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Patent · US9657998B2 · B2 · US

Method for operating an arrangement for storing thermal energy

(11) Publication number
US9657998B2
(21) Application number
14/439,760
(22) Filing date
2013-11-01
(30) Priority date
2012-11-01
(43) Publication date
2017-05-23
(45) Date of grant
2017-05-23
(51) IPC
F24D 19/10; F24D 3/08; F28D 17/00; F28D 20/00
(52) CPC
  • F28D Heat-exchange apparatus, not provided for in another subclass, in which the heat-exchange media do not come into direct contact: 20/0039, 20/0034, 20/0043, 20/0052, 2020/0069
  • B65G Transport or storage devices, e.g. conveyors for loading or tipping, shop conveyor systems or pneumatic tube conveyors: 5/00
  • F24D Domestic- or space-heating systems, e.g. central heating systems; domestic hot-water supply systems; elements or components therefor: 11/02, 19/1066, 2200/11, 2200/123, 3/08
  • F24H Fluid heaters, e.g. water or air heaters, having heat-generating means, e.g. heat pumps, in general: 4/04
  • F25D Refrigerators; cold rooms; ice-boxes; cooling or freezing apparatus not otherwise provided for: 1/00
  • Y02B Climate change mitigation technologies related to buildings, e.g. housing, house appliances or related end-user applications: 10/40
  • Y02E Reduction of greenhouse gas [ghg] emissions, related to energy generation, transmission or distribution: 60/14, 60/142
  • Y02P Climate change mitigation technologies in the production or processing of goods: 80/15
(73) Assignee
Skanska Sverige AB
(72) Inventors
Hans Pilebro; Tobias Strand
(54) Title
Method for operating an arrangement for storing thermal energy
(57) Abstract

A method for operating an arrangement (1) for storing thermal energy where the arrangement (1) includes an energy storage (2) having a temperature gradient. The method involves retrieving energy at a first temperature (T 1) from the energy storage (2) for use in a first heat-absorbing system (3), such that free space is created in the energy storage (2) for energy at a second temperature (T 2). The second temperature (T 2) is higher than the first temperature (T 1).

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Claims (11)

  1. A method for operating an arrangement (1) for storing fluid, said arrangement (1) comprising an underground energy storage (2) having a vertical temperature gradient, which method comprises retrieving fluid at a first temperature (T 1) from the energy storage (2) for use in a first heat-absorbing system (3) located above ground, such that free space is created in said energy storage (2) for fluid at a second temperature (T 2), wherein said second temperature (T 2) is higher than said first temperature (T 1), retrieving fluid at said second temperature (T 2) from the energy storage (2) for use in a second heat-absorbing system (4) located above ground, providing fluid at said second temperature (T 2) to a level of said energy storage (2) being at said second temperature (T 2), wherein the method further comprises retrieving fluid at a third temperature (T 3) from said energy storage (2) for use in a heat emitting cooling system (8) located above ground, and providing fluid at a said third temperature (T 3), which is lower than said first and second temperatures (T 1, T 2), to a level of said energy storage (2) being at said third temperature (T 3), wherein said first heat-absorbing system (3) is configured to operate at a lower temperature than said second heat-absorbing system (4).
  2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid at said third temperature (T 3) from said first heat-absorbing system (3) and providing said fluid at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said third temperature (T 3).
  3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid at said second temperature (T 2) from a heat-emitting system (6, 7), and providing said fluid at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said second temperature (T 2).
  4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid at said first temperature (T 1) from a heat-emitting system (6, 7), and providing said fluid at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said first temperature (T 1).
  5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid at said first temperature (T 1) from said second heat-absorbing system (4) and providing said energy at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said first temperature (T 1).
  6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid at said first temperature (T 1) from said heat emitting cooling system (8) and providing said fluid at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said first temperature (T 1).
  7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid from an exterior (13, 14) of said arrangement (1), and providing said energy at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said third temperature (T 3).
  8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first temperature (T 1) is in the range of 15° C. to 65° C.
  9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second temperature (T 2) is in the range of 50° C. to 100° C.
  10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said third temperature (T 3) is in the range of 4° C. to 25° C.
  11. The method according to claim 1, wherein vertical temperature stratification is used in the energy storage (2) in order to generate a gradient flow due to differences in density between vertical levels, wherein warm water flows upwards through the energy storage to a heat exchanger where it is cooled down, and colder water flows downward through the energy storage.

Description

This application claims benefit from International Application No. PCT/SE2013/051281, which was filed on Nov. 1, 2013, which claims priority to Swedish Patent Application No. 1251241-4, which was filed Nov. 1, 2012, the entireties of said patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a method for operating an arrangement for storing thermal energy.

There is a need for efficient storage of thermal energy within the area of modern energy technology.

Thermal energy may advantageously be stored in a fluid, such as e.g. water, above ground in insulated tanks, in ground in insulated pits, or underground in excavated caverns, using the surrounding ground as insulation. The thermal energy of the fluid is preserved to a great extent during an extended period of time. Today, these methods are used in different parts of the world in order to satisfy the need for storing thermal energy between different seasons, e.g. storing temporary surplus heat which is used later on when there is a demand for it and, preferably, when its financial value is higher. The main transition of energy is from the summer half, when there is less need for heating, to the winter half, when the need for heating is much higher. However, there is also much to gain by using the storage for short-term variations and always actively storing surplus heat. These kinds of storages may also be used for storage of a colder fluid, to be used for cooling, as well as for fluid having an intermediate temperature, such as a fluid used in low temperature systems.

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Record as JSON 
{
  "publication_number": "US9657998B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Method for operating an arrangement for storing thermal energy",
  "abstract": "A method for operating an arrangement (1) for storing thermal energy where the arrangement (1) includes an energy storage (2) having a temperature gradient. The method involves retrieving energy at a first temperature (T 1) from the energy storage (2) for use in a first heat-absorbing system (3), such that free space is created in the energy storage (2) for energy at a second temperature (T 2). The second temperature (T 2) is higher than the first temperature (T 1).",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for operating an arrangement (1) for storing fluid, said arrangement (1) comprising an underground energy storage (2) having a vertical temperature gradient, which method comprises retrieving fluid at a first temperature (T 1) from the energy storage (2) for use in a first heat-absorbing system (3) located above ground, such that free space is created in said energy storage (2) for fluid at a second temperature (T 2), wherein said second temperature (T 2) is higher than said first temperature (T 1), retrieving fluid at said second temperature (T 2) from the energy storage (2) for use in a second heat-absorbing system (4) located above ground, providing fluid at said second temperature (T 2) to a level of said energy storage (2) being at said second temperature (T 2), wherein the method further comprises retrieving fluid at a third temperature (T 3) from said energy storage (2) for use in a heat emitting cooling system (8) located above ground, and providing fluid at a said third temperature (T 3), which is lower than said first and second temperatures (T 1, T 2), to a level of said energy storage (2) being at said third temperature (T 3), wherein said first heat-absorbing system (3) is configured to operate at a lower temperature than said second heat-absorbing system (4).",
    "2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid at said third temperature (T 3) from said first heat-absorbing system (3) and providing said fluid at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said third temperature (T 3).",
    "3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid at said second temperature (T 2) from a heat-emitting system (6, 7), and providing said fluid at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said second temperature (T 2).",
    "4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid at said first temperature (T 1) from a heat-emitting system (6, 7), and providing said fluid at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said first temperature (T 1).",
    "5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid at said first temperature (T 1) from said second heat-absorbing system (4) and providing said energy at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said first temperature (T 1).",
    "6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid at said first temperature (T 1) from said heat emitting cooling system (8) and providing said fluid at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said first temperature (T 1).",
    "7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving fluid from an exterior (13, 14) of said arrangement (1), and providing said energy at a level of said energy storage (2) being at said third temperature (T 3).",
    "8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first temperature (T 1) is in the range of 15° C. to 65° C.",
    "9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second temperature (T 2) is in the range of 50° C. to 100° C.",
    "10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said third temperature (T 3) is in the range of 4° C. to 25° C.",
    "11. The method according to claim 1, wherein vertical temperature stratification is used in the energy storage (2) in order to generate a gradient flow due to differences in density between vertical levels, wherein warm water flows upwards through the energy storage to a heat exchanger where it is cooled down, and colder water flows downward through the energy storage."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application claims benefit from International Application No. PCT/SE2013/051281, which was filed on Nov. 1, 2013, which claims priority to Swedish Patent Application No. 1251241-4, which was filed Nov. 1, 2012, the entireties of said patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.\n\nThe present invention relates to a method for operating an arrangement for storing thermal energy.\n\nThere is a need for efficient storage of thermal energy within the area of modern energy technology.\n\nThermal energy may advantageously be stored in a fluid, such as e.g. water, above ground in insulated tanks, in ground in insulated pits, or underground in excavated caverns, using the surrounding ground as insulation. The thermal energy of the fluid is preserved to a great extent during an extended period of time. Today, these methods are used in different parts of the world in order to satisfy the need for storing thermal energy between different seasons, e.g. storing temporary surplus heat which is used later on when there is a demand for it and, preferably, when its financial value is higher. The main transition of energy is from the summer half, when there is less need for heating, to the winter half, when the need for heating is much higher. However, there is also much to gain by using the storage for short-term variations and always actively storing surplus heat. These kinds of storages may also be used for storage of a colder fluid, to be used for cooling, as well as for fluid having an intermediate temperature, such as a fluid used in low temperature systems.",
  "cpc": [
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  "ipc": [
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  "assignees": [
    "Skanska Sverige AB"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Hans Pilebro",
    "Tobias Strand"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-11-01",
  "publication_date": "2017-05-23",
  "grant_date": "2017-05-23",
  "priority_date": "2012-11-01",
  "application_number": "US-201314439760-A",
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