transmission assembly 1050 rather than in the internal channel 1014 of first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A.

Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010B extends to the middle body " C1 " of the interior chamber 100 that holds TES medium 110 from the inner surface 1051 of the heat transmission assembly 1050 of heat energy efferent 104, but the inwall 1006 of the heat receiving unit 1004 of no show heat energy input part 102.Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010B is distributed in outside adiabatic inner passage 1002 in the middle body " C1 " of interior chamber 100.Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010B can be distributed in the middle body " C1 " of interior chamber 100, thereby makes performance the best of TES module 1000.

Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010B is shown as a plurality of elongated cylindrical heat pipe 1032.In the heat pipe 1032 each all has internal channel 1034.Alternatively, heat pipe 1032 can comprise a plurality of fin (not shown) that extend radially outwardly.The closed end 1040 of each in the internal channel 1034 passes the inner surface 1051 of heat transmission assembly 1050, and with each being arranged in the inner room 1065 of heat transmission assembly 1050 to small part 1040A of closed end 1040 in the internal channel 1034.Therefore, working fluid 1067 can move in heat transmission assembly 1050 rather than in the internal channel 1034 of second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010B.

After heat energy is transported to heat energy efferent 104 by first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010A, second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1010B will be not by for example for the reception structure of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) or a part of installing the heat energy that 170 (referring to Fig. 1) use be transported to TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1), to store.Mode according to this, the heat energy that is received by heat energy input part 102 can be transported to heat energy efferent 104 immediately for using immediately, and the part of this heat energy is transferred back TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) for use in the future.

Figure 11 has shown TES device 1100, and described TES device is formed at a part of heat energy and is transported to TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) to be used for before storage heat energy being provided to heat energy efferent 104.In order to make explanation simple, identical Reference numeral has been used to represent identical structure in Fig. 1 and Figure 11.The TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) that uses in the TES device 1100 can comprise the aforesaid any TES medium that is suitable in the TES device 400 (referring to Fig. 4).TES device 1100 can be configured to not have pump, valve or additional thermic load and operate under the situation that does not have pump, valve or additional thermic load.

The interior chamber 100 of the container 90 of TES device 1100 comprises the middle body " C2 " that is surrounded by peripheral part " P2 ".Container 90 comprises the internal insulation passage 1102 that is arranged in its middle body " C2 ".TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) is accommodated in the part outside internal insulation passage 1,102 1103 of interior chamber 100.Alternatively, internal insulation passage 1102 can be filled with heat-insulating material 1101, for example air, insulating ceramic and similar material.Internal insulation passage 1102 can be isolated with the part 1103 of interior chamber 100 by continuous sidewall or separator 1105.

The heat energy input part 102 of TES device 1100 comprises: heat receiving unit 1104, described heat receiving unit comprise that the heat of heat energy input part 102 receives outer surface 180; Inside and heat receives outer surface 180 separated inwalls 1106; Be limited to the inner room 1107 between heat reception outer surface 180 and the inwall 1106 at least in part.Heat receiving unit 1104 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.The inner room 1107 of heat receiving unit 1104 can hold working fluid 1108, for example sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and similar substance.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, the inner room 1107 of heat receiving unit 1104 can comprise the capillarity cored structure, described capillarity cored structure provide with conventional heat pipe (as mentioned above) in the function that provided of capillarity core identical functions basically.In this certain embodiments, heat receiving unit 1004 is as conventional heat pipe.TES device 1100 comprises the heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110B that the heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A that first component separates and second component separate.Among first and second groups of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A and the 1110B each is separated from one another and be distributed in the interior chamber 100.The heat transfer unit (HTU) of first and second groups of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A and 1110B can be separated from one another and be distributed in the interior chamber 100, transmits optimization so that travel to and fro between the heat of TES medium.First group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A is positioned at internal insulation passage 1102, and second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110B is positioned at outside the internal insulation passage 1102.

The heat energy efferent 104 of TES device 1100 comprises the heat transmission assembly 1150 substantially the same with heat transmission assembly 150 (referring to Fig. 1).Heat transmission assembly 1150 inwardly has and outer surface 1160 separated inner surfaces 1151.In described embodiment, outer surface 1160 is and the similar basically heat-exchange surface of outer surface 160 (referring to Fig. 1).Heat transmission assembly 1150 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.Heat transmission assembly 1150 comprises liquid-tight inner room 1165, and described inner room is limited between separated inner surface 1151 and the outer surface 1160 at least in part.Two-phase compound or working fluid 1167, for example sodium, helium, mercury, zinc, indium, ammonia, alcohol, methyl alcohol, water, steam, air and class quasi-fluid are contained in the inner room 1165.In inner room 1165, heat transmission assembly 1150 can more be similar to conventional heat pipe (as mentioned above) condenses working fluid 1167 and by wicks working fluid 1167.Yet in the optional embodiment (not shown), heat transmission assembly 1150 can be configured to only transmit heat energy by conduction.

Among the heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A that first component separates each is extended between heat energy input part 102 and heat energy efferent 104.In described embodiment, the heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A that first component separates extends to the inner surface 1151 of the heat transmission assembly 1150 of heat energy efferent 104 from the adiabatic inner passage 1102 that the inwall 1106 of heat receiving unit 1004 passes interior chamber 100.The amount of the heat energy of the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) in the part 1103 that can be sent to interior chamber 100 from the heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A that first component separates is limited in adiabatic inner passage 1102.Be restricted owing to be sent to the amount of the heat energy of TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1), therefore the more heat energy that received by heat energy input part 102 can directly be sent to heat energy efferent 104 by first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A.

First group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A is shown as a plurality of elongated cylindrical heat pipe 1112.In the heat pipe 1112 each all has internal channel 1114.First closed end 1120 of each in the internal channel 1114 passes the inwall 1106 of heat receiving unit 1104, and each the part 1120A of first closed end 1120 in the major general's internal channel 1114 that arrives is arranged in the heat receiving unit 1104.Second closed end 1122 of each in the internal channel 1114 passes the inner surface 1151 of heat transmission assembly 1150, and each the part 1122A of second closed end 1122 in the major general's internal channel 1114 that arrives is arranged in the heat transmission assembly 1150.Therefore, working fluid 1108 can move in the inner room 1107 of heat receiving unit 1104 rather than in the internal channel 1114 of first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A, and working fluid 1167 can move in the inner room 1165 of heat transmission assembly 1150 rather than in the internal channel 1114 of first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A.

Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110B extends to the part 1103 of the interior chamber 100 that holds TES medium 110 from the inner surface 1151 of the heat transmission assembly 1150 of heat energy efferent 104, but the inwall 1106 of the heat receiving unit 1104 of no show heat energy input part 102.Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110B is distributed in the part 1103 outside adiabatic inner passage 1102 of interior chamber 100.

Second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110B is shown as a plurality of elongated cylindrical heat pipe 1132.In the heat pipe 1132 each all has internal channel 1134.Alternatively, heat pipe 1132 can comprise a plurality of fin (not shown) that extend radially outwardly.The closed end 1140 of each in the internal channel 1134 passes the inner surface 1151 of heat transmission assembly 1150, and each the part 1140A of closed end 1140 in the major general's internal channel 1134 that arrives is arranged in the heat transmission assembly 1150.Therefore, working fluid 1167 can move in heat transmission assembly 1150 rather than in the internal channel 1134 of second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110B.

After heat energy is transported to heat energy efferent 104 by first group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110A, second group of heat transfer unit (HTU) 1110B will be not by for example for the reception structure of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) or a part of installing the heat energy that 170 (referring to Fig. 1) use be transported to TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1), to store.Mode according to this, the heat energy that is received by heat energy input part 102 can be transported to heat energy efferent 104 immediately for using immediately, and the part of this heat energy is transferred back TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) for use in the future.

Therefore, the

TES device

1000 and 1100 that shows among Figure 10 and Figure 11 is configured to respectively heat is sent to and receives structure or install 170 (referring to Fig. 1) and do not need at first thermal energy storage in TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1), perhaps alternatively, when heat energy is provided for when receiving structure or installing 170, only with the thermal energy storage of limited amount in TES medium 110.For example,

TES device

1000 and 1100 can be configured to only store the heat energy that surpasses the reception structure or install 170 (Stirling engines 315 that for example, show among Fig. 3) running aequum.In such an embodiment, only limited amount heat energy is sent to TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).This embodiment can be characterized as double mode, and this is because described embodiment has (1) is transported in 110 neutralizations (2) of TES medium thermal energy storage heat energy output 104 with heat energy

ability.TES device

1000 and 1100 can be configured to module sealing, Maintenance free in the factory.

Inner burner embodiment

Figure 12-20 shows the embodiment of the TES device that uses with the internal heat energy such as burner.Figure 12 provide have TES parts 1210 (described TES parts can be integrally formed with heater head 315A alternatively) and combustor component 1212 TES device 1200 embodiment etc. optical axis cutaway view.In this embodiment, heat energy input part 102 comprises combustor component 1212, and described combustor component provides the heat energy that stores by TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).TES parts 1210 extract the heat energy that is stored in the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1), and by heat energy efferent 104 heat energy that extracts are offered the reception structure or installs 170 (referring to Fig. 1).

TES parts 1210 have the housing 1220 that limits the hollow inner area 1222 be configured to store TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).For the better view of the structure in the TES parts 1210 is provided, omitted TES medium 110, but in Figure 13, can see from Figure 12.Housing 1220 has and is roughly columniform profile.Yet this is not a necessary condition, and its middle shell 1220 has embodiment such as the different profiles of square, rectangle, hexagon and analogous shape also in the scope of present disclosure.As limiting examples, housing 1220 can have about 15 inches diameter " D " and about 15 inches length " L ".

Housing 1220 has the open end 1226 that is configured to hold combustor component 1212, and described combustor component can be fixed in the described open end.As limiting examples, combustor component 1212 is fixed to housing 1220 with can utilizing traditional metlbond technology non-removable known in the field.Combustor component 1212 extends to and is configured to store in the hollow inner area 1222 of TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).Housing 1220 can be embodied as the Outer cylindrical shell, and described Outer cylindrical shell has the welded edge (not shown) that docks with combustor component 1212 at its open end 1226 places.

Housing 1220 has the closed end 1228 relative with open end 1226.Execution is formed in the closed end 1228 of housing 1220 with the heat transmission assembly 1230 of heat transmission assembly 150 (referring to Fig. 1) identical functions.Heat transmission assembly 1230 can be embodied as vaporium, heat pipe and similar device.Alternatively, heat receiving unit 1230 can be configured to only transmit heat energy by conduction.

In an illustrated embodiment, heat transmission assembly 1230 has been embodied as heat pipe.Heat transmission assembly 1230 comprises and lateral wall 1234 separated madial walls 1232, and limits inner room 1235 at least in part between described madial wall and the described lateral wall.In this embodiment, heat energy efferent 104 comprises the madial wall 1232 and the lateral wall 1234 of heat transmission assembly 1230 and described heat transmission assembly.Madial wall 1232 has the peripheral part 1233 adjacent with housing 1220.Alternatively, madial wall 1232 comprises a plurality of separated through holes 1240.Lateral wall 1234 can comprise heater head 315A.

Lateral wall 1234 can comprise the annular transition member that is provided with around heater head 315A.Housing 1220 can weld or hard solder to the peripheral part 1233 and the annular transition member of madial wall 1232.Optionally heater head 315A and/or annular transition member can comprise the welded edge (not shown), and described welded edge can be used to be welded to connect the housing 1220 to it.Madial wall 1232 and optional lateral wall 1234 comprise one or more fillings mouths 1236.

TES parts 1210 comprise being shown as from madial wall 1232 and extend and extend to a plurality of heat transfer unit (HTU)s 1258 of the hollow cylindrical heat pipe 1260 the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) towards combustor component 1212.Madial wall 1232 comprises among the embodiment of a plurality of separated through holes 1240 therein, locates to stop for one that each in a plurality of heat pipes 1260 can be in through hole 1240.A plurality of heat pipes 1260 can stop up through hole 1240, thereby prevent that TES medium 110 from passing through hole 1240 and entering heat transmission assembly 1230.Heat pipe 1260 stops at through hole 1240 places of madial wall 1232.

TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) is sealed in hollow inner area 1222 between the madial wall 1232 of housing 1220, combustor component 1212 (open end 1226 of described combustor component closure casing 1220) and heat transmission assembly 1230.

Can be connected to heat transmission assembly 1230 to receive heat energy from described heat transmission assembly such as the external device (ED) that receives structure or install 170 (referring to Fig. 1), described external device (ED) can comprise Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3).As above explanation about other embodiment, the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) can be integrally formed with the outer surface 1234 of heat transmission assembly 1230.Alternatively, the outer surface 1234 of heater head 315A and heat transmission assembly 1230 can be for linking together to carry out the independent parts that heat is transmitted between described heater head and described outer surface.

Below combustor component 1212 will be described.As mentioned above, combustor component 1212 is arranged in the open end 1226 of housing 1220, and extends to and be configured to store in the hollow inner area 1222 of TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).

Combustor component 1212 comprises and is configured to be arranged in the described combustor component and the internal combustion chamber 1280 of being surrounded by TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) at least in part.Internal combustion chamber 1280 has one or more inlets 1282, and the mixture of fuel and oxygen enters internal combustion chamber 1280 by described inlet.As limiting examples, internal combustion chamber 1280 can have and is roughly columniform shape.As another limiting examples, internal combustion chamber 1280 can have about 2 inches diameter and about 6 inches length.Internal combustion chamber 1280 has one or more outlets 1284, and combustion product leaves internal combustion chamber by described outlet.

In order to guide combustion product away from internal combustion chamber 1280, combustor component 1212 (for example comprises a plurality of first flow channels 1290 and one or more annular passing away, in annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B), described annular passing away is arranged in the hollow inner area 1222 of housing 1220 of TES parts 1210 and extends through TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).In described embodiment, a plurality of first flow channels 1290 radially extend away from internal combustion chamber 1280.Among annular passing away 1294A and the 1294B each is all arranged around internal combustion chamber 1280 and is separated with internal combustion chamber 1280.Among the embodiment that in Figure 12, shows, annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B in combustor component 1212 comprises.Yet, comprise single annular passing away or more than the embodiment of two annular passing away also in the scope of this instruction.

As limiting examples, interior annular passing away 1294A can be apart from the center of internal combustion chamber 1280 about 7 inches, and outer ring passing away 1294B can be apart from the center of internal combustion chamber about 12 inches.Interior annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B have

tap

1296A and 1296B, and combustion product can be discharged from the combustor component 1212 of TES device 1200 by

tap

1296A and 1296B respectively.

The combustor component 1212 that shows also comprises a plurality of second flow channels 1300, and annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B interconnected in described a plurality of second flow channels made.A plurality of second flow channels 1300 are arranged in the hollow inner area 1222 of housing 1220 of TES parts (or sub-component) 1210 and extend through TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).A plurality of first and

second flow channels

1290 and 1300 each all have heat conduction sidewall " S1 ".Interior annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B are limited between a pair of separated heat conduction sidewall " S2 " and " S3 " each.Heat conduction sidewall " S1 ", " S2 " and " S3 " directly contact with TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) in the hollow inner area 1222 that is stored in housing 1220.

Combustion product along radially or the TES parts 1210 of the combustion gas flow path flow of annular by TES device 1200 discharge combustion chamber 1280 internally by outlet 1284.Particularly, annular passing away 1294A in each outlet 1284 with internal combustion chamber 1280 in a plurality of first flow channels 1290 is connected to.A plurality of first flow channel 1290 that radially extends radially outward carries described combustion product in interior annular passing away 1294A away from internal combustion chamber 1280.This method can be configured to the heat-transfer character that provides fabulous, thereby by the wideest tolerance and simple integrated can forming with simple mode manufacturing.In described embodiment, a plurality of first flow channels 1290 are embodied as row's rectangular cross section conduit.Total cross-sectional area of a plurality of first flow channels 1290 can be approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of internal combustion chamber 1280.

The a part of combustion product that flows radially outward by a plurality of first flow channels 1290 flow among the interior annular passing away 1294A, and discharges from interior annular passing away by tap 1296A.Remaining combustion product continues radially outward to pass through a plurality of second flow channels 1300, enters and pass outer ring passing away 1294B, and discharges from interior annular passing away by tap 1296B.

The pressure with a plurality of second flow channel, 1300 adjacents in a plurality of first and

second flow channels

1290 and 1300 can be configured such that in annular passing away 1294A and the outer ring passing away 1294B equates basically.For example, in described embodiment, combustor component 1212 is included as a plurality of second flow channels 1300 of the quantity twice of a plurality of first flow channels 1290.In a plurality of second flow channels 1300 each have with a plurality of first flow channels 1290 in each identical cross-sectional area.The pressure with a plurality of second flow channel, 1300 adjacents in this layout makes in annular passing away 1294A and the outer ring passing away 1294B equates basically.

The cross-sectional area that on average can be substantially equal to internal combustion chamber 1280 of interior annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B in conjunction with cross-sectional flow area.Among interior annular passing away 1294A and the outer ring passing away 1294B each can narrow near

tap

1296A and 1296B bigger gradually.For example, inside and outside annular passing away 1294A and 1294B can have about 0.10 inch Breadth Maximum with a plurality of second flow channel, 1300 adjacents, and inside and outside annular passing away 1294A and 1294B can each have about 0.02 inch minimum widith at

tap

1296A and 1296B place respectively.In combustion product enters under the temperature of about 1500K (1227C) among annular passing away 1294A and the outer ring passing away 1294B each, and under the temperature of about 1000K (727 ℃), discharge from combustor component 1212 by tap 1296A and 1296B.The approximate width with interior annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B of heat exchanger efficiency is inversely proportional.Narrow down gradually by annular passing away 1294A in making and outer ring passing away 1294B, when the temperature difference that drives described heat transmission reduced, the sidewall " S2 " of interior annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B and " S3 " can have approximate even temperature and heat flux along the part in its combustion gas flow path.

The combustor component 1212 that shows comprises three packing ring shape

flat disk part

1270A, 1270B and 1270C.Space between integrated disc portions 1270A closed interior combustion chamber 1280 and the interior tap 1296A.Space in the integrated disc portions 1270B sealing between tap 1296A and the outer tap 1296B.Space between integrated disc portions 1270C outer tap 1296B of sealing and the Outer cylindrical housing 1220.Combustor component 1212 can be mainly by forming by simply installed individually metal plate component structure.This parts can hard solders or are welded together to make firm combustor component 1212.As mentioned above, housing 1220 can comprise the welded edge (not shown) that is positioned at its open end 1226 places, and described welded edge can arrive integrated disc portions 1270C along the periphery welding or the hard solder of described open end.

TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) fusing and overheated hot-fluid are originated from combustion product combustion product mobile when annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B in combustion chamber 1280 is discharged and passed internally.Sidewall " S2 " and " S3 " of a plurality of first and

second flow channel

1294A and 1294B are heated by the mobile of combustion product, and at least a portion of the heat energy that this sidewall is obtained is sent to TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).

The heat transmission of crossing sidewall " S2 " and " S3 " is heated the adjacent area of TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) and is made described adjacent area fusing.Do not having under the situation of other heat transfer unit (HTU), these zones of TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) will overheat, and heat transmission assembly 1230 (with optional heater head 315A) will keep relative colder with contiguous TES areas of dielectric.Can prevent this situation about not expecting by the heat pipe 1260 that is arranged in the TES parts 1210.In described embodiment, heat pipe 1260 has general tube shape, and described tubular form has round shape of cross section.Yet this is not a necessary condition.

In described embodiment, each all extends to heat pipe 1260 in the combustor component 1212, and has the closed end 1320 that terminates in the combustor component 1212.When internal combustion chamber 1280 operations (, during heat cycles), the closed end 1320 of the heat pipe 1260 in the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) adjacent with combustor component 1212 is sent to heat transmission assembly 1230 with heat from this zone, and heat is sent to the part away from combustor component 1212 of TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).When internal combustion chamber 1280 inoperation (for example, during cool cycles), the whole length of each in the heat pipe 1260 can be sent to heat transmission assembly 1230 from TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) with heat.

In described embodiment, heat pipe 1260 is arranged to the concentric ring pattern, described concentric ring comprises first ring " R1A " and second ring " R2A ", described first ring extends in the combustor component 1212 between internal combustion chamber 1280 and interior annular passing away 1294A, and described second ring extends in the combustor component 1212 between interior annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B.Therefore, among each and internal combustion chamber 1280, interior annular passing away 1294A and the outer ring passing away 1294B of ring in " R1A " and " R2A " at least one is adjacent, and at least one reception heat energy among combustion chamber 1280, interior annular passing away 1294A and the outer ring passing away 1294B internally.

As limiting examples, first ring " R1A " can be included in apart from about 4.5 inches eight heat pipes, 1260, the second rings " R2A " of sentencing about 45 degree positioned at intervals in the center of housing 1220 and can be included in apart from about 9.5 inches 16 heat pipes sentencing about 22.5 degree positioned at intervals in the center of housing 1220.Optional the 3rd ring (not shown) can be included in apart from about 13.5 inches 20 heat pipes sentencing about 18 degree positioned at intervals in the center of housing 1220.These spacings be selected to provide about two inches TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) in heat pipe 1260 between central spacing (on-center spacing).This spacing guaranteed TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) without any the nearest heat pipe 1260 of partial distance (that is, heat radiation position) considerably beyond one inch.

Yet note that near housing 1220 central authorities 1260 this spacing is not provided in internal combustion chamber 1280.The exception of this middle section is can not cause problem, and this is because solidify and during its volume-diminished, any residual liquid in the described middle section will affact the zone of close heat pipe 1260 by gravity around heat pipe 1260 when TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).If described middle section will go wrong in heating or cooling period, then can increase internally combustion chamber 1280 or extend through the heat pipe (not shown) of TES medium to heat transmission assembly 1230 with internal combustion chamber 1280 position adjacent.

When structure TES device 1200, before the outer surface 1234 of heat transmission assembly 1230 is fixed on blind end 1228 inside of housing 1220, TES medium 110 (see figure 1)s, it can be a solid salt, is inserted in the hollow interior region 1222 of TES parts 1210.In illustrated embodiment, TES medium 110 (see figure 1)s are poured hollow interior region 1220 inside into by filling mouth 1236.The solid-state TES medium of measurement quality (and alternatively, if need really, such as the getter material of alumina particles) poured up to hollow interior region 1222 complete filling the TES medium into by filling mouth 1236.Based on the known density ratio of liquid salt pair solid salt and the volume margin of safety of selecting, the salt of measuring quality is removed the Volume Changes that causes because of fusing to adapt to.After this, fill mouth 1236 and cleaned fully, and filling stopper 1238 is fixed to the hollow interior region 1222 of filling mouthful 1236 inside with sealing TES parts 1210.Then, fill the inside that stopper 1238 is captured in TES medium 110 (see figure 1)s hollow interior region 1222.In non-limiting example, fill stopper 1238 and can fill mouthful 1236 interior filling mouthful 1236 inside that are fixed on by it is welded on.Afterwards, heater head 315A can be soldered to the annular transition member of the outer surface 1234 of heat transmission assembly 1230.

Alternatively, suitably the heat pipe work fluid 1242 (for example, sodium) of heat can add in the annular transition member by filling a mouthful (not shown).Then, by being inserted, the stopper (not shown) fills a sealing filling mouthful (not shown) in the mouth.Stopper can utilize any method that is suitable for stopper 1238 is fixed in the filling mouth 1236 to be fixed in the filling mouth.

It is desirable to add heat pipe capillary acting core (not shown) to contact parts with heat pipe work fluid.Heat pipe capillary acting core (not shown) can be formed in the inside of heat pipe 1260 by the annular knurl process.The heat pipe capillary acting core can comprise filter screen or the particulate capillarity material that adds other parts to.

Close thermal communication can improve the efficient of Stirling engine (Stirling engine 315 that for example, shows among Fig. 3) between the hot junction by thermal source (for example, hydrocarbon/oxygen burner) and Stirling engine.Stationary temperature is almost remained on think the ability of best value also very important.Combustor component 1212 can be as the thermal source that continues or be interrupted, to keep the two-phase temperature constant state of TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).

As limiting examples, TES device 1200 can be assembled in the underwater vehicle and be used for providing power to described delivery vehicle.In such an embodiment, internal combustion chamber 1280 can be configured to burn JP5, JP8, JP10 and analog.USN is very interesting to the use such as the crucial HC fuel of JP5, JP8 or JP10, and this is because the potentiality that described fuel can be used for very large scope mobile when using with simple oxygen storage/generating apparatus or be used for snorkel.This situation when using the efficient energy conversion device such as fuel cell or Stirling engine.Additional benefit is that described delivery vehicle can arrive near the water surface, therefore operation is with heat " filling " TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) down in lower discharge pressure (and with higher efficient) so that make combustor component 1212, and described TES medium can be then used in the closed heat that constant temperature is provided under water the time at delivery vehicle.Combustor component 1212 is moved when delivery vehicle is positioned at the water surface with filling TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1), and therefore eliminate demand the oxidant that carries on the described delivery vehicle.

Figure 13 and Figure 14 provide being used for providing the explanation of the drive system 1400 of power to the delivery vehicle such as underwater vehicle.Drive system 1400 comprises the TES device 1200 that is connected to fuel tank 1410 and air tank 1412.Fuel tank 1410 is provided with around the heater head 315A of Stirling engine 315.Figure 13 shows the internal combustion chamber 1280 that embeds in the TES medium 110.Internal combustion chamber 1280 receives fuel and receives oxygen from air tank 1412 from fuel tank 1410, and makes described fuel and described oxygen combustion be sent to TES medium 110 for the heat energy that stores with generation.Heat pipe 1280 is transported to heater head 315A with the heat energy that stores, and the heat energy at heater head 315A place provides power for Stirling engine 315.

Figure 15 is the optional embodiment of the TES device 1500 that uses with burner.TES device 1500 has TES parts 1510 and combustor component 1512.In this embodiment, heat energy input part 102 comprises the combustor component 1512 that the heat energy that will be stored by TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) is provided.TES parts 1510 extract the heat energy that stores among TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1), and by heat energy efferent 104 heat energy that extracts are offered the reception structure or installs 170 (referring to Fig. 1).

TES parts 1210 have the housing 1520 that limits the hollow interior region 1522 be configured to store TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).For the better view of the structure in the TES parts 1510 is provided, from Figure 15, omitted TES medium 110.Housing 1520 has and is roughly columniform profile.Yet this is not a necessary condition, and its middle shell 1520 has embodiment such as the different profiles of square, rectangle, hexagon and analogous shape also in the scope of present disclosure.

Housing 1520 can be similar basically to housing 1220 (referring to Figure 12), and can be connected to combustor component 1512 with the aforesaid any way that is suitable for combustor component 1212 (referring to Figure 12) is connected to housing 1220 (referring to Figure 12).Combustor component 1512 extends to and is configured to store in the hollow interior region 1522 of TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).

TES parts 1510 also comprise the heat transmission assembly 1530 to operate to the similar basically mode of heat transmission assembly 1230 (referring to Figure 12).Can be connected to heat transmission assembly 1530 such as the external device (ED) that can comprise Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) that receives structure or install 170 (referring to Fig. 1), so that receive heat energy from described heat transmission assembly.In described embodiment, heat transmission assembly 1530 is not integrally formed with the heater head 315A (referring to Fig. 4) of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3).Yet wherein the integrally formed embodiment of heat transmission assembly 1530 and the heater head 315A (referring to Fig. 4) of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) is in the protection domain of this instruction.

Heat transmission assembly 1530 is limited between separated madial wall 1532 and the lateral wall 1534.In this embodiment, heat energy efferent 104 comprises heat transmission assembly 1530 and madial wall 1532 and lateral wall 1534.Madial wall 1532 and optional lateral wall 1534 comprise one or more with fill the similar basically filling mouth (not shown) of mouth 1236 (referring to Figure 12).Alternatively, madial wall 1532 comprises a plurality of separated through holes 1540.Optionally the collar 1542 can be provided with around each through hole 1540.

TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) is sealed in the hollow interior region 1522 between the madial wall 1532 of housing 1520, combustor component 1512 and heat transmission assembly 1530.TES parts 1510 comprise a plurality of heat transfer unit (HTU)s 1558, and described heat transfer unit (HTU) is shown as from madial wall 1532 and extends and extend to hollow cylindrical heat pipe 1560 the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) towards combustor component 1512.Comprise among the embodiment of a plurality of separated through holes 1540 that at madial wall 1,532 one of can extend among in the through hole 1540 one or in through hole 1540 locates to stop each in a plurality of heat pipes 1560.In described embodiment, heat pipe 1560 is contained in the collar 1542, and each heat pipe all partly extends in the heat transmission assembly 1530.Therefore, heat pipe 1560 stops up through hole 1240 and prevents that TES medium 110 from entering heat transmission assembly 1530 by through hole 1540.

Combustor component 1512 comprises the internal combustion chamber 1580 that is configured to be arranged in the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) and is surrounded by TES medium 110 at least in part.Internal combustion chamber 1580 can be identical with internal combustion chamber 1280 (referring to Figure 12) basically.Internal combustion chamber 1580 has one or more inlets 1582, and fuel and oxygen enter internal combustion chamber 1580 by described inlet.Internal combustion chamber 1580 also has one or more outlets 1584, and combustion product is discharged in the combustion chamber internally by described outlet.

In order to guide combustion product away from internal combustion chamber 1580, combustor component 1212 (for example has a plurality of flow channels 1590 and one or more annular passing away, annular passing away 1594), described annular passing away is arranged in the hollow interior region 1522 of housing 1520 of TES parts 1510 and extends through TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).In described embodiment, flow channel 1590 radially extends away from internal combustion chamber 1580.Annular passing away 1594 is arranged around internal combustion chamber 1580 and is separated with described internal combustion chamber.Annular passing away 1594 has tap 1596, and combustion product can be discharged from the combustor component 1512 of TES device 1500 by described tap.Among the embodiment that shows in Figure 15, combustor component 1512 only comprises annular passing away 1594.Yet the embodiment that comprises two or more annular passing aways is also in the protection domain of this instruction.

Flow channel 1590 is similar basically to first flow channel 1290 of TES device 1200 (referring to Figure 12).Equally, annular passing away 1594 can be similar basically to the interior annular passing away 1294A (referring to Figure 12) of TES device 1200.Yet annular passing away 1594 is configured to carry all combustion products rather than only carry a part of combustion product away from internal combustion chamber 1580.Further, different with interior annular passing away 1294A, annular passing away 1594 is not connected to second group of flow channel.Annular passing away 1594 is limited between a pair of separated heat conduction sidewall " S4 " and " S5 ".Heat conduction sidewall " S4 " and " S5 " directly contact with TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) in the hollow interior region 1522 that is stored in housing 1520.

Flow channel 1590 is connected to annular passing away 1594 with the outlet 1584 of internal combustion chamber 1580.Radially the flow channel 1590 of Yan Shening radially outward is transported to combustion product in the annular passing away 1594 away from internal combustion chamber 1580.Combustion product moves through annular passing away 1594, and discharges from annular passing away by tap 1596.When combustion product moves through annular passing away 1594, described combustion product heating heat conduction sidewall " S4 " and " S5 ".

Combustor component 1512 comprises annular heat pipe 1598, and described annular heat pipe has a pair of separated heat conduction sidewall " S6 " and " S7 ".Sidewall " S7 " is adjacent with the sidewall " S4 " of annular passing away 1594.Sidewall " S7 " can be separated with sidewall " S4 " or engage face-to-face with sidewall " S4 ".Sidewall " S7 " receives heat energy from sidewall " S4 " and also this heat energy is transported to the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).In described embodiment, annular heat pipe 1598 extends towards heat transmission assembly 1530 from annular passing away 1594, but can not contact heat transmission assembly 1530.In the optional embodiment (not shown), annular heat pipe 1598 can contact with heat transmission assembly 1530 and be configured to heat energy is transported to described heat transmission assembly.

Heat pipe 1560 each all from heat transmission assembly 1530 extends to combustor component 1512 between the flow channel 1590, and each heat pipe 1560 all has the closed end 1600 that stops in combustor component 1612.When internal combustion chamber 1580 operation (, during thermal cycle), the closed end 1600 of the heat pipe 1560 adjacent with combustor component 1512 is sent to heat transmission assembly 1530 in combustion chamber 1580 internally with heat.When internal combustion chamber 1580 is not operated (for example, during cool cycles), the whole length of each in the heat pipe 1560 can be sent to heat transmission assembly 1530 from TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) with heat.

In described embodiment, heat pipe 1560 is arranged to the concentric ring pattern, described concentric ring comprises first ring " R1B " and second ring " R2B ", described first ring extends in the combustor component 1512 between internal combustion chamber 1580 and annular heat pipe 1598, and described second ring extends in the combustor component 1512 between annular heat pipe 1598 and housing 1520.The heat pipe 1560 of first ring " R1B " extends between flow channel 1590, therefore, in each and internal combustion chamber 1280, annular passing away 1594, annular heat pipe 1598 and the flow channel 1590 of ring in " R1B " and " R2B " at least one is adjacent, and at least one reception heat energy in combustion chamber 1280, annular passing away 1594, annular heat pipe 1598 and the flow channel 1590 internally.

The working fluid (not shown) can be arranged in heat pipe 1560 and/or the annular passing away 1594.It is desirable to add heat pipe capillary acting core (not shown) to contact parts with heat pipe work fluid.Heat pipe capillary acting core (not shown) can be formed in the inside of heat pipe 1560 by the annular knurl process.The heat pipe capillary acting core can comprise filter screen or the microgranular capillarity material that adds other parts to.

Figure 16 shows the optional embodiment of the TES device 1700 that uses with burner.TES device 1700 has TES parts 1710 and combustor component 1712.In this embodiment, heat energy input part 102 comprises the combustor component 1712 that the heat energy that will be stored by TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) is provided.TES parts 1710 extract the heat energy that stores among TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1), and by heat energy efferent 104 heat energy that extracts are offered the reception structure or installs 170 (referring to Fig. 1).

TES parts 1710 have the housing 1720 that limits the hollow interior region 1722 be configured to store TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1).For the better view of the structure in the TES parts 1510 is provided, from Figure 17, omitted TES medium 110.Housing 1720 has the profile of substantial cylindrical.Yet this is not a necessary condition, and its middle shell 1720 has embodiment such as the different profiles of square, rectangle, hexagon and analogous shape also in the protection domain of present disclosure.

Housing 1720 has open end 1726, and combustor component 1712 is connected to described open end.Open end 1726 comprises welded edge 1727, and combustor component 1712 comprises corresponding welded edge 1728.Combustor component 1712 can be connected to housing 1720 by welded edge 1728 is welded to welded edge 1727.

TES parts 1710 comprise the heat transmission assembly 1730 to operate to the similar basically mode of heat transmission assembly 1230 (referring to Figure 12).Can be connected to heat transmission assembly 1730 such as the external device (ED) that can comprise Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) that receives structure or install 170 (referring to Fig. 1), so that receive heat energy from described heat transmission assembly.In described embodiment, heat transmission assembly 1730 is not integrally formed with the heater head 315A (referring to Fig. 4) of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3).Yet wherein the integrally formed embodiment of heat transmission assembly 1730 and the heater head 315A (referring to Fig. 4) of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) is in the protection domain of this instruction.

Heat transmission assembly 1730 is limited between separated madial wall 1732 and the lateral wall 1734.In this embodiment, heat energy efferent 104 comprises heat transmission assembly 1730 and madial wall 1732 and lateral wall 1734.Madial wall 1732 comprises similar basically to filling mouthful 1236 (referring to Figure 12) respectively one or more fillings mouthful 1735 (not shown) with optional lateral wall 1734.Alternatively, madial wall 1732 comprises a plurality of separated through holes 1740.Optionally the collar 1742 can be provided with around each through hole 1740.

TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) is sealed in the hollow interior region 1722 between the madial wall 1732 of housing 1720, combustor component 1712 and heat transmission assembly 1730.TES parts 1710 comprise a plurality of heat transfer unit (HTU)s 1758, and described heat transfer unit (HTU) is shown as from madial wall 1732 and extends and extend to hollow cylindrical heat pipe 1760 the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) towards combustor component 1712.Comprise among the embodiment of a plurality of separated through holes 1740 that at madial wall 1,732 one of can extend among in the through hole 1740 one or in through hole 1740 locates to stop each in a plurality of heat pipes 1760.In described embodiment, heat pipe 1760 is contained in the collar 1742.Therefore, heat pipe 1760 stops up through hole 1740 and prevents that TES medium 110 from entering heat transmission assembly 1730 by through hole 1740.

Forward Figure 17 to, combustor component 1712 has the inside 1730 that is divided into the part hollow of a plurality of hollow region 1732 by a plurality of branched bottoms 1734.Branched bottom 1734 can be embodied as fractal heat exchanger (fractal heatex changer).Each is configured to store the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) of additional quantity hollow region 1732.

In the branched bottom 1734 each all has the 1734A of first, the component 1734B of substantial linear, the second component 1734C of substantial linear and the 3rd component 1734D of substantial linear.Component 1734B is connected to the 1734A of first of substantial linear second and

third part

1734C and 1734D of substantial linear.

Hollow region 1732 is limited between the second and the 3rd component 1734C of substantial linear and the 1734D and between the adjacent branched bottom 1734.Among second component 1734C of the 1734A of first of substantial linear, substantial linear and the 3rd component 1734D of substantial linear each all has the tap 1736 in the outside 1738 that is formed on combustor component 1712.

Combustor component 1512 comprises the internal combustion chamber 1780 that is configured to be arranged in the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) and is surrounded by TES medium 110 at least in part.Internal combustion chamber 1780 can be identical with internal combustion chamber 1780 (referring to Figure 12) basically.Internal combustion chamber 1780 has one or more inlets 1782, and fuel and oxygen enter internal combustion chamber 1780 by described inlet.Internal combustion chamber 1780 also has one or more outlets 1784, and combustion product is discharged in the combustion chamber internally by described outlet.

Branched bottom 1734 is configured to guide all combustion products away from internal combustion chamber 1780.Each is connected to component 1734B with one in the outlet 1784 of internal combustion chamber 1780 1734A of first of substantial linear.Combustion product flow to the 1734A of first of substantial linear from exporting 1784.Outlet 1784 and/or branched bottom 1734 can be configured such that the combustion product of equivalent flows into each branched bottom 1734.At least a portion in the combustion product flows through each among the 1734A of first of substantial linear towards the outside 1738 of combustor component 1712, and the tap 1736 of the 1734A of first by substantial linear is discharged from combustor component 1512.

Component 1734B is connected to the 1734A of first of substantial linear the second and the

3rd component

1734C and 1734D of substantial linear.Remaining combustion product each from the 1734A of first of substantial linear flow among the component 1734B of the first that is connected to described substantial linear.Then, described remaining combustion product flow to the second and the

3rd component

1734C and 1734D of substantial linear from component 1734B.Branched bottom 1734 can be configured such that the combustion product of equivalent flows into the second and the 3rd component 1734C of substantial linear and each among the 1734D.At last, described remaining combustion product flows through the second and the

3rd component

1734C and 1734D of substantial linear towards the outside 1738 of combustor component 1712, and discharges from combustor component 1512 by the second and the 3rd component 1734C and the 1734D of substantial linear.

Therefore, branched bottom 1734 can be characterized as the guiding combustion product radially outward away from internal combustion chamber 1780 and leave tap 1736.Described combustion product heats the TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) in the hollow region 1732 when flowing through branched bottom 1734.

In the branched bottom 1734 each can be configured to the heat energy of substantially the same amount is transmitted to the TES medium 110 from combustion product.The second and the 3rd component 1734C of substantial linear and 1734D can be configured to the heat energy of substantially the same amount is transmitted to TES medium 110 from combustion product.Second component 1734C of the 1734A of first of substantial linear, substantial linear and the 3rd component 1734D of substantial linear can be embodied as the balance heat exchanger that is configured to the heat energy of substantially the same amount is transported to from combustion product TES medium 110.Further, second component 1734C of the 1734A of first of substantial linear, substantial linear and the 3rd component 1734D of substantial linear can be configured to more thermal energy is provided to the part of the periphery office that is positioned at close container 90 of TES medium 110, at Qi Chu, the volume of TES medium 110 increases.

Each all extends to heat pipe 1760 hollow region 1732 of combustor component 1712 from heat transmission assembly 1730.Each heat pipe 1760 all has the closed end 1790 that stops in the hollow region 1732 of combustor component 1712 one.When internal combustion chamber 1780 operation (, during thermal cycle), the closed end 1790 of the heat pipe 1760 adjacent with combustor component 1712 is sent to heat transmission assembly 1730 in combustion chamber 1780 internally with heat.When internal combustion chamber 1780 is not operated (for example, during cool cycles), the whole length of each in the heat pipe 1760 can be sent to heat transmission assembly 1730 from TES medium 110 (referring to Fig. 1) with heat.

The working fluid (not shown) can be arranged in the heat pipe 1760.It is desirable to add heat pipe capillary acting core (not shown) to contact parts with heat pipe work fluid.Heat pipe capillary acting core (not shown) can be formed in the inside of heat pipe 1760 by the annular knurl process.The heat pipe capillary acting core can comprise filter screen or the microgranular capillarity material that adds other parts to.

Figure 18 and Figure 19 have shown the optional embodiment of the TES device that uses with burner.TES device 1800 comprises the combustor component 1812 that is connected to TES parts 1710.TES device 1800 is similar basically to TES device 1700 (referring to Figure 16 and Figure 17).Yet combustor component 1812 is different from the combustor component 1712 of TES device 1700 for the tap 1736 of the inside of branched bottom 1734 and described branched bottom.In order to make explanation simple, identical Reference numeral has been used to represent identical parts in Figure 16-19.

In combustor component 1812, each in the branched bottom 1734 all comprises the 1734A of first, the component 1734B of substantial linear, the second component 1734C of substantial linear and the 3rd component 1734D of substantial linear.Component 1734B is connected to the 1734A of first of substantial linear the second and the

3rd component

1734C and 1734D of substantial linear.Hollow region 1732 is limited between the second and the 3rd component 1734C of substantial linear and the 1734D and between the adjacent branched bottom 1734.Among second component 1734C of the 1734A of first of substantial linear, substantial linear and the 3rd component 1734D of substantial linear each all has a plurality of taps 1820 in the outside 1822 that is formed on combustor component 1812.

In the 3rd component 1734D of the second component 1734C of at least a portion of the 1734A of first of substantial linear, substantial linear and substantial linear, each branched bottom 1734 can comprise the noggin piece 1830 adjacent with a plurality of tap 1820, and described noggin piece is filled the inside of branched bottom at least in part.The noggin piece 1830 that shows comprises the groove of aiming at each tap 1,820 1832, to provide away from the outlet 1784 of internal combustion chamber 1780 and the flow path used towards the confession combustion product of the outside 1822 of combustor component 1812.

The part 1840 of each in the branched bottom 1734 adjacent with noggin piece 1830 allows a Radial Flow in the combustion products outlet 1784 of combustion chamber 1780 internally in the 1734A of first of substantial linear, from the 1734A of the first Radial Flow of substantial linear to component 1734B, then the second and the

3rd component

1734C and 1734D from component 1734B Radial Flow to substantial linear.

Groove 1832 can be configured to limit combustion product from combustor component 1812 outside flowing.Further, the size of tap 1820 can be used to control flowing of combustion product spontaneous combustion device parts 1812.In described embodiment, the size of tap 1820 is diametrically along with increasing away from internal combustion chamber 1780.

Model result

Figure 20 shows has the TES device 2000 that embeds the internal combustion chamber 2010 in the TES medium 110.TES medium 110 and internal combustion chamber 2010 all are arranged in the TES medium holding vessel 2015.Internal combustion chamber 2010 has inlet 2012, and internal combustion chamber 2010 receives oxygen and JP fuel by described inlet.Internal combustion chamber 2010 makes oxygen and JP fuel combustion and generates combustion product.The diluent of being made up of combustion product also adds inlet 2012 places to.In this embodiment, the inlet 2012 that the air-flow of burner is reversed to allow combustion product to pass through axial positions is discharged in the combustion chamber 2010 internally, and wherein oxygen and JP fuel enter internal combustion chamber 2010 by described inlet.

TES device 2000 comprises the heat transmission assembly 2030 similar basically to aforesaid heat transmission assembly 150 (referring to Fig. 1).The heat that is sent to heat transmission assembly 2030 can be provided to external device (ED), for example the heater heating part 315A (referring to Fig. 4) of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 4).Alternatively, the heater heating part 315A (referring to Fig. 4) of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 4) can be integrally formed with heat transmission assembly 2030.

TES device 2000 comprises a plurality of heat pipes 2040, and described a plurality of heat pipes extend by TES medium 110 from heat transmission assembly 2030.In the heat pipe 2040 each can have at least one fin 2020 that extends towards internal combustion chamber 2010.Heat pipe 2040 and fin 2020 are striden across the heat energy heating that burner border (for example, striding across the sidewall of internal combustion chamber 2010) is sent to TES medium 110.Fin 2020 can contact internal combustion chamber 2010 so that directly heated by internal combustion chamber.

TES device 2000 also comprises one or more heat pipes 2042, and described heat pipe extends between heat transmission assembly 2030 and internal combustion chamber 2010 and heat energy is delivered directly to heat transmission assembly 2030 in combustion chamber 2010 internally.Fin 2050 extends to the TES medium 110 from heat pipe 2042.Heat energy is sent to the TES medium 110 from heat pipe 2042 by fin 2050.

The model of having developed two types is to simulate the performance of TES device 2000.In two kinds of models, the TES medium 110 of simulation is eutectic salt storage medium.First model is the first order modeling that utilizes MatLab Simulink environment to produce.This model splits into three major parts with internal combustion chamber 2010: combustion parts, mixing portion and flow back to part, and use lumped parameter model to be used for TES medium 110.This model can be used to assess the effect and the TES size of internal combustion chamber 2010; The quantity size and the hot property of heat-transfer fins and/or heat pipe; The thermodynamic behaviour of different TES media; And fill (thermal charge up) the required time about the burner rating and the heat of combustor efficiency.

Second model adopts the limited bulk expression formula of internal combustion chamber 2010 and TES medium 110, and uses CFD that chemical reaction is combined with heat transmission to the internal combustion chamber 2010 of the phase transformation performance of TES medium 110.This model can be used to estimate the specific factor of burner design and the specific setting of internal combustion chamber 2010, Stirling engine fin and

heat pipe

2040 and 2042, to guarantee combustion chamber 2010 to TES media 110 and the therefore transmission of the even volume energy of (for example, the heater head 315A that shows among Fig. 4) internally to the Stirling hot junction.

Below for being used to simulate the volume transient response of TES medium 110:

V _TESρ _TES?d?h _TES/dt＝A _Stirling?h _{Stir_TES}(T _Stirling-T _TES)+

∑h _{Comb_Stage}{A _{Comb_Stage}(T _Stage-T _TES)+ (1)

N _Fins?A _Fins?η _Fins(T _Stage-T _TES)}

The fin thermal efficiency (" η wherein _Fin") simulate by following formula:

η _Fin＝[(h _Fin?P _Fin)/(k _Fin?A _Fin) ^1/2L _Fin] ^-1tanh[(h _Fin?P _Fin)/

(k _Fin?A _Fin) ^1/2?L _Fin] (2)

The temperature of TES medium is associated with heat content by following formula:

If h _TES＜=C _{P_TES}(T _{MP_TES}-T _Ref)

T then _TES=h _TES/ C _{P_TES}+ T _Ref

If C _{P_TES}(T _{MP_TES}-T _Ref)＜h _TES＜C _{P_TES}(T _{MP_TES}-T _Ref)+h _{FG_TES}(3)

T then _TES=T _{MP_TES}

If C _{P_TES}(T _{MP_TES}-T _Ref)+h _{FG_TES}＜=h _TES

T then _TES=(h _TES-h _{FG_TES})/C _{P_TES}+ T _Ref

Energy is by directly combustion chamber 2010 and fin 2020 are sent to TES medium 110 internally.As mentioned above, internal combustion chamber 2010 is broken down into three virtual parts; Combustion parts, mixing portion and return flow line part.Combustion parts comprises because the energy that chemical reaction produces increases, and the mixing portion explanation is descended by the temperature that the increase of the combustion product of the recycling that is used to cool off causes.The part that refluxes is meant the reverse flow passage of specified design quantity, and described reverse flow passage guides combustion product again from TES medium 110.Term " temperature-sensitive element " (" TE ") is meant that the solid combustion device housing that joins with each part correlation is also by following equation thermal simulation:

V _TEρ _TEC _{P_TE}?d?T _TE/dt＝A _{C_Int}?h _{C_TE}(T _C-T _TE)+h _{Comb_Stage}{A _{Comb_Stage}(T _TES

-T _TE)+N _Fins?A _Finsη _Fins(T _TES-T _TE)} (4)

Burning gas temperature is obtained by the current stabilization first energy balance law.Because the markers that hypothesis is relevant with the change of gas temperature is very fast with respect to the markers of burner wall or TES medium 110, therefore do not use the transition formula.Use following equation to be used for the combustion zone part:

m _O2?C _{P_O2}(T _{IN_O2}-T _Ref)+m _HC[C _{P_HC}(T _{IN_HC}-T _Ref)+H _Rxn]+m _D?C _{P_D}

(T _{IN_D}-T _Ref)＝m _H2O?C _{P_H2O}(T _C-T _Ref)+m _CO2?C _{P_CO2}(T _C-T _Ref)+m _D?C _{P_D}

(T _C-T _Ref)+A _{C_Int}?h _{C_Int}(T _C-T _TE)+A _{C_Int}?h _Rad(T _Rad-T _TE) (5)

H wherein _RAD=σ ε (T _TE+ T _Rad) (T _TE ²+ T _Rad ²) (6)

The CFD model of Stirling engine thermal source is realized by CFD code CFDS-FLOW3D.This code has been extensive use of by ARL and has surpassed 15 years, and has made amendment at the ARL place to simulate the burning such as the HC fuel of JP5, JP8 and JP10; And execution fusing and solidification simulation.CFDS-FLOW3D has been used for current application, so that pass through the heating of the combustion simulation phase transformation TES storage medium of the hydrocarbon/oxygen in the additional combustion device.Described model comprises that chemical reaction, the surface heat by the heat transmission that matches (conjugate heat transfer) of internal combustion chamber 2010 to TES media 110, phase transformation in the TES medium and expansion transmit submodel.Described model moves with transient mode, makes the amount that is stored in the energy in the TES medium 110 increase in time.

The model result of the performance of internal combustion chamber 2010 and TES medium 110 is presented among Figure 21-25.In Figure 21-25, the TES medium 110 that uses is LiF/NaF/MgF ₂Eutectic.LiF/NaF/MgF ₂Eutectic has following characteristic:

Fusing point 966K

Melting heat 690kJ/kg

Density 2600kg/m ³

Thermal conductivity 11.3W/mK

Specific heat 1.549kJ/kgK

Figure 21 has shown the performance of TES device 2000 (referring to Figure 20) under interested all temps.Figure 21 comprises three charts.The highest chart shows the temperature that TES medium 110 (referring to Figure 20) changed along with the time, and middle plot shows the ignition temperature along with the time variation in the internal combustion chamber 2010 (referring to Figure 20).The chart of bottommost shows along with the temperature of the combustion product (" returning ") of combustion chamber internally 2010 (referring to Figure 20) discharge of time variation and by the fuel that enters of recovery (" recover ") acquisition and the temperature of oxidant.

The period that is in plateau 2110 expression internal combustion chamber 2010 (referring to Figure 20) operation of ignition temperature or " startup " and heats TES medium 110.The self-operated thermostatic controller model is attached in the described model.For these calculating, when the temperature of TES medium drops to the freezing point that is lower than TES medium 110/fusing point 10K, internal combustion chamber 2010 (referring to Figure 20) is by " startup ", and when described temperature was the freezing point that exceeds TES medium 110/fusing point 10K, described internal-combustion device was " closed ".This logic produces the outburst 2120 in the TES temperature.

Figure 22 has shown the power that flows through TES device 2000.Under aforesaid state, internal combustion chamber 2010 (referring to Figure 20) produces the power (plateau 2210) of 60kW off and on, and described power can be used for producing from the Stirling engine 315 (supposing that thermodynamic efficiency is 40%) that figure shows the nominal current stabilization of 3kW power (straight line 2220).

The top of Figure 23 shows energy accumulating and the extraction from TES medium 110 (referring to Figure 20), and the bottom of Figure 23 shows instantaneous JP10 fuel consumption.

Figure 24 and Figure 25 have shown the ability of first order modeling execution design evaluation.Figure 24 has shown the total efficiency of combustion that depends on as the amount of the combustion product of the recycling of diluent.For maximal efficiency, it is desirable to combustion chamber 2010 and under possible maximum temperature, move.This requires to relax by the requirement that increases diluent, melts or forms other fire damage to prevent internal combustion chamber 2010 (and other parts that prevent TES device 2000 possibly).

Figure 24 has also shown the mode that efficient increases along with the increase of the thermal conductivity of heat-transfer area (for example, fin 2020).The conductivity of standard baseline (that is, relative fin conductive rate=1) is the conductivity of copper.1/10 numerical value of standard baseline (that is, relative fin conductive rate=0.1) is applicable to stainless steel, and has shown the decline significantly of efficient.By using heat pipe (for example, heat pipe 2040 and/or 2042) to obtain effective thermal conductivity is increased with the factor of 10-100.When for (promptly with the conductivity of 10 times of increases, relative fin conductive rate=10) when observing the raising of efficient, indicate the improvement of the conductivity of " investment return " that begin to produce minimizing for curve with the conductivity of 100 times of increases (that is, relative fin conductive rate=100).

Figure 25 shows total efficiency of combustion of the running power that depends on internal combustion chamber 2010.The Rapid Thermal of TES medium 110 is filled if desired, then needs higher power level, and if internal combustion chamber 2010 continuous services then adopt reduced levels (equal obtain by Stirling engine 315 level).The importance of result among Figure 25 is that this result demonstrates for the foreseeable optimum operation clearly of specific burner design/geometry power.If too high, there is excessive heat energy in the combustion product stream of then in combustion chamber 2010 internally, discharging for internal combustion chamber 2010 power levels.If power level is low excessively, then energy is not sent to TES medium 110 effectively.

The result of Figure 25 also demonstrates and obtain higher efficient when the quantity of the heat pipe that is connected to internal combustion chamber 2010 increases.Yet, similarly warn also suitable here with the situation that Figure 24 is indicated; Producing unpractical little efficient at some some places that increase heat pipe quantity increases.The position size of optimum level along with the efficient that transfers the energy to TES medium 110 reduce also to show reduce.

Also use lithium hydride (" LiH ") to calculate as TES medium 110.This material is because its superior energy storage properties, and particularly it is based on the big melting heat of quality and specific heat and chosen.LiH has following characteristic:

Fusing point 962.2K

Melting heat 2842kJ/kg

Density 820kg/m ³

Thermal conductivity 1.38W/m/K

Specific heat 2.562kJ/kg/K

Therefore, the fusing point of LiH is approximately 962K, and described fusing point is lower than LiF/NaF/MgF slightly ₂The fusing point that is approximately 966K of eutectic.The specific heat of LiH and the latent heat of fusion surpass LiF/NaFMgF with 4.3 and 4.1 factors respectively ₂The specific heat of eutectic and the latent heat of fusion.Though the energy density of LiH (approximately between 960K and the about 1240K) only is LiF/NaF/MgF ₂1.03 times of the energy density of eutectic, but the energy density of LiH is also bigger.LiH is with respect to LiF/NaF/MgF ₂The principal benefits of eutectic is its low-density.LiH and LiF/NaF/MgF ₂Solid/fusion proportion be respectively 0.82/0.55 and 2.8/2.0.Require (ballasting requirement) not strict for LiH system ballasting.Temperature and power flow characteristic indicate the LiH medium with respect to LiF/NaF/MgF ₂Eutectic provides increases by 20% duration (is the increase of stroke for delivery vehicle).

The automatic temperature-control controller that previous calculating is to use maintenance TES medium 110 to be in the two-phase state is made.Enter its liquid temperature well if TES medium 110 is heated to, then will obtain extra energy.In order to adopt this method of operating, Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) can use the controller (not shown), with the heat import-restriction to similar basically to the heat that receives from two-phase TES medium.In described model, because the boiling temperature of LiH is 1245K, therefore when the temperature of TES medium 110 reached 1240K, the controller (not shown) was changed into and is turned off internal combustion chamber 2010.Because the low relatively boiling point of LiH, the temperature of the latent heat of this combination and sensible heat system and provide power performance to show respectively with respect to LiF/NaF/MgF ₂Eutectic and LiH medium scope increase by 47% and 24%.

LiF/NaF/MgF ₂The boiling point of eutectic is not known, still is assumed that to be approximately equal to 1950K (based on the boiling point of LiF).Owing to exist to damage the danger of internal combustion chamber 2010, heat-transfer area (for example, fin 2020) and TES medium holding vessel 2015, so be inappropriate near TES medium 110 is heated to this temperature.If the maximum temperature of TES medium 110 is limited in about 1600K, then the increase with respect to the scope of two-phase eutectic system is approximately equal to 43% (still less than the increase of adopting the observed scope of LiH).

In described model, the diameter of internal combustion chamber 2010 is 1 inch and long 4 inches.Combustion product by with Figure 12 in the similar discharge line of the passage (for example, a plurality of first flow channels 1290, a plurality of second flow channel 1300, interior annular passing away 1294A and outer ring passing away 1294B) that shows discharge combustion chamber 2010 internally.At the head of internal combustion chamber 2010 (promptly, part in the face of heat transmission assembly 2030) locates, combustion product returns (that is, leaving TES device 2000) by four pipeline (not shown), described four pipelines be approximately 0.5 inch high and have 40 the degree circumferential widths.Therefore, total movable length of burning gases is approximately 8 inches.Entering air-flow is made up of the oxygen of 50lbm/ hour JP8 jet fuel, 172lbm/ hour and 1240lbm/ hour combustion product under the temperature of 485F.Chamber pressure is 450psi.These flox conditions are used to produce the nominal burner rating of 64kW and the power of 7.5kW is sent to Stirling hot junction (for example, the heater head 315A that shows among Fig. 4).Burner wall is formed by the stainless steel structure.

Turn back to Figure 20, in TES medium holding vessel 2015, TES medium 110 has about 12 inches of the head of about 10 inches diameter and extend past internal combustion chamber 2010.The heat transmission of the wall of TES medium 110 by crossing internal combustion chamber 2010 also is heated by heat pipe 2042, and described heat pipe has about 0.4 inch diameter and extends along the center of TES medium 110.Heat pipe 2042 is assumed to be fabulous conductor, and the temperature of described heat pipe reaches the temperature of combustion product at the head place of internal combustion chamber 2010.In order to strengthen heat transmission further, eight fin 2050 extend out to the outward flange of TES medium 110 from heat pipe 2042.Fin 2050 is assumed to be and is made of copper.Use the one dimensional heat transfer theory of the classics that propose by Incropera and Dewitt to calculate from the heat transmission of fin 2050 to TES media 110.

When TES medium 110 is LiF-NaF-MgF ₂The time, the TES medium is initially under the uniform temperature of 900K as primary condition.Therefore, suppose that TES medium 110 has experienced many heating in advance and begun to analyze.TES medium 110 reaches melt temperature rapidly, but fusion process is because described melting heat and very slow.When TES medium 110 is in its fusing point following time, the energy that is increased by internal combustion chamber 2010 is absorbed by the phase transformation from the solid to liquid of TES medium 110.Therefore, when the TES medium melted, the fusion volume of TES medium 110 increased, and solid volume reduces.

Execution is to discharging by LiF-NaF-MgF ₂The eutectic energy stored is so that the analysis of Stirling engine 315 (referring to Fig. 3) running.For this part analysis, therefore 2010 inoperation of case of internal combustion chamber also make that heat can not be added to TES medium 110 during this period.LiF-NaF-MgF ₂Primary condition under 1100K, being identical, make TES medium 110 melt fully.Suppose that in this temperature that the head (adjacent with internal combustion chamber 2010) of eutectic part is located is 900K, and between LiF-NaF-MgF2 eutectic and described head heat transmission is taken place.

By being positioned at LiF-NaF-MgF ₂Eight heat pipes 2040 at the outer radius place of eutectic carry out heat transmission.Heat pipe 2040 whole length along TES medium holding vessel 2015 in solid TES medium 110 is extended.Copper radiating rib 2020 extends (perhaps extending to the stainless steel wall of internal combustion chamber 2010) from each heat pipe 2040 towards the center of TES medium 110.Suppose that each heat pipe 2040 all is fabulous conductor, and described heat pipe is assumed to be 800K along the temperature of the whole length of TES medium 110.Phase transformation from liquid to the solid discharges the heat energy that stores from TES medium 110.

When TES medium 110 is LiH, the flow of geometry and burner and LiF-NaF-MgF ₂The geometry that adopts during eutectic is analyzed is identical with the flow of burner.Suppose that (that is, primary condition LiH) is under the uniform temperature of 900K to TES medium 110.Energy discharge to be analyzed as for LiF-NaF-MgF ₂What eutectic carried out.Though the energy storage based on volume is roughly the same for described two kinds of materials, be noted that the thermal conductivity ratio LiF-NaF-MgF of LiH ₂Almost low two factors of the thermal conductivity that eutectic uses.This can be so that being connected to the fin 2020 of heating tube 2040 conducts energy to come out from TES medium 110 not too effectively, and will trend towards reducing to extract from the TES medium speed of heat.This causes lower cooldown rate.

The exemplary TES device 10,200,400,500,800,900,1000,1100,1200,1500,1700,1800 and 2000 that heat energy is transported to TES medium 110 and carries the heat energy heat transfer unit (HTU) of heat energy from TES medium 110 of being used for various quantity and structure has been described.As previously discussed, these heat transfer unit (HTU)s can be embodied as hollow tube, elongated cylinder, be formed on the circular passage between the pair of sidewalls, the passage that extends radially outwardly and similar device.Further, described various heat transfer unit (HTU) can comprise that the heat loss through conduction sheet is to increase the amount of the surface area that forms the interface between heat transfer unit (HTU) and the TES medium 110.

As previously discussed, TES medium 110 is positioned in the relatively large container (for example, container 90).Therefore, the heat transfer unit (HTU) that passes internal tank helps to guarantee that TES medium 110 surpasses preset distance (for example, approximately 1-2 inch) without any part away from the heat energy heat transfer unit (HTU).This layout helps to guarantee that heat energy (1) is distributed in the block TES medium 110 effectively, and (2) extract heat energy from block TES medium 110 effectively.Person of skill in the art will appreciate that the optional structure of the heat transfer unit (HTU) except the device that clearly presents at this also can be used to obtain this result, and therefore in the protection domain of this instruction.

Further, in all exemplary embodiments, except TES device 200, demonstrated the heat energy input part and located with the relative end that the heat energy efferent is positioned at the TES device.There is many being shown as to have elongated hydrostatic column in these TES devices.In these embodiments, heat transfer unit (HTU) substantial linear extension between the opposed end of TES device has been described, to limit along the heat energy flow direction of the longitudinal axis of elongated hydrostatic column.One skilled in the art will appreciate that heat transfer unit (HTU) can not be configured such that can axially transmit heat energy along described longitudinal axis.For example, those skilled in the art is by being applied to this instruction, and the TES device can be configured to transmit to the TES medium or from the non axial heat that the TES medium comes out.This unsymmetric structure of heat transfer unit (HTU) can be provided with as required or be oriented between heat energy input part and the heat energy efferent.In addition, the global shape of the container of TES device can change according to system's needs.Though shown cylindrical structural, also can use other extrusion shapes, the circumference of for example square, rectangle, triangle, ellipse, trapezoidal or any other sealing.

Exemplary TES device 10,200,400,500,800,900,1000,1100,1200,1500,1700,1800 and 2000 also has been illustrated as has heat transmission assembly (for example, the heat transmission assembly 150) at its heat energy efferent place.In certain embodiments, the heat transmission assembly comprises also the working fluid that can circulate in the inside of at least a portion of heat transfer unit (HTU).Be sent to the independent heat energy contribution of the independent heat transfer unit (HTU) that heat energy is sent to before the external equipment heat transmission assembly by being combined in heat energy, the heat transmission assembly helps to reduce the focus and the thermograde at the heat energy efferent place of TES device.Person of skill in the art will appreciate that the optional structure of the heat transmission assembly except that the heat transmission assembly that clearly presents also can be used to obtain this result here, and therefore in the protection domain of this instruction.

The above embodiments have illustrated the different parts that are contained in other different parts or are connected with different other parts.Will be understood that this illustrative structures only for exemplary, and in fact can adopt many other structures that obtain identical function.Under the concept nature implication, any layout that obtains the parts of identical function " is associated " effectively, the function that feasible acquisition needs.Therefore, can be regarded as " association " mutually with any two parts that obtain specific function, the function that make needs and need not consider structure or intermediate member in this combination.Similarly, so related any two parts can also be considered as " being operably connected " mutually or " operationally linking " function need to obtain.

Though shown and specific embodiments of the invention be described; but to those skilled in the art it is evident that according to the instruction here can do not deviate from the present invention and broad thereof aspect make a change as required and revise; therefore, appended claim is included in all this change and the modifications in true spirit of the present invention and the protection domain in its protection domain.In addition, will be understood that the present invention is only defined by the appended claims.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, generally speaking, term used herein, especially appended claim (for example, the main body of appended claim) term that uses in (is for example roughly represented " open " term, term " comprises " should be interpreted as " including but not limited to ", and term " has " should be interpreted as " having at least " or the like).Those skilled in the art is further understood that if want the introducing claim statement of specific quantity, then this purpose will clearly be put down in writing in the claims, and not have this purpose then not have this description.For example, in order to help to understand, below appended claim can comprise and be used to introduce the guiding word " at least one " of claim statement and the use of " one or more ".Yet, even comprise guiding word " one or more " or " at least " and indefinite article in identical claim, for example " one " (for example, " one " should typically be understood that expression " at least one " or " one or more ") time, the use of this word will can not be understood that hint introduces any specific claim that the claim statement of indefinite article " " will contain this introducing claim statement and be restricted to the invention that only contains a this statement; This also is applicable to the definite article that is used to introduce the claim statement.In addition, even clearly put down in writing the claim statement of the introducing of specific quantity, those skilled in the art also will recognize that, this statement should be understood that to represent at least described quantity (for example, not having less at least two of the ordinary representations of enumerating of other modification " enumerating for two " to state or two or more statements) usually.

Therefore, the present invention is not subjected to any restriction except claims.

Claims

1. thermal energy storage device comprises:

The heat energy input part;

The heat energy efferent;

The thermal energy storage medium;

First interior chamber, described first interior chamber connect described heat energy input part and described heat energy efferent, and the continuous volume content between described heat energy input part and described heat energy efferent is received described thermal energy storage medium;

At least one first heat energy transfer member, described at least one first heat energy transfer member extends to the described thermal energy storage medium that is contained in described first interior chamber from described heat energy efferent, and described at least one first heat energy transfer member is configured to heat energy is transported to the described thermal energy storage medium from described heat energy efferent; And

At least one second heat energy transfer member, described at least one second heat energy transfer member extends between described heat energy input part and described heat energy efferent, and is configured to heat energy is delivered directly to described heat energy efferent from described heat energy input part.

2. thermal energy storage device according to claim 1, wherein, at least one second heat energy transfer member and the thermal insulation of described thermal energy storage medium are passed to described thermal energy storage medium with restriction heat energy from described at least one second heat energy transfer member.

3. thermal energy storage device according to claim 2 also comprises:

Second interior chamber, described second interior chamber is adjacent with described first interior chamber and isolate with described thermal energy storage medium, thereby described at least one second heat energy transfer member be positioned at described second interior chamber also with the thermal insulation of described thermal energy storage medium.

4. thermal energy storage device according to claim 3 also comprises the heat guard that is arranged in described second interior chamber.

5. thermal energy storage device according to claim 2, wherein:

Described at least one first heat energy transfer member comprises a plurality of first heat pipes, in described a plurality of first heat pipe each is all held working fluid, and the working fluid that is contained in each in described a plurality of first heat pipe is isolated with the working fluid in other first heat pipe that is contained in described a plurality of first heat pipe;

Described at least one second heat energy transfer member comprises a plurality of second heat pipes, in described a plurality of second heat pipe each is all held working fluid, and the working fluid that is contained in each in described a plurality of second heat pipe is isolated with the working fluid in other second heat pipe that is contained in described a plurality of second heat pipe;

Described heat energy efferent comprises the output heat pipe that holds working fluid, and the working fluid of described output heat pipe is isolated with the working fluid that is contained in the working fluid in described a plurality of first heat pipe and be contained in described a plurality of second heat pipe; And

Described heat energy input part comprises the input heat pipe that holds working fluid, and the working fluid of described input heat pipe is isolated with the working fluid that is contained in described a plurality of second heat pipe.

6. thermal energy storage device according to claim 5, wherein:

The first end of each in described a plurality of second heat pipe extends in the described input heat pipe;

The second end of each in described a plurality of second heat pipe extends in the described output heat pipe; And

The first end of each in described a plurality of first heat pipe extends in the described output heat pipe.

7. thermal energy storage device according to claim 1, wherein, described heat energy efferent comprises first heat pipe with end, described at least one second heat energy transfer member is configured to heat energy is transported to the described end of described first heat pipe, and described at least one second heat energy transfer member is configured to carry the described end of heat energy away from described first heat pipe.

8. thermal energy storage device according to claim 7, wherein, described heat energy input part comprises second heat pipe with end, described at least one first heat energy transfer member is configured to carry the described end of heat energy away from described second heat pipe.

9. thermal energy storage device according to claim 8, wherein:

The described end of described first heat pipe has first temperature;

The described end of described second heat pipe has second temperature;

Described at least one first heat energy transfer member is configured to heat energy is transported to having the part less than the temperature of described first temperature of described thermal energy storage medium from the described end of described first heat pipe;

Described at least one first heat energy transfer member further is configured to the have described end that greater than the part of the temperature of described first temperature be transported to described first heat pipe of heat energy from described thermal energy storage medium; And

When described at least one second heat energy transfer member is formed at described second temperature greater than described first temperature, heat energy is delivered directly to the described end of described first heat pipe from the described end of described second heat pipe.

10. thermal energy storage device according to claim 1, wherein, described thermal energy storage medium comprises low-energy state, saturation state and higher-energy state, described thermal energy storage medium is a solid phase being in described low-energy state following time, being in described saturation state following time is the mixture of solid phase and liquid phase, and is liquid phase being in described higher-energy state following time.

11. thermal energy storage device according to claim 1, wherein, described at least one first heat energy transfer member comprises a plurality of heat pipes that are arranged in described first interior chamber.

12. thermal energy storage device according to claim 1, described thermal energy storage device uses with solar thermal collector, wherein, described heat energy input part is configured to receive heat energy and the heat energy that receives is sent to described at least one second heat energy transfer member from described solar thermal collector.

13. thermal energy storage device according to claim 1, described thermal energy storage device uses with the combustion chamber, wherein, described heat energy input part is configured to be sent to described at least one second heat energy transfer member from described combustion chamber reception heat energy and with the heat energy that receives.

14. thermal energy storage device according to claim 1, described thermal energy storage device uses with the Stirling engine that comprises the heat energy acceptance division, wherein, described heat energy efferent is configured to heat energy is sent to the described heat energy acceptance division of described Stirling engine.

15. a thermal energy storage device that uses with external equipment, described thermal energy storage device comprises:

First working fluid;

The heat receiving unit, described heat receiving unit comprises the first of heat input part, heat efferent and described first working fluid, the first that described heat input part is configured to receive heat energy and described heat energy is sent to described first working fluid;

Second working fluid;

The heat transmission assembly, described heat transmission assembly comprises the first of heat input part, heat efferent and described second working fluid, described heat transmission assembly and described heat receiving unit are separated;

Thermal energy storage medium, described thermal energy storage medium are positioned between described heat receiving unit and the described heat transmission assembly;

A plurality of first heat energy transfer members, described a plurality of first heat energy transfer member extends to the described thermal energy storage medium from the described heat efferent of described heat receiving unit, the described heat efferent of described heat receiving unit is configured to receive heat energy and described heat energy is sent to described a plurality of first heat energy transfer member from the first of described first working fluid, and described a plurality of first heat energy transfer members are configured to heat energy is transported to described thermal energy storage medium from the described heat efferent of described heat receiving unit; With

A plurality of second heat energy transfer members, described a plurality of second heat energy transfer member extends to the described thermal energy storage medium from the described heat input part of described heat transmission assembly, described a plurality of second heat energy transfer member is configured to the described heat input part of heat energy from described thermal energy storage medium transport to described heat transmission assembly, the described heat input part of described heat transmission assembly is configured to receive heat energy and described heat energy is sent to the first of described second working fluid, and the described heat efferent of described heat transmission assembly is configured to receive heat energy and the heat energy that receives is sent to described external equipment from the first of described second working fluid.

16. thermal energy storage device according to claim 15, wherein, described thermal energy storage medium comprises low-energy state, saturation state and higher-energy state, described thermal energy storage medium is a solid phase being in described low-energy state following time, being in described saturation state following time is the mixture of solid phase and liquid phase, and is liquid phase being in described higher-energy state following time.

17. thermal energy storage device according to claim 15, wherein:

In described a plurality of first heat energy transfer member each all comprises the inner passage, described inner passage holds the second portion of described first working fluid and has the open end that is communicated with the first of described first working fluid of described heat receiving unit, and described open end is configured to allow described first working fluid to flow between described inner passage and described heat receiving unit; And

Described a plurality of first heat energy transfer member is configured at least in part by allowing described first working fluid mobile between the inner passage of described heat receiving unit and described a plurality of first heat energy transfer members, and heat energy is transported to described thermal energy storage medium from the described heat efferent of described heat receiving unit.

18. thermal energy storage device according to claim 15, wherein:

In described a plurality of second heat energy transfer member each all comprises the inner passage, described inner passage holds the second portion of described second working fluid and has the open end that is communicated with the first of described second working fluid of described heat transmission assembly, and described open end is configured to allow described second working fluid to flow between described inner passage and described heat transmission assembly; And

Described a plurality of second heat energy transfer member is configured at least in part by allowing described second working fluid mobile between the inner passage of described a plurality of second heat energy transfer members and the described heat transmission assembly, with the described heat input part of heat energy from described thermal energy storage medium transport to described heat transmission assembly.

19. thermal energy storage device according to claim 15, wherein:

Described a plurality of first heat energy transfer member comprises the cylindrical member of a plurality of first arranged concentric;

Described a plurality of second heat energy transfer member comprises the cylindrical member of a plurality of second arranged concentric;

The cylindrical member of described a plurality of first arranged concentric is concentric with the cylindrical member of described a plurality of second arranged concentric; And

The cylindrical member of described a plurality of first arranged concentric becomes to interlock patterned arrangement in described thermal energy storage medium with the cylindrical member of described a plurality of second arranged concentric.

20. thermal energy storage device according to claim 15, described thermal energy storage device uses with external device (ED), described external device (ED) comprises the Stirling engine with heater head, wherein, the described heat efferent of described heat transmission assembly comprises the described heater head of described Stirling engine.

21. an electric heating system comprises:

Thermal energy storage device, described thermal energy storage device comprise the thermal energy storage medium that stores continuous volume container, heat energy input part, with the separated heat energy efferent of described heat energy input part and a plurality of heat energy transfer member, at least one from described heat energy input part and described heat energy efferent of each in described a plurality of heat energy transfer members extends in the described thermal energy storage medium;

Solar energy collecting assembly, described solar energy collecting assembly are configured to collect the heat energy that the sun produces, and the heat energy of collecting are sent to the described heat energy input part of described thermal energy storage device; With

The TRT that heat energy drives, the TRT that described heat energy drives is connected to the described heat energy efferent of described thermal energy storage device, and is configured to receive heat energy and produce electric power by the heat energy that receives from the described heat energy efferent of described thermal energy storage device,

The first of described a plurality of heat energy transfer members is configured to heat energy is sent to described thermal energy storage medium to store from described heat energy input part, and the second portion of described a plurality of heat energy transfer members is configured to the heat energy that described thermal energy storage medium stores is sent to from described thermal energy storage medium the described heat energy efferent of described thermal energy storage device.

22. electric heating system according to claim 21, wherein, described thermal energy storage medium comprises low-energy state, saturation state and higher-energy state, described thermal energy storage medium is a solid phase being in described low-energy state following time, being in described saturation state following time is the mixture of solid phase and liquid phase, and is liquid phase being in described higher-energy state following time.

23. electric heating system according to claim 21, wherein, the described first of described a plurality of heat energy transfer members is different from the described second portion of described a plurality of heat energy transfer members.

24. electric heating system according to claim 21, wherein, the third part of described a plurality of heat energy transfer members is configured to heat energy directly is sent to described heat energy efferent from described heat energy input part.

25. a heat energy that uses with fuel and external device (ED) produces and storage device, described device comprises:

Be configured to the thermal energy storage medium of the continuous volume of heat energy storage, described thermal energy storage medium has first and is different from the second portion of described first;

Container, described container hold the described second portion of described thermal energy storage medium;

Fuel assembly, the first that described fuel assembly is connected to described container and holds described thermal energy storage medium, described fuel assembly comprises the combustion chamber in the first that is positioned at described thermal energy storage medium, and described combustion chamber is constructed such that described fuel combustion is to produce heat energy and heated combustion product;

A plurality of heat energy transfer members, in described a plurality of heat energy transfer member each all has first transport portion and second transport portion, described first transport portion extends along described combustion chamber in the first of described thermal energy storage medium, described first transport portion is configured to receive the part of the heat energy that described combustion chamber produces and this heat energy is transported to described second transport portion, and described second transport portion extends in the described second portion of described thermal energy storage medium, and a part that is configured to heat energy that described second transport portion is received is transported to the second portion of described thermal energy storage medium to store; With

The heat energy efferent, described heat energy efferent is connected to described container, and is configured to extract the heat energy that the second portion by described thermal energy storage medium stores and the heat energy that will extract outputs to described external device (ED).

26. heat energy according to claim 25 produces and storage device, wherein, described thermal energy storage medium comprises low-energy state, saturation state and higher-energy state, described thermal energy storage medium is a solid phase being in described low-energy state following time, being in described saturation state following time is the mixture of solid phase and liquid phase, and is liquid phase being in described higher-energy state following time.

27. heat energy according to claim 25 produces and storage device, wherein, described fuel assembly also comprises a plurality of passing aways, described a plurality of passing away is configured to the heated combustion product that described combustion chamber produces is directed to described fuel assembly outside, and described a plurality of passing aways further are configured to heat energy is transmitted to from described heated combustion product the first of described thermal energy storage medium.

28. heat energy according to claim 27 produces and storage device, wherein, each in described a plurality of passing aways all comprises component.

29. heat energy according to claim 27 produces and storage device, wherein, described fuel assembly comprises the peripheral part around first's setting of described thermal energy storage medium, and described a plurality of passing away is configured to and the comparing with described combustion chamber adjacent areas of the first of described thermal energy storage medium, more thermal energy is transmitted to first and the described peripheral part adjacent areas described fuel assembly of described thermal energy storage medium.

30. heat energy according to claim 27 produces and storage device, wherein, described first transport portion of described a plurality of heat energy transfer members extends between the adjacent part of described a plurality of passing aways, reception is transmitted to the part of heat energy of the first of described thermal energy storage medium by described a plurality of passing aways, and the heat energy that receives is transported to described second transport portion, described second transport portion is transported to described heat energy the second portion of described thermal energy storage medium to store.

31. heat energy according to claim 25 produces and storage device, wherein:

Described combustion chamber also comprises at least one outlet, and described heated combustion product is discharged from described combustion chamber by described at least one outlet;

Described fuel assembly also comprises outer surface and extends inward into a plurality of branches passing away the first of described thermal energy storage medium from described outer surface;

In the described branch passing away each all comprises first section that is connected to a plurality of branches section;

Described at least one outlet of described first section and described combustion chamber is adjacent, and be configured to receive described heated combustion product from described at least one outlet, at least a portion that described first section further is configured to the described heated combustion product that will receive is directed in described a plurality of branches section;

In described first section and the described a plurality of branches section each all comprises the tap that is formed in the described outer surface, and described heated combustion product is discharged from described branch passing away by described tap; And

Described a plurality of branches passing away further is configured to heat energy is transmitted to from described heated combustion product the first of described thermal energy storage medium.

32. heat energy according to claim 31 produces and storage device, wherein, each in described a plurality of branches section of described branch passing away is configured to the heat energy of substantially the same amount is transmitted to from described combustion product the first of described thermal energy storage medium.

33. heat energy according to claim 31 produces and storage device, wherein, each in described first section of described branch passing away is configured to the described heated combustion product that receives of equivalent basically is directed in described a plurality of branches section.

34. heat energy according to claim 25 produces and storage device, wherein:

Described combustion chamber also comprises at least one outlet, and described heated combustion product is discharged from described combustion chamber by described at least one outlet; And

Described fuel assembly also comprises outer surface and extends inward into a plurality of branches passing away the first of described thermal energy storage medium from described outer surface that each in described a plurality of branches passing away further extends radially outwardly from described combustion chamber;

In described a plurality of branches passing away each all comprises first section that is connected to a plurality of branches section and extends to channel member described first section and the described a plurality of branches section from described outer surface;

Described at least one outlet of described first section and described combustion chamber is adjacent, and be configured to receive described heated combustion product from described at least one outlet, described first section further is configured to the radial directed of the described heated combustion product that will receive in described a plurality of branches section;

In described first section and the described a plurality of branches section each all comprises a plurality of taps that are formed in the described outer surface, and described heated combustion product is discharged from described branch passing away by described tap;

In described first section and described a plurality of branches section, described channel member comprise with described tap in each groove of aiming at;

Described groove is configured to limit described heated combustion product by described first section and described a plurality of branches section and flowing from described tap discharge; And

35. heat energy according to claim 25 produces and storage device, wherein:

Described container comprises inner surface;

In described a plurality of heat energy transfer member each all is connected to described inner surface and is configured to thermal energy conduction to described inner surface;

Described heat energy efferent also comprises the vaporium adjacent with the described inner surface of described container;

Described vaporium comprises working fluid and outer surface; And

Described working fluid is configured to collect the heat energy that is transmitted to described inner surface by described a plurality of conductors, and equably the heat energy distribution of collecting is arrived the described outer surface of described vaporium basically.

36. heat energy according to claim 35 produces and storage device, wherein, the described outer surface of described vaporium comprises the heater head of Stirling engine.

37. method of using with external device (ED) and thermal energy storage device, described external device (ED) comprises that input part and can operating is used to control the temperature control part of the operating temperature of described input part, described thermal energy storage device comprises the thermal energy storage medium and the first heat energy conveying assembly, the described first heat energy conveying assembly is connected to the described input part of described external device (ED) and extends in the part with medium temperature of described thermal energy storage medium, the described first heat energy conveying assembly is configured to heat energy is transported to lower temperature region from the higher temperature district, said method comprising the steps of:

Locate in the very first time, regulate the described temperature control part of described external device (ED), be set to first temperature with operating temperature with the described input part of described external device (ED), described first temperature extends to the described medium temperature of described part wherein less than the first heat energy conveying assembly described thermal energy storage medium, described, thereby makes the described first heat energy conveying assembly heat energy is transported to the described input part of described external device (ED) from the described part of described thermal energy storage medium; With

At second time place that is different from the described very first time, regulate the described temperature control part of described external device (ED), be set to second temperature with operating temperature with the described input part of described external device (ED), described second temperature extends to the described medium temperature of described part wherein greater than the first heat energy conveying assembly described thermal energy storage medium, described, thereby makes the described first heat energy conveying assembly that heat energy is transported to the described part of described thermal energy storage medium to store from the described input part of described external device (ED).

38. method of using with external device (ED) and thermal energy storage device, described external device (ED) comprises that input part and can operating is used to control the temperature control part of the operating temperature of described input part, described thermal energy storage device comprises the heat energy efferent that can be connected to the described input part of described external device (ED) with conducting, the thermal energy storage medium and the first heat energy conveying assembly, the described first heat energy conveying assembly is connected to described heat energy efferent and extends in the part with medium temperature of described thermal energy storage medium, the described first heat energy conveying assembly is configured to heat energy is transported to lower temperature region from the higher temperature district, said method comprising the steps of:

Locate in the very first time, regulate the described temperature control part of described external device (ED), be set to first temperature with operating temperature with the described input part of described external device (ED), described first temperature is less than described thermal energy storage medium, the described first heat energy conveying assembly extends to the described medium temperature of described part wherein, thereby become less than described medium temperature by second adjustment of conduction with described heat energy efferent, and make the described first heat energy conveying assembly that heat energy is transported to described heat energy efferent from the described part of described thermal energy storage medium, described heat energy efferent with described thermal energy conduction to described external device (ED); With

At second time place that is different from the described very first time, regulate the described temperature control part of described external device (ED), be set to the 3rd temperature with operating temperature with the described input part of described external device (ED), described the 3rd temperature is greater than described thermal energy storage medium, the described first heat energy conveying assembly extends to the described medium temperature of described part wherein, thereby become greater than described medium temperature by the 4th adjustment of conduction, and make the described first heat energy conveying assembly that heat energy is transported to the described part of described thermal energy storage medium to store from described heat energy efferent described heat energy efferent.

39. method of using with external device (ED) and thermal energy storage device, described external device (ED) comprises input part and can operate the temperature control part that is used to control described input part operating temperature, described thermal energy storage device comprises the heat energy efferent that can be connected to the described input part of described external device (ED) with conducting, the thermal energy storage medium and the first heat energy conveying assembly, the described first heat energy conveying assembly is connected to described heat energy efferent and extends in the part with medium temperature of described thermal energy storage medium, the described first heat energy conveying assembly is configured to heat energy is transported to lower temperature region from the higher temperature district, said method comprising the steps of:

Monitoring is stored in the amount of the heat energy in the described thermal energy storage medium;

Amount and the predetermined threshold amount that is stored in the heat energy in the described thermal energy storage medium compared;

The amount of the heat energy in being stored in described thermal energy storage medium is during greater than described predetermined threshold amount, regulate the described temperature control part of described external device (ED), be set to first temperature with operating temperature with the described input part of described external device (ED), described first temperature extends to the described medium temperature of described part wherein less than the first heat energy conveying assembly described thermal energy storage medium, described, thereby makes the described first heat energy conveying assembly heat energy is transported to the described input part of described external device (ED) from the described part of described thermal energy storage medium; With

The amount of the heat energy in being stored in described thermal energy storage medium is during less than described predetermined threshold amount, regulate the described temperature control part of described external device (ED), be set to second temperature with operating temperature with the described input part of described external device (ED), described second temperature extends to the described medium temperature of described part wherein greater than the first heat energy conveying assembly described thermal energy storage medium, described, thereby makes the described first heat energy conveying assembly that heat energy is transported to the described part of described thermal energy storage medium to store from the described input part of described external device (ED).

40., further comprising the steps of according to the described method of claim 39:

Determine to make the amount of the required heat energy of described external device (ED) running predetermined amount of time; With

Determine described predetermined threshold amount according to described predetermined amount of time.

41. a thermal energy storage device that uses with heat energy and heat energy receiving system, described thermal energy storage device comprises:

The thermal energy storage medium;

Heat energy input part, described heat energy input part are configured to receive heat energy from described heat energy;

Heat energy efferent, described heat energy efferent are configured to heat energy is transported to described heat energy receiving system;

Be used for heat energy is transported to the device that be used to carry heat energy of described thermal energy storage medium to store from least one of described heat energy input part and described heat energy efferent;

Be used for extracting the device of heat energy that is used to extract storage of the heat energy that stores from described thermal energy storage medium; With

Container, described container is configured to hold and is the described thermal energy storage medium of volume continuously, and the described device that is used to carry heat energy all is accommodated in the described container with the described device that is used to extract the heat energy of storage and is positioned to directly contact with described thermal energy storage medium.

42. according to the described thermal energy storage device of claim 41, wherein, in the operating period of described thermal energy storage device, circulation is solidified and melted to described thermal energy storage medium experience, described thermal energy storage device also comprises:

One or more first temperature sensors, described first temperature sensor are positioned at the position of the last fusing of described thermal energy storage medium in the described thermal energy storage medium; With

One or more second temperature sensors, described second temperature sensor are positioned at the position of the described thermal energy storage medium final set in the described thermal energy storage medium.

43., also comprise according to the described thermal energy storage device of claim 42:

Be used for determining the device of the state of described thermal energy storage medium according to the information that receives from described one or more first and second temperature sensors.

44., also comprise according to the described thermal energy storage device of claim 41:

Be used for determining being stored in the device of amount of the heat energy of described thermal energy storage medium.

45. according to the described thermal energy storage device of claim 44, wherein, the device of the amount of the described heat energy that is used for determining being stored in described thermal energy storage medium comprises:

One or more first temperature sensors adjacent with described heat energy input part; With

One or more second temperature sensors adjacent with described heat energy efferent.

46., also comprise according to the described thermal energy storage device of claim 41:

Be used for heat energy is transported to from described heat energy input part the device of described heat energy efferent.

47. according to the described thermal energy storage device of claim 46, wherein, described being used for is transported to the device and the thermal insulation of described thermal energy storage medium of described heat energy efferent with heat energy from described heat energy input part, with the conduction of restriction heat energy to described thermal energy storage medium.

48. according to the described thermal energy storage device of claim 46, wherein, the described device that is used for heat energy is transported to described heat energy efferent from described heat energy input part with thermal energy conduction to described thermal energy storage medium.

49. according to the described thermal energy storage device of claim 41, described thermal energy storage device uses with second heat energy, described thermal energy storage device also comprises:

The second heat energy input part, the described second heat energy input part are configured to receive heat energy from described second heat energy; With

Be used for heat energy is transported to from the described second heat energy input part at least one device of described heat energy efferent and described thermal energy storage medium to store.

50. method of using with thermal energy storage device, described thermal energy storage device is configured to receive heat energy with input rate, with memory speed with thermal energy storage in the thermal energy storage medium, and, said method comprising the steps of with output speed output heat energy:

Monitor the amount of the heat energy that described thermal energy storage device receives in the certain hour section;

Monitor the amount of the heat energy that described thermal energy storage device exports in the identical time period;

The amount of the heat energy that receives in the described time period according to described thermal energy storage device and the amount of the heat energy that described thermal energy storage device was exported in the described time period determine to be stored in the amount of the heat energy in the described thermal energy storage medium in the described time period;

Amount and the predetermined threshold amount that is stored in the heat energy in the described thermal energy storage medium in the described time period compared;

The amount of the heat energy when be stored in described thermal energy storage medium in the described time period in is during greater than described predetermined threshold amount, increases the output speed of described thermal energy storage device and reduces the memory speed of described thermal energy storage device; With

The amount of the heat energy when be stored in described thermal energy storage medium in the described time period in is during less than described predetermined threshold amount, reduces the output speed of described thermal energy storage device and increases the memory speed of described thermal energy storage device.