US4089744A — Thermal energy storage by means of reversible hea…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 374 words

A process for storing the excess electrical output of an electricity generating system by raising the temperature level of a quantity of stored low vapor pressure (LVP) organic heat retention material, and recalling said heat from said LVP organic heat retention material during periods of peak power demand for reconversion into electrical power comprising the steps of: (a) during periods of low power demand drawing hot water from a hot water storage location means; (b) flashing said hot water at successively lower pressures to generate steam and cooling resultant residual water condensate to form cold water which is stored in cold water storage location means; (c) conducting said flashed steam to various stages of a compression means; (d) driving said compression means by means of a motor means powered by means of excess electrical power produced by an electricity generating system; (e) compressing the flashed steam in the compression means being driven by the excess electrical power; (f) conducting the compressed steam at different pressures from the different stages of the compression means to heat exchanger means; (g) contacting the compressed steam with a low vapor pressure organic thermal energy retention material moving from a cold storage location means to a hot storage location means through the heat exchanger means of (f); (h) storing the hot LVP thermal energy retention material in the hot LVP material storage location means; (i) during periods of peak power demand converting water into steam by contacting said water with hot LVP material moving from hot storage location means to cold storage location means, said contacting occurring in heat exchanger means; (j) conducting the steam generated in step (i) from the heat exchanger means to an expansion engine means thereby converting heat energy into mechanical motion; (k) running a generator by means of the mechanical motion produced in step (j) thereby effecting the conversion of heat back into electricity; (l) condensing the spent steam by means of cold water being passed from said cold water storage location means to said hot water storage location means; and (m) storing the hot water produced in step (1) in said hot water storage location means for use during lower power demand system charging periods as the hot water of step (a) above.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 374 words

A process for storing the excess electrical output of an electricity generating system by raising the temperature level of a quantity of stored low vapor pressure (LVP) organic heat retention material, and recalling said heat from said LVP organic heat retention material during periods of peak power demand for reconversion into electrical power comprising the steps of: (a) during periods of low power demand drawing hot water from a hot water storage location means; (b) flashing said hot water at successively lower pressures to generate steam and cooling resultant residual water condensate to form cold water which is stored in cold water storage location means; (c) conducting said flashed steam to various stages of a compression means; (d) driving said compression means by means of a motor means powered by means of excess electrical power produced by an electricity generating system; (e) compressing the flashed steam in the compression means being driven by the excess electrical power; (f) conducting the compressed steam at different pressures from the different stages of the compression means to heat exchanger means; (g) contacting the compressed steam with a low vapor pressure organic thermal energy retention material moving from a cold storage location means to a hot storage location means through the heat exchanger means of (f); (h) storing the hot LVP thermal energy retention material in the hot LVP material storage location means; (i) during periods of peak power demand converting water into steam by contacting said water with hot LVP material moving from hot storage location means to cold storage location means, said contacting occurring in heat exchanger means; (j) conducting the steam generated in step (i) from the heat exchanger means to an expansion engine means thereby converting heat energy into mechanical motion; (k) running a generator by means of the mechanical motion produced in step (j) thereby effecting the conversion of heat back into electricity; (l) condensing the spent steam by means of cold water being passed from said cold water storage location means to said hot water storage location means; and (m) storing the hot water produced in step (1) in said hot water storage location means for use during lower power demand system charging periods as the hot water of step (a) above.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 52 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the hot low vapor pressure organic heat retention material stored in step (h) is at a temperature of from 450° to 600° F and the cold LVP material stored in step (i) in the cold storage location means is at a temperature of about 150°-300° F.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the low vapor pressure organic heat retention material is a hydrocarbon distillate boiling between 500°-1300° F.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 72 words

The process of claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon distillate is selected from the group consisting of a 650°-1050° F vacuum gas oil cut, a 600°-950° F catalytically cracked cycle stock, a 600°-1000° F thermally cracked gas oil cut, a 600°-1000° F doubly extracted and dewaxed vacuum pipe still cut, a 600°-900° F VT hydrocracked cut and a 600°-900° F VT coker gas oil wherein all of the above materials have been hydrotreated.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process of claim 3 wherein the low vapor pressure organic heat retention material contains 1% or less anti-oxidants and dispersants.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The process of claim 5 wherein the antioxidants are selected from the group consisting of hindered phenols.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process of claim 5 wherein the dispersants are selected from the group consisting of sulfonates.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 307 words

A process for storing the excess electrical output of an electricity generating plant by conversion into heat and recalling said heat during periods of peak power demand by reconversion into electrical power comprising the steps of: (a) during periods of low power demand drawing hot water from a hot water storage location means; (b) conducting said hot water to heat exchanger means; (c) contacting said hot water in heat exchanger relationship with a heat transfer fluid; (d) vaporizing said heat transfer fluid and directing the resultant cool water via a cooler into a cold water storage location means; `(e) conducting the heat transfer fluid vapor of step (d) to a compression means; (f) compressing said heat transfer fluid vapor in the compressor means by utilizing excess electrical power of a power source; (g) contacting and condensing said compressed heat transfer fluid vapor in heat exchanger relationship with a low vapor pressure (LVP) organic thermal energy heat retention material moving from cold storage location means to hot storage location means through the heat exchanger means; (h) storing the hot LVP material; (i) during periods of peak power demand using hot LVP material moving from hot storage location means to cold storage location means to vaporize a heat transfer fluid in heat exchanger means; (j) directing said hot heat transfer fluid vapor to an expansion engine; (k) running the expansion engine on the heat transfer fluid vapor thereby converting thermal energy into mechanical energy; (l) using the mechanical energy produced by the expansion engine to run a generator thereby yielding electrical power; (m) condensing the expanded heat transfer fluid vapor by means of cold water flowing from cold water storage location means to hot water storage location means; and (n) storing said hot water in a hot storage location means for use in step (a) during system charging periods.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 307 words

A process for storing the excess electrical output of an electricity generating plant by conversion into heat and recalling said heat during periods of peak power demand by reconversion into electrical power comprising the steps of: (a) during periods of low power demand drawing hot water from a hot water storage location means; (b) conducting said hot water to heat exchanger means; (c) contacting said hot water in heat exchanger relationship with a heat transfer fluid; (d) vaporizing said heat transfer fluid and directing the resultant cool water via a cooler into a cold water storage location means; `(e) conducting the heat transfer fluid vapor of step (d) to a compression means; (f) compressing said heat transfer fluid vapor in the compressor means by utilizing excess electrical power of a power source; (g) contacting and condensing said compressed heat transfer fluid vapor in heat exchanger relationship with a low vapor pressure (LVP) organic thermal energy heat retention material moving from cold storage location means to hot storage location means through the heat exchanger means; (h) storing the hot LVP material; (i) during periods of peak power demand using hot LVP material moving from hot storage location means to cold storage location means to vaporize a heat transfer fluid in heat exchanger means; (j) directing said hot heat transfer fluid vapor to an expansion engine; (k) running the expansion engine on the heat transfer fluid vapor thereby converting thermal energy into mechanical energy; (l) using the mechanical energy produced by the expansion engine to run a generator thereby yielding electrical power; (m) condensing the expanded heat transfer fluid vapor by means of cold water flowing from cold water storage location means to hot water storage location means; and (n) storing said hot water in a hot storage location means for use in step (a) during system charging periods.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The process of claim 8 wherein the heat transfer fluid is selected from the group consisting of freon, water, propane, propylene, butanes, ammonia and pentanes.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-05-15	1981-11-14	1982-05-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-05-15	1985-11-14	1986-05-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-05-15	1989-11-14	1990-05-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Thermal energy storage by means of reversible heat pumping

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