Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Thermal Energy Storage and Retrieval System
Technical Field
[0001] The Systems and methods which store and retrieve heat in the subsurface
or above surface region using
fracked and non-fracked systems on a daily cycle or seasonal cycle are needed.
Background of the Invention
[0002] While there are heat storage systems, the heat storage systems do not
use slot or fracked rock below the
surface to store the heat. Instead, heat storage in the containers above the
surface of the earth or in an aquifer is
below the surface and within a single well. Also, surface level ponds are used
to store heat on a seasonal basis.
This makes heat compression recapture from compressed air storage systems and
heat storage from solar, nuclear,
biofuel, wind-generated heat, and waste heat sources inefficient or
impractical.
Brief Summary of Embodiments of the Invention
[0003] In a variant, a system for storing and retrieving subsurface is
provided. The system includes: a heat
source or an energy consumer thermally connected to a first fluid, a slot
sawed into a rock and then expanded (or
not) by whatever means (e.g. Pressure), a cable and tubing operatively
connected to the first well to the second
well, a plurality of materials filled into the slot, a first hole disposed
beneath a first rig, and a second hole disposed
beneath a second rig. The first fluid is transported through a first well
fluidically connected to a second well. The
slot is below an earth surface. The cable and the tubing are partially
encapsulated by casing, wherein the cable
stores heat. The plurality of materials is in a liquid state or gas state. The
first hole surrounding the first well and
the second hole surrounding the second well are configured to be vertical or
slanted.
[0004] In another variant, the tubing is operatively connected to the cable
such that a first end of the tubing is
clamped to a first end of the cable within the first rig and the second end of
the tubing is clamped to a second end
of the cable within the second rig.
[0005] In yet another variant, the plurality of materials is selected from the
group consisting of steel balls, scrap
steel, gravel, alumina, bauxite, water, air, and ropes for heat storage.
[0006] In a further variant, the slot is disposed in a vertical direction, a
horizontal direction, or an inclined
direction.
[0007] In yet a further variant, the first well and the second well are of a
circular shape, a rectangular shape, an
ellipsoidal shape, or a square shape.
[0008] In yet another variant, the heat source may be solar energy, nuclear
energy, geothermal energy, electrical,
organic wastes, heat of compression, and converted wind turbine energy.
[0009] In yet another variant, the fluid is in a gas phase, liquid phase,
supercritical phase, or dual phase.
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[0010] In yet another variant, the first fluid is transported through the
slot, the heat source, and the energy
consumer in a single closed-loop system, a binary closed-loop system, or an
open loop system.
[0011] In yet another variant, the binary closed-loop system includes a second
fluid and a heat exchanger. The
heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the first fluid, the second fluid,
and the slot.
[0012] In yet another variant, the single-loop system includes the first fluid
transported from the heat source to
the slot in a heated state and subsequently transported from the slot to the
heat source in a cooled state.
[0013] In yet another variant, the single-loop system includes the first fluid
transported from the energy
consumer to the slot in a cooled state and subsequently transported from the
slot to the energy consumer in a
heated state.
[0014] In a variant, a system for storing and retrieving sub-surface energy is
provided. The system includes: a
fractured body of rock, a thermal fluid circulated through the fractured body
of rock via tubing, a rock mass below
the earth surface, a first well disposed within a first hole, and a second
well disposed within a second hole. The
fractured body of rock resides below an earth surface and the rock mass is a
continuation of the fractured body of
rock. The first hole is operatively connected to the fractured body of rock
and the second hole is operatively
connected to the fractured body of rock. The first well contains at least a
first segment, a second segment, and a
third segment. The second well contains at least a fourth segment and a fifth
segment. The first segment, the
second segment, the third segment, the fourth segment, and the fifth segment
include perforations fitted with
valves. The first hole and the second hole are configured to be vertical or
slanted.
[0015] In yet another variant, the first well and the second well include the
valves and a cement layer connected
to a first tubing layer. The first tubing layer is connected to a first hollow
layer. The first hollow layer is connected
to a second tubing layer. The second tubing layer is connected to the second
hollow layer. The valves span across
the cement layer, the first tubing layer, the first hollow layer, and the
second tubing layer.
[0016] In a further variant, the second segment and the third segment include
at least one angled fin, at least one
outer flange, a thin bearing, and a disc bearing.
[0017] In yet a further variant, the first segment and the fourth segment
include at least one flange and a cement
layer.
[0018] In yet another variant, the tubing is connected to (i) electrical
motors for causing rotation, (ii) a thin
bearing, and (iii) a disc bearing.
[0019] In yet another variant, the perforations on the outer tubing are
covered with sieves to prevent sand from
entering between the cylinders. The sieves are disposed on inner or outer
faces or both the inner and outer faces of
an outer cylinder.
[0020] In yet another variant, the thermal fluid flows from any combination of
the first, second, third, fourth, and
fifth segments such that the thermal fluid is hot when released by the first
well and the thermal fluid is cold when
received by any combination of segments in the second well.
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[0021] In yet another variant, the thermal fluid flows from the second segment
to the third segment such that the
thermal fluid is hot when received by the first well and the thermal fluid is
cold when released by the second well.
A bottom level of the second well is higher than a bottom level of the first
well, or the bottom level of the second
well is identical level to the bottom level of the first well or the bottom
level of the second well is lower than the
bottom level of the first well.
[0022] In yet another variant, the thermal fluid flows from the second segment
to the third segment such that the
thermal fluid is hot when released by the first well and the thermal fluid is
cold when received by the second well.
A bottom level of the second well is higher than a bottom level of the first
well, or the bottom level of the second
well is identical level to the bottom level of the first well or the bottom
level of the second well is lower than the
bottom level of the first well.
[0023] In a variant, a system for storing and retrieving energy comprises: a
first well comprising a first valve and
a first set of segments, wherein the set of segments comprises a first set of
perforations; a second well comprising
a second valve and a second set of segments, wherein the second set of
segments comprises a second set of
perforations; a thermal fluid configured for transport between the first well
and the second well, wherein a
segment of the first set of segments of the first well and a segment of the
second set of segments of the second
well are disposed on an earth surface or below the earth surface, thereby
remaining segments of the first set of
segments of the first well and the second set of segments of the second well
are disposed above ground; piping
operatively connected to the first well and the second well, wherein the
piping is disposed above the earth surface;
wherein the first valve and the second valve are configured for movement,
thereby controlling alignment states of
the first set of perforations and the second set of perforations, thereby
controlling flow properties of the thermal
fluid; wherein the thermal fluid is transported bi-directionally within the
piping between at least one of the
remaining segments of the first set of segments of the first well and at least
one of the remaining segments of the
second set of segments of the second well.
[0024] In a variant, a system for storing and retrieving energy and fluid,
comprises: a duct operatively connected
to a first cylinder with insulation around the duct or phase change material,
wherein the first cylinder is
operatively connected to a first layer of insulation or phase change material,
wherein the first layer of insulation is
operatively connected to the second layer of insulation or phase change
material; a first cylinder outlet/inlet gap
and at least a second outlet/inlet gap operatively connected between a
selected annulus, say between the first and
second cylinder, wherein the gap between the first cylinder and the second
cylinder comprise an annulus; wherein
one or both of the outlet/inlet gaps are configured for intake or exit or both
intake and exit in a one-gap-flow
system of fluid; a double plate or single plate disposed with the system such
that the system comprises an upper
section and a lower section, wherein the double plate comprises perforations,
wherein the perforations are
configured for controlling fluid flow through control valves, wherein the
control valves comprises a check valves;
wherein the lower section comprises at least a third cylinder, a fourth
cylinder, a first segment of the fifth
cylinder; wherein the lower section comprises the first cylinder, the second
cylinder, a second segment of the fifth
cylinder, and the plurality of heat storage materials, placed across the
entire cross-section or in an inner cylinder,
or the annuluses of various combinations of cylinders.
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[0025] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations above ground or below the
ground with the heat storage material section comprises a stronger material
and optional thicker wall cylinders,
wherein the stronger material and the operational thicker wall cylinder are
optionally separate from each other.
[0026] In this variant, the heat storage material section is designed as a
separate section with stronger walls
attached to other segment of the system thorough via bolts, nuts, and other
connectors.
[0027] In this variant, system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations below the ground, whereby a well
is configured as an outer cylinder.
[0028] In this variant, the system used in large-scale or small-scale
operations as a single unit Capsular Adiabatic
Compressed Air Energy Storage System (Adiabatic CAES Capsule) comprising a
head configured as semi-
hemispherical, semi-ellipsoidal, or flat or of any shape.
[0029] In this variant, the system used on small-scale operations comprises a
retro-fit configured to be placed
below ground as a single unit Compressed Air Energy Storage System in a
capsule comprising a head configured
as a semi-hemispherical, semi-ellipsoidal, or flat or of any shape.
[0030] In this variant, the system is configured to use a cross-sectional
layered heat storage technique coupled
with phase change material to extract and deliver heat to and from a thermal
fluid.
[0031] In this variant, the phase change material may be in part or whole of
the inner cylinder or be in part or
whole of selected annuluses or any combination of both.
[0032] In this variant, system is configured to use a concentric layered
technique coupled with phase change
material and/or insulation to prevent heat loss, wherein the phase change
material traps heat.
[0033] In this variant, the lower section comprises perforations disposed on a
surface of a second portion of the
first cylinder, a second segment of the fourth cylinder, one or more
insulation materials and phase change
materials, and one or more heat storage materials such that a side of one or
more insulation materials resides
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opposite to a side of one or more heat storage materials, wherein the side of
one or more insulation materials and
the side of one or more heat storage materials are separated by the duct.
[0034] In this variant, the system is configured as a single unit for
separating heat from a thermal fluid and store
the heat and the fluid and a reverse flow of fluid recaptures the heat with
the stored fluid as it exits the system.
[0035] In a variant, a system for storing and retrieving energy and fluid
comprises: a duct operatively connected
to at least a first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a third cylinder wherein
the first cylinder is operatively
connected to a plurality of heat storage materials, wherein the plurality of
heat storage materials is operatively
connected to a plurality of insulator materials; a first cylinder outlet/inlet
gap and/or selected annuluses with
outlet/inlet gaps; a double plate or single plate disposed with the system
such that the system comprises an upper
section and a lower section, wherein the double plate comprises perforations,
which are used for fluid flow
through control valves, wherein the control valves comprises check valves;
wherein the lower section comprises a
third cylinder, a fourth cylinder or even more, a first segment of the fifth
cylinder; and wherein the upper section
comprises the first cylinder, the second cylinder, a second segment of the
fifth cylinder, and the plurality of heat
storage materials and concentric layers of insulators and phase change
materials.
[0036] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations above ground or
below the ground with the heat storage material section comprises a stronger
material and optional
thicker wall cylinders, wherein the stronger material and the operational
thicker wall cylinder are
optionally separate from each other.
[0037] In this variant, the heat storage material section is designed as a
separate section with
stronger walls attached to other segment of the system thorough via bolts,
nuts, and other
connectors.
[0038] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations below the ground,
whereby a well is configured as an outer cylinder.
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[0039] In this variant, the system used in large-scale or small-scale
operations as a single unit
Capsular Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage System (Adiabatic CAES
Capsule) comprising
a head configured as semi-hemispherical, semi-ellipsoidal, or flat or of any
shape.
[0040] In this variant, the system used on small-scale operations comprises a
retro-fit configured to
be placed below ground as a single unit Compressed Air Energy Storage System
in a capsule
comprising a head configured as a semi-hemispherical, semi-ellipsoidal, or
flat or of any shape.
[0041] In this variant, the system is configured to use a cross-sectional
layered heat storage
technique coupled with phase change material to extract and deliver heat to
and from a thermal
fluid.
[0042] In this variant, the system is configured to use a concentric layered
technique coupled with
phase change material and/or insulation to prevent heat loss, wherein the
phase change material
traps heat.
[0043] In this variant, the system is configured to use a concentric layered
technique coupled with
phase change material and/or insulation to prevent heat loss, wherein the
phase change material
may be in part or whole of the inner cylinder or be in part or whole of
selected annuluses or any
combination of both.
[0044] In this variant, the lower section comprises perforations disposed on a
surface of a second portion of the
first cylinder, a second segment of the fourth cylinder, one or more
insulation materials and phase change
materials, and one or more heat storage materials such that a side of one or
more insulation materials resides
opposite to a side of one or more heat storage materials, wherein the side of
one or more insulation materials and
the side of one or more heat storage materials are separated by the duct.
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[0045] In this variant, the system is configured as a single unit for
separating heat from a thermal fluid and store
the heat and the fluid and a reverse flow of fluid recaptures the heat with
the stored fluid as it exits the system.
[0046] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations above ground with the heat
storage material section comprises a stronger material and optional thicker
wall cylinders, wherein the stronger
material and the operational thicker wall cylinder are optionally separate
from each other.
[0047] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations above ground or below the
ground with the heat storage material section comprises a stronger material
and optional thicker wall cylinders,
wherein the stronger material and the operational thicker wall cylinder are
optionally separate from each other.
[0048] In this variant, the heat storage material section is designed as a
separate section with stronger walls
attached to other segment of the system thorough via bolts, nuts, and other
connectors.
[0049] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations below the ground, whereby a
well is configured as an outer cylinder.
[0050] In this variant, the system used in large-scale or small-scale
operations as a single unit Capsular Adiabatic
Compressed Air Energy Storage System (Adiabatic CAES Capsule) comprises a head
configured as semi-
hemispherical, semi-ellipsoidal, or flat or of any shape.
[0051] In this variant, the system used on small-scale operations comprises a
retro-fit configured to be placed
below ground as a single unit Compressed Air Energy Storage System in a
capsule comprising a head configured
as a semi-hemispherical, semi-ellipsoidal, or flat or of any shape.
[0052] In this variant, the system is configured to use a cross-sectional
layered heat storage technique coupled
with phase change material to extract and deliver heat to and from a thermal
fluid.
[0053] In this variant, the system is configured to use a concentric layered
technique coupled with phase change
material and/or insulation to prevent heat loss, wherein the phase change
material traps heat.
[0054] In this variant, the lower section comprises perforations disposed on a
surface of a second portion of the
first cylinder, a second segment of the fourth cylinder, one or more
insulation materials and phase change
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materials, and one or more heat storage materials such that a side of one or
more insulation materials resides
opposite to a side of one or more heat storage materials, wherein the side of
one or more insulation materials and
the side of one or more heat storage materials are separated by the duct.
[0055] In this variant, the system is configured as a single unit for
separating heat from a thermal fluid and store
the heat and the fluid and a reverse flow of fluid recaptures the heat with
the stored fluid as it exits the system.
[0056] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations above ground with the heat
storage material section comprises a stronger material and optional thicker
wall cylinders, wherein the stronger
material and the operational thicker wall cylinder are optionally separate
from each other.
[0057] In a variant, a one end flow system for storing and retrieving energy,
comprises:a duct operatively
connected to at least a first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a third
cylinder;a lower section of the inner cylinder is
perforated, allowing thermal fluid to flow through to the lowest layered heat
storage material, wherein the thermal
fluid moves through the other heat storage material giving up heat in a
forward flow and recaptures heat in a
reverse flow; wherein a first cylinder outlet/inlet gap and at least one
annulus with a second outlet/inlet gap
operatively connected between, say the first and second cylinder, wherein the
first cylinder outlet/inlet gap and the
second outlet/inlet gap comprise the annulus; wherein the inlet/outlet gaps
are optionally configured for intake or
exit of thermal fluid; wherein the first cylinder is operatively connected to
a plurality of heat storage materials that
are cross-sectional layered with a hollow of the first cylinder forming a free
flow duct, wherein the plurality of
cross-sectional heat storage materials is operatively connected to a plurality
of concentric insulator materials
and/or phase change material, around the layered heat storage material;
wherein the center cylinder is optionally a
sole duct filled with the plurality of heat storage materials in a layered
configured such that the center cylinder is
concentrically surrounded by one or more of other cylinders;
wherein the annulus is configured in one of the ways: (i) to carry insulations
or phase change materials or both
and in which case, beyond these concentric layers of insulation/phase change
materials a gap exists for the fluid to
freely flow in or out of the system from yet another annulus,(ii) as layered
material surrounded by concentric
insulators and/or phase change materials, or (iii) be populated with layered
heat storage materials with a free flow
annular gap; wherein the heat storage material is configured to optionally
occupy the entire cross-section or part
of the cross-section of the annulus, optionally occupy parts of the length of
the system across the cross-section or
one or more sections of heat storage material separated by gaps.
[0058] In this variant, sections are disposed within cross-sectional gaps.
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[0059] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations above ground or below the
ground with the heat storage material section comprises a stronger material
and optional thicker wall cylinders,
wherein the stronger material and the operational thicker wall cylinder are
optionally separate from each other.
[0060] In this variant, the heat storage material section is designed as a
separate section with
stronger walls attached to other segment of the system thorough via bolts,
nuts, and other
connectors.
[0061] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations below the ground,
whereby a well is configured as an outer cylinder.
[0062] In this variant, the system used in large-scale or small-scale
operations as a single unit
Capsular Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage System (Adiabatic CAES
Capsule) comprises
a head configured as semi-hemispherical, semi-ellipsoidal, or flat or of any
shape.
[0063] In this variant, the system used on small-scale operations comprises a
retro-fit configured to be placed
below ground as a single unit Compressed Air Energy Storage System in a
capsule comprising a head configured
as a semi-hemispherical, semi-ellipsoidal, or flat or of any shape.
[0064] In this variant, the system is configured to use a cross-sectional
layered heat storage technique coupled
with phase change material to extract and deliver heat to and from a thermal
fluid.
[0065] In this variant, the system is configured to use a concentric layered
technique coupled with phase change
material and/or insulation to prevent heat loss, wherein the phase change
material traps heat.
[0066] In this variant, the lower section comprises perforations disposed on a
surface of a second portion of the
first cylinder, a second segment of the fourth cylinder, one or more
insulation materials and phase change
materials, and one or more heat storage materials such that a side of one or
more insulation materials resides
opposite to a side of one or more heat storage materials, wherein the side of
one or more insulation materials and
the side of one or more heat storage materials are separated by the duct.
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[0067] In this variant, the system is configured as a single unit for
separating heat from a thermal fluid and store
the heat and the fluid and a reverse flow of fluid recaptures the heat with
the stored fluid as it exits the system.
[0068] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations above ground with the heat
storage material section comprises a stronger material and optional thicker
wall cylinders, wherein the stronger
material and the operational thicker wall cylinder are optionally separate
from each other.
[0069] In a variant, a two-end flow system for storing and retrieving energy
comprises: a duct operatively
connected to at least a first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a third
cylinder or possibly more, wherein the first
cylinder is operatively connected to a plurality of heat storage materials
that are cross-sectional layered within it; a
plurality of gaps, wherein the plurality of gaps comprises a first cylinder
outlet/inlet gap at one end and an
inlet/outlet gap at the other end or inlet/output gaps from somewhere along
the longitudinal side of the cylinder;
wherein the plurality of heat storage materials is operatively connected to a
plurality of insulator materials,
concentrically around the layered heat storage material; wherein the heat
storage material is configured to occupy
the entire cross-section or part of the cross-section of the inner cylinder or
parts of the length of the system across
the cross-section, whereby multiple sections are disposed within cross-
sectional gaps; wherein the entire length of
the two-end system comprises at least a third cylinder and a fourth cylinder;
wherein the concentric ducts between cylinders are filled either with
insulators or phase change materials or both
insulator or phase change materials; wherein the first cylinder outlet/inlet
gap is disposed at both ends;
wherein the inlet/outlet gaps may be operative for intake or exit; fluid is
configured to move through the heat
storage material to give up heat and flow in a reverse direction to recaptures
the heat.
[0070] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations above ground or below the
ground with the heat storage material section comprises a stronger material
and optional thicker wall cylinders,
wherein the stronger material and the operational thicker wall cylinder are
optionally separate from each other.
[0071] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations below the ground, whereby an
earth surface is configured as an outer cylinder.
[0072] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations as a single unit large scale heat
storage capsule comprises a head configured as semi-hemispherical, semi-
ellipsoidal, or flat or of any shape.
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[0073] In this variant, the system is used in large-scale or small-scale
operations as a retro-fit as a single unit large
scale heat storage capsule comprises a head configured as semi-hemispherical,
semi-ellipsoidal, or flat or of any
shape.
[0074] In a variant, a system for separating heat from fluid and store heat
and fluid in a fluid network with
interconnected nodes comprises: a symbiotic system, plurality of conduits; a
heat storage system in each conduit;
wherein the fluid is hot, which enters and exits through individual nodes
meters or kilometers apart wherein each
conduit of the plurality of conduits is configured for: fluid flow through the
heat storage system, connect to other
conduits to deliver more fluid flow and thermal energy to a particular node by
opening a combination of valves;
wherein the fluid flow is configured to be thermal, thereby giving up heat
when transported to a storage unit or
residing in extended conduits beyond the heat storage unit; wherein the flow
from each node can superimpose on
that of others in case of emergency to provide more energy to one or more
selected nodes.
[0075] In a variant, the system resides completely below ground, partially
above the ground, or completely
above ground.
[0076] Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from
the following detailed description,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way
of example, the features in
accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is not intended to
limit the scope of the invention,
which is defined solely by the claims attached hereto.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0077] The present invention, in accordance with one or more various
embodiments, is described in detail with
reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of
illustration only and merely depict
typical or example embodiments of the invention. These drawings are provided
to facilitate the reader's
understanding of the invention and shall not be considered limiting of the
breadth, scope, or applicability of the
invention. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these
drawings are not necessarily made to
scale.
[0078] Some of the figures included herein illustrate various embodiments of
the invention from different
viewing angles. Although the accompanying descriptive text may refer to such
views as "top," "bottom" or "side"
views, such references are merely descriptive and do not imply or require that
the invention be implemented or
used in a particular spatial orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise.
[0079] Fig. 1 is a depiction of an energy storage and retrieval environment
where the slot is horizontal and filled
with thermal material for heat storage and retrieval.
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[0080] Fig. 2 is a depiction of an energy storage and retrieval environment
where the slot is vertical and filled
with thermal material for heat storage and retrieval.
[0081] Fig. 3 is a depiction of an energy storage and retrieval environment
where the slot is U-shaped.
[0082] Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B are depictions of the flow of thermal fluid in an
energy storage and retrieval
environment.
[0083] Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are depictions of a binary loop where there is slot
filled with thermal material for heat
storage and retrieval.
[0084] Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 are depictions of a single loop where there is a slot
with thermal material for heat
storage and retrieval.
[0085] Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 12 are depictions of a rock
reservoir where there is fractured rock used
for heat storage and retrieval.
[0086] Fig. 13 is a depiction of the vertical well for controlling flow
through different segments (segmented
flow). For non-segmented flow the wells are not perforated (not shown).
[0087] Fig. 14 is a depiction a cross-section of the vertical well for
segmented flow.
[0088] Fig. 15 is another depiction of the rock reservoir containing fractured
rock.
[0089] Fig. 16 and 17 are depictions of a binary loop containing fractured
rock.
[0090] Fig. 18, Fig. 19, Fig. 20, Fig. 21, Fig. 22, and Fig. 23 are depictions
of segments in the vertical wells.
[0091] Fig. 24 is a depiction of a flow-controlled bi-cylindrical (FCB) valve.
[0092] Fig. 25, Fig. 26, and Fig. 27 are depictions of cross sections of the
FCB valve.
[0093] Fig. 28A, Fig. 28B, Fig. 29A, Fig. 29B, Fig. 30A, Fig 30B, and Fig. 31
are depictions of a non-binary
arrangement of wells in fractured rock environments.
[0094] Fig. 32A, Fig. 32B, Fig. 32C, Fig 32D, Fig. 33A, Fig. 33B, Fig. 34A,
Fig. 34B, Fig. 35A, Fig. 35B, Fig.
36A, Fig. 36B, Fig. 37A, Fig. 37B, Fig. 38A, Fig. 38B, Fig. 39A, and Fig. 39B
are depictions of variants for
charging (i.e., storing) and discharging (i.e., retrieving) energy in an
adiabatic encapsuled CAES system.
[0095] Fig. 40 is a depiction of a symbiotic distributed compressed air energy
storage system.
Detailed Description of the Embodiments of the Invention
[0096] The systems and methods herein use slot drilling or rock fracturing at
the subsurface level. During slot
drilling, a slot is abrasively sawed into a rock (which can be expanded, for
example, by pressurizations) and using
a rope studded with: (i) industrial diamonds or (ii) other hard abrasive
material within a Non-Franking Thermal
Energy Storage and Retrieval (NF-TESR) system. The rope itself may be made
with the abrasive material. The
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slot may have a thickness of a fraction of an inch to a few inches, but may be
larger. Once a slot is sawed, the slot
may be expanded by other mechanical techniques. The slot may be formed by the
sectors of two concentric circles
or in such a way that the center portion is wide and then tapers off to the
dimensions of the wells at the two ends.
This is more like a flattened banana where the middle portion is thicker than
the edges in both the horizontal and
vertical planes. However, the slot may also be of uniform thickness
throughout. The slot, which is filled with steel
balls, scrap steel, gravel, or other materials (SFM), may be below the surface
of the earth or oriented in a vertical,
horizontal, or inclined position. A thermal fluid circulates through the slot
to exchange thermal energy with the
material that has filled the slot. Above the surface of the earth, this heat
is removed from the fluid that is coming
up from the subsurface region by a second fluid. The heat may be delivered to
a consumer directly. During
compression of air, a heat of compression from the Compressed Air Energy
Storage (CAES) system is stored.
Sub-Surface Thermal Energy Storage/Retrieval System (SS-ThEnStoR) of the
systems and methods herein (not
CAES) uses the fractured rock at the subsurface level (below the earth's
surface) to store or retrieve the heat of
compression within the subsurface reservoir environment. The heat may also
derive from other sources, such as
solar, chemical, or electrical sources.
[0097] The systems and methods involve, but are not limited to, the following
enumerated aspects [1] - [14].
[0098] Aspect [1]: In the case of non-segmented flow, there are two or more
vertical or slanted wells (holes)
used to introduce and retrieve heat to the subsurface region via thermal
fluid.
[0099] Aspect [2]: Tubes (circular, ellipsoidal, rectangular, or any cross-
sectional shape) are inserted into the
vertical or slanted wells.
[0100] Aspect [3]: The tubes in aspect [2] can be of insulated material or
heat storage material. The
cement can be of either material, as described above or below.
[0101] Aspect [4]: A slot or fracked rock is in between the vertical or
slanted wells.
[0102] Aspect [5]: The slot may be horizontal or slanted.
[0103] Aspect [6]: The slot may be filled with material for absorbing and
storing heat. The one or more
of the wells may also be partially or fully filled with this material.
[0104] Aspect [7]: Thermal fluid (liquid or gas) may flow through the slot
or fracked rock to deposit
heat and remove heat from the fracked rock or slot.
[0105] Aspect [8]: In the case of segmented flow, the two or more vertical
or slanted wells (holes) may
be used to introduce and retrieve heat from the subsurface region via thermal
fluid may be perforated.
[0106] Aspect [9]: For the non-segmented flow, tubes (circular,
ellipsoidal, rectangular, or any cross-
sectional shape) are inserted into the wells and cemented to the surrounded
earth, wherein the wells are not
perforated.
[0107] Aspect [101: For the segmented flow, the two or more vertical or
slanted wells (holes) are
equipped with and an additional internal concentric well each.
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[0108] Aspect [111: The additional concentric tubes from aspect [4] are
separated by the outer tube by
thin bearings and rest at the bottom on disk bearings. One or more of these
bearings may be used in cases of very
low friction or none may be necessary.
[0109] Aspect [121: From aspect [5], the internal tubes are fixed with fins
such that water flow can
rotate the fins to a particular angle, at which stoppers are disposed to stop
the rotational motion.
[0110] Aspect [131: From aspect [6], the rotational motion may also be
achieved by an electrical motor
attached to the inner tube. In this case, the fins are optional.
[0111] Aspect [141: The lower ends of the entrance wells and the exit wells
may be at the same vertical
heights or at different vertical heights with respect to each other.
[0112] Referring to Fig. 1, slot drilling is performed to yield a thermal
storage and retrieval environment
with a horizontal slot. In this NF-TESR system, the horizontal slot is below
the surface of the earth and has a
thickness between a fraction of an inch to a few inches. Slot filled materials
(SFM) are filled into the horizontal
slot. The SFM is in a liquid phase, gas phase, or solid phase (e.g., cables
made from selective materials, or various
shapes of pebbles (spherical etc.)) for storing and retrieving heat. Some
examples of the SFM include steel balls,
scrap steel, gravel, alumina, bauxite, water, air, ropes for heat storage, or
any other material used for heat storage.
In Fig. 1, cable 20 is within the horizontal slot 25 (i.e., a single slot,
shaded with lines). Cable 20 cuts the slot in
this horizontally, thin formation. The horizontal cut increases the surface
area through which thermal fluid
circulates through the slot. The thermal fluid is in a gas phase, liquid
phase, supercritical phase, or dual phase. In
other embodiments, the slot may be vertical or inclined (not shown). In the NF-
TESR system, wells A and B are
vertically aligned but may be inclined to the vertical, which may be of a
circular shape, rectangular shape,
ellipsoidal shape, or a square shape. The dimensions of wells A and B may be
adjusted to adjust the rate of flow
(or transport) of the thermal fluid. Tubing 10 surrounding cable 20 is
disposed within a first vertical hole and a
second vertical hole extending through the sub-surface region of the earth and
horizontal slot 25 in the sub-surface
region of the earth. Part of tubing 10 surrounding cable 20 extends out of a
first vertical hole at a first end at rig 5
and a second vertical hole at a second end at rig 5. Tubing 10 is clamped to
the end of cable 20 by clamp 7 in rig
5. Tubing 10 may be tensioned and reciprocated by rig 5.
[0113] Well A and well B contain casing 15 (e.g., cement) surrounding
tubing 10, wherein tubing 10
surrounds cable 20. Cable 20 is composed of an abrasive within tubing 10. Well
A is disposed within the first
vertical hole at the first end and well B is disposed within the second
vertical hole at the second end. Well A
disposed in the first vertical hole and well B disposed in the second vertical
hole are operatively connected to each
other by cable 20 in horizontal slot 25. End 17 terminates casing 15 into the
horizontal slot at a first end and at a
second end such that a portion of tubing 10 surrounding cable 20 in horizontal
slot 25 is in direct contact with sub-
surface rock (i.e., the contact zone). Within the NF-TESR system, movement 30
occurs where tubing 10 moves
with cable 20 inside casing 15.
[0114] Referring to Fig. 2, slot drilling is performed to yield a thermal
storage and retrieval
environment with a vertical slot. In this NF-TESR system, the vertical slot is
below the surface of the earth and
has a thickness between a fraction of an inch to a few inches. Slot filled
materials (SFM) are filled into the vertical
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slot, wherein the SFM is in a liquid phase, gas phase, or solid phase (e.g., a
cable) for storing and retrieving heat.
Some examples of the SFM include steel balls, scrap steel, gravel, alumina,
bauxite, water, air, ropes for heat
storage, or any other material used for heat storage. In Fig. 2, cable 22 is
within the vertical slot. Cuts 27 are
disposed in cable 22 such that there are upward cuts in thin formation. The
upward cuts increase the surface area
through which thermal fluid circulates through the slot. The thermal fluid is
in a gas phase, liquid phase,
supercritical phase, or dual phase. In the NF-TESR system, wells A and B are
vertically aligned, which can be of
a circular shape, rectangular shape, ellipsoidal shape, or a square shape. The
dimensions of wells A and B can be
adjusted to adjust the rate of flow (or transport) of the thermal fluid.
Tubing 10 surrounding cable 20 is disposed
within a first vertical hole and a second vertical hole extending through the
sub-surface region of the earth and the
vertical slot in the sub-surface region of the earth. Part of tubing 10
surrounding cable 20 extends out of a first
vertical hole at a first end at rig 5 and a second vertical hole at a second
end at rig 5. Tubing 10 is clamped to the
end of cable 22 by clamp 7 in rig 5. Tubing 10 may be tensioned and
reciprocated by rig 5.
[0115] Well A and well B contain casing 15 (e.g., cement) surrounding
tubing 10, wherein tubing 10
surrounds cable 22. Cable 22 is composed of an abrasive within tubing 10,
whereby cable 22 does not move
relative to reciprocating tubing 10. Well A is disposed within the first
vertical hole at the first end and well B is
disposed within the second vertical hole at the second end. Well A in the
first vertical hole and well B in the
second vertical hole are operatively connected to each other by cable 22 in
the vertical slot. End 19 terminates
casing 15 into the vertical slot at a first end and at a second end such that
a portion of tubing 10 surrounding cable
22 in the vertical slot is in direct contact with sub-surface rock (i.e., the
contact zone). For example, cable 22 is
cutting upward within the 140 degree contact zone.
[0116] Referring to Fig. 3, slot drilling is performed to yield a thermal
storage and retrieval environment
with a U-shaped slot. In this NF-TESR system, the U-shaped slot is below the
surface of the earth and has a
thickness between a fraction of an inch to a few inches. Slot filled materials
(SFM) are filled into the vertical slot,
wherein the SFM is in a liquid phase, gas phase, or solid phase (e.g., a
cable) for storing and retrieving heat. Some
examples of the SFM include steel balls, scrap steel, gravel, alumina,
bauxite, water, air, ropes for heat storage, or
any other material used for heat storage. If the U-shaped slot is not filled
with SFM, the heat is stored in the
surrounding rock 29. The thermal fluid is in a gas phase, liquid phase,
supercritical phase, or dual phase. In the
NF-TESR system, wells A and B are vertically aligned, which may be of a
circular shape, rectangular shape,
ellipsoidal shape, or a square shape. The dimensions of wells A and B may be
adjusted to adjust the rate of flow
(or transport) of the thermal fluid. Tubing 24 is disposed within a first
vertical hole and a second vertical hole
extending through the sub-surface region of the earth and the vertical slot in
the sub-surface region of the earth.
Tubing 24 extends out of a first vertical hole at a first end at rig 5 and a
second vertical hole at a second end at rig
5.
[0117] Well A and well B contain casing (e.g., casing 15) surrounding
tubing 24. Well A is disposed
within the first vertical hole at the first end and well B is disposed within
the second vertical hole at the second
end. Well A in the first vertical hole (but may be inclined) and well B in the
second vertical hole (but may be
inclined) are operatively connected to each other by tubing 24 in the U-shaped
slot. The casing terminates just
before tubing 24 curves into the U-shaped slot at a first end and at a second
end such that a portion of tubing 24 in
the U-shaped slot is in direct contact with surrounding rock 29.
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[0118] Referring to Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, heat is: (i) collected from any
source, such as solar energy,
nuclear energy, geothermal energy, electrical, organic wastes, converted wind
turbine energy, and other forms of
energy; and (ii) then delivered into the ground and to the materials (e.g.,
SFM) in the slot or to the fracked rock.
Also, heat is retrieved from the subsurface region (e.g., the slot containing
cable 20 in Fig. 4A) and delivered to
the surface region (e.g., the interface between rigs 5 and B and wells A and
B). This is accomplished by the
thermal fluid. The thermal fluid is siphoned to and from the subsurface region
containing a slot through wells A
and B. The thermal fluid flows over the SFM in the slot. The thermal fluid
delivers the heat to the SFM, thereby
increasing the surface area over which heat transfer takes place. When there
is demand for the heat, the flow of
the thermal fluid is reversed through the slot to recover the heat. Instances
where NF-TESR system is used only
for heat mining (just removing heat from the ground), the SFM gathers heat
from the surrounding subsurface rock
and delivers the heat to the thermal fluid, such the thermal fluid enters into
the NF-TESR system in a cold state
and leaves the NF-TESR system in a hot state. The thermal fluid also takes
heat directly from the walls of the slot
(as depicted by arrows). In these instances, the only heat source is the
subsurface rock. Thereby, a single
directional flow with no accompanying reverse flow is achieved.
[0119] Processes where the NF-TESR system is used for both heat storage
and retrieval involves: (i)
Flow 1, where the thermal fluid in a hot state from well A is transported
through the slot and over the SFM and
then exits from well B at the other end (see Fig. 4A); (ii) heat deposited to
the SFM and the surrounding rocks
through the slot walls; and (iii) Flow 2, where heat is retrieved with thermal
fluid in the cold state entering
through well B and leaving through well A (i.e., Flow 1 is reversed). In Fig.
4A, a 3-dimensional graph represents
Flow 1 where: the thermal fluid in a hot state enters into the sub-surface
earth via Well A, the thermal fluid flows
through slot, and the thermal fluid in a cold state exits out of the sub-
surface earth via Well B. Thermal fluid may
flow through the slot in a binary closed loop system (two independent loops)
or a single closed loop system.
[0120] Referring to Fig. 5, thermal fluid obtains the heat from the above
ground heat source 35 (using
fluid H in a hot state) in a two-loop system. In this variant of the NF-TESR
system, the heat of fluid H is
transferred to another fluid, resulting in fluid K in a hot state via heat
exchanger 40. The heat from fluid K in a hot
state is transported to slot 45 (i.e., the horizontal, vertical, and U-shaped
slot as described above). The heat may
remain in slot 45 such that fluid K is now in a cold state. Fluid K in a cold
state is transported to heat exchanger
40, from which fluid H in a cold state is transported to heat source 35.
Stated another way, both fluids K and H are
in independent loops. More specifically, well A may be connected to well B
through a pump as to force fluid K
through the slot for the retrieval and storage of heat.
[0121] Referring to Fig. 6, heat is retrieved from slot 45, SFM, and
surrounding bedrocks in a two-loop
system. In this variant of NF-TESR system, fluid H in a cold state is
transferred to another fluid, resulting in fluid
K in a cold state via heat exchanger 40. Fluid K in a cold state is
transported to slot 45 (i.e., the horizontal,
vertical, and U-shaped slot above). The heat may exit slot 45 such that fluid
K is now in a hot state. Fluid K in a
hot state is transported to heat exchanger 40, from which fluid H in a hot
state is transported to above ground heat
source 35. Stated another way, both fluids K and H are in independent loops.
More specifically, well A may be
connected to well B through a pump as to force fluid K through the slot for
the retrieval and storage of heat.
[0122] Referring to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, a single-loop system circulates a
single fluid within a NF-TESR
system for operating a heat-loading phase and heat-unloading phase,
respectively. In certain instances, a pump is
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not required. For example, if supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as
the thermal fluid, supercritical CO2
absorbs heat from the sub-surface slot 45 and rises by sheer buoyancy force to
the surface level through well B.
The heat of the supercritical CO2 is released at the surface level as the
supercritical CO2 flows from well B to well
A above the surface. The supercritical CO2 becomes heavier, whereby gravity is
enough to cause supercritical
CO2 to flow down well A. This cycle repeats. In the single-loop heat loading
phase, thermal fluid in a hot state
from above ground heat source 35 is transported to slot 45 and returns thermal
fluid in a cold state to the above
ground heat source 35. Heat from thermal fluid has been absorbed by slot 45.
Thereby, the single-loop heat
loading phase stores energy. In the single-loop heat unloading phase, thermal
fluid in a cold state from above
ground energy consumer 37 is transported to slot 45 and returns thermal fluid
in a hot state to the above ground
energy consumer 37. Heat from thermal fluid has been released from slot 45.
Thereby, the single-loop heat
unloading phase retrieves energy.
[0123] While Fig. 1 - Fig. 8 depict a NF-TESR system, Fig. 9 - Fig. 27
depict a Sub-Surface Thermal
Energy Storage/Retrieval (SS-ThEnStoR) system.
[0124] Referring to Figs. 9-12, the fractured rock at the subsurface level
(below the earth's surface)
stores heat of compression from the Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)
system or any other heat source.
Fig. 9 depicts a semi-heat reservoir used in the SS-ThEnStoR, which is a cut
through the center of the reservoir
about the xz-plane that is symmetrical about the front face (xz-plane). Fig. 9
depicts a fractured body of rock
represented as region C, which is a semi-cuboid. The outer region D, which is
a semi-cuboid, is a continuation of
the rock mass below the earth's surface. Region C, which is a semi-cuboid, has
been frequently fracked. Thereby,
region C has a much larger permeability than region D. While regions C and D
are depicted as semi-cuboids in
Fig. 9, regions C and D may be ellipsoids, cylinders, or any three-dimensional
shape necessary for the dynamics
of the system. Also, regions C and D can be a single body of rock of the same
permeability or region C can have a
larger or smaller permeability than region D. In Fig. 9, well A is at one end
of the entrance of the vertical hole to
the body of fractured rock below and well B is the other end. Well A and B may
be of a circular shape,
rectangular shape, ellipsoidal shape, or a square shape. The dimensions of
wells A and B may be adjusted to
control the rate of flow (or transport) of the thermal fluid. A thermal fluid
circulates through the slot to exchange
thermal energy with the material stores in it. The dimensions shown on the
diagram of Fig. 9 provide a
perspective of scalability. These dimensions can be as modified as necessary
to store the amount of heat that
needs to be stored. As per Fig. 9, the top of region D is 520 meters (m) below
the surface of the earth but can be
deeper because the type of rock needed might not be at that depth and the
temperature of the earth at that depth
might not be sufficient. The depth may also be smaller than this for the same
reasons.
[0125] Fig. 10 and Fig. 15 depict the frontal view of the reservoir shown
in Fig. 9. The vertical well A is
depicted as having three segments - section J, K, and L, but there may be
more. The vertical well B is depicted as
having two segments - M and N, but there may be more. The uppermost segments
for Wells A and B are segments
J and M, which continue all the way to the earth's surface. The other three
segments, K, L, and N are contained
within the region C, which is semi-cuboid. The bottom of the wells A and B are
closed off from the fractured
rock. The bottom of well B is higher than well A. This difference may be
adjusted to accommodate the dynamics
of the system. The top view of the reservoir is shown in Fig. 11. The side
view of the reservoir is shown in Fig.
12. Wells A and B are perforated with holes in sections J, K, L, M, and N.
These holes may be of any diameter
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necessary to accommodate the dynamics of the system. The number of these
perforations is also determined by
the system dynamics. These perforations are fitted with break valves. The type
of break valves is chosen based on
the dynamics of the system.
[0126] Referring to Fig. 13, wells A and B are depicted as circular for
the sake of simplicity. As
described above, wells A and B may be of any shape (round, square, etc.). In
Fig. 13, sections K and L of well A
are depicted in the upper-left diagram where there are two units of angled
rectangular fin 50 attached to thin
bearing 55. The outer flange 65 surrounds the walls of well A on the sides and
is operatively connected to disc
bearing 60. The walls of well A contain perforations 105. In Fig. 13, the
upper right diagram is the top view of
sections J and M of wells A and B. In Fig. 13, the middle right diagram is
sections K and L of wells A and B. In
Fig. 13, the lower right diagram is the cover section of sections K and L.
[0127] In the upper-right diagram of Fig. 13, cement 95 is a depicted as a
ring structure binding outer
wellbore tubing material 75 (depicted as an outer cylinder) to the subsurface
rock. The inner wellbore tubing
material 80 (depicted as an inner cylinder) is bounded. The tubing materials
75 and 80 may be PVC, metal,
ceramic, or any other material deemed appropriate for the dynamics of this
system. The middle right diagram of
Fig. 13, there is a slight gap 90 between the wellbore tubing (outer cylinder)
and a second wellbore tubing (inner
cylinder) in sections K and L well A. The second wellbore tubing may be
optional.
[0128] Gap 90 allows for a thin film of lubrication (perhaps the thermal
fluid itself) to maintain inner
well tubing material 80. This film makes moving and removing inner well tubing
material 80 to and from the
surface of the earth easier. Cap 100 may be placed on top of sections K and L,
wherein cap 100 is disposed over
the base of the inner cylinder and gap between the inner cylinder and outer
cylinder.
[0129] At the top of gap 90 and between the two cylinders, thin bearing 55
may be used, depending on
the dynamics of the system. Disc bearing 60 may also be placed at the bottom
of the inner tubing (not represented
in diagram). The base of the inner tubing is secured to a thin disc bearing.
[0130] There are two rectangular flanges - flange 65 - on the outer
surface of the inner cylinder. The two
unit of flange 65 run longitudinally and are diametrically opposite to each
other. Similarly, there are two
diametrically opposite units of flange 70 that run longitudinally along the
inside of the outer cylinder.
[0131] For another mode of operation, angled rectangular fins 50 are
placed on the inside of the inner
ring. Angled rectangular fins 50 may be placed at random locations such that
they appear in pairs and are
diametrically opposite to each other. Angled rectangular fins 50 may be angled
in the same direction. The length,
width, and thickness of angled rectangular fins 50 are determined by the
dynamics of the system. Instead of fins,
electrical motors can be connected at the top or bottom of the wells (not
shown) for actuating the rotation.
[0132] Referring to Fig. 14, a cross-section through a vertical well
through break valves 110 is depicted.
Both of the well tubing materials in sections K and L are perforated with
numerous holes as perforations 105.
Placement of break valves 110 in perforations 105 is one way to accommodate
flow in a single direction. There
may be six units of break valves 110, which are: (i) fitted across (i.e., span
across) cement 95 (outermost cylinder
in Fig. 14), outer tubing 75 (second outer most cylinder in Fig. 14), gap 90
(third outermost cylinder in Fig. 14),
and inner tubing (fourth outermost cylinder in Fig. 14); and (ii) terminated
at hollow region 115. The break valves
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110 are not placed on the outer wellbore tubing in instances of the optional
inner wellbore tubing. The break
valves may be placed in the perforations of the optional inner tubing only,
despite both the inner and outer
wellbore tubing are perforated. The perforations for both the inner and outer
wellbore tubing are precisely aligned
for flow to take place. Additionally, if the optional tubing is used,
maintenance is obviated where the break valves
may be fitted in the perforations and across the tubing for stability
purposes. The inside and/or the outside of the
outer cylinder may or may not be covered with a sieve to block sand particles
to be introduced in between the
cylinders.
[0133] Referring to Fig. 16, thermal fluid obtains the heat from the above
ground heat source 35 (using
fluid H in a hot state) in a two-loop system. In this variant of SS-ThEnStoR,
the heat of fluid H is transferred to
another fluid, resulting in fluid K in a hot state via heat exchanger 40. The
heat from fluid K in a hot state is
transported to fractured rock 45. The heat may remain in fractured rock 45
such that fluid K is now in a cold state.
Fluid K in a cold state is transported to heat exchanger 40, from which fluid
H in a cold state is transported to heat
source 35. Stated another way, both fluids K and H are in independent loops.
More specifically, well A may be
connected to well B through pump 120 as to force fluid K through fractured
rock 45 for the storage of heat.
[0134] Referring to Fig. 17, heat is retrieved from the fractured rock in
a two-loop system. In this
variant of SS-ThEnStoR, fluid H in a cold state is transferred to another
fluid, resulting in fluid K in a cold state
via heat exchanger 40. Fluid K in a cold state is transported to fractured
rock 45. The heat may exit the fractured
rock such that fluid K is now in a hot state. Fluid K in a hot state is
transported to heat exchanger 40, from which
fluid H in a hot state is transported to above ground heat source 35. Stated
another way, both fluids K and H are in
independent loops. More specifically, well A may be connected to well B
through two units of pump 120 as to
force fluid K through the fractured rock for the retrieval of heat.
[0135] While not depicted, a single-loop system circulates a single fluid
within SS-ThEnStoR for
operating a single loop heat-loading phase and single loop heat-unloading
phase, respectively. In certain instances,
a pump is not required. For example, if supercritical CO2 is used as the
thermal fluid, supercritical CO2 absorbs
heat from fractured rock 45 and rises by sheer buoyancy force to the surface
level through well B. The heat of the
supercritical CO2 is released at the surface level as the supercritical CO2
flows from well B to well A above the
surface. The supercritical CO2 becomes heavier. Thereby, gravity is enough to
cause supercritical CO2 to flow
down well A. This cycle repeats. In the single-loop heat loading phase,
thermal fluid in a hot state from above
ground heat source 35 is transported to fractured rock 45 and returns thermal
fluid in a cold state to the above
ground heat source 35. Heat from thermal fluid has been absorbed by fractured
rock 45. Thereby, the single-loop
heat loading phase stores energy. In the single-loop heat unloading phase,
thermal fluid in a cold state from above
ground energy consumer 37 is transported to fractured rock 45 and returns
thermal fluid in a hot state to the above
ground energy consumer 37. Heat from thermal fluid has been released from
fractured rock 45. Thereby, the
single-loop heat unloading phase retrieves energy. For the case of removing
heat from compressed air from a
compressor (as in the case of Compressed Air Energy Storage System), the
single loop can be an open loop (not
shown). This means that the compressed air is sent directly to the subsurface
region via one of the vertical or slant
well to give up its heat to the material in the slot or to the fractured rock.
The cooler air exits from the other
vertical or slants well and goes for storage in a cavern or a storage tank.
Additionally, heated air from above
surface (heated by a compressor) may also be sent directly to the subsurface
region through a well to give up its
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heat to the material in fractured rock 45 (or slot 45). The cool air is
returned to the surface through another well to
go to storage.
[0136] Referring to Fig. 18 - Fig. 24, SS-ThEnStoR provides for a break
valve operation mode, flow-
controlled bi-cylindrical valve operation mode, mechanical lift operation
mode, and electrical lift operation mode.
While only a single break valve in shown per segment of the wells, there is
actually a break valve for each
perforation and each segment has multiple perforations.
[0137] Referring to Fig. 18, heat is stored in the subsurface fractured
rock (i.e., loading or charging
phase). During this operation, thermal fluid in a hot state is pushed from the
lower half of well A through the
perforations on LB, facing the lower half of well B, NF. LF and NF are not
necessarily aligned horizontally. The
alignments are also shown in Fig 14. Thermal fluid in a cold state is received
by well B through the perforations
on NF. The thermal fluid deposits heat to the fractured rock in between wells
A and B. For this operation to be
possible, break valves are placed in each perforation of each segment of the
wells as shown in Fig. 18.
[0138] Referring to Fig. 19, the heat is removed where thermal fluid in a
hot state flows out of well A
(i.e., unloading phase). The reverse flow as depicted in Fig. 19 enters well A
from segments KB, KF, and LB from
NF of well B.
[0139] Referring to Fig. 20, heat is stored in the subsurface fractured
rock (i.e., loading or charging
phase). During this operation, thermal fluid in a hot state is pushed from the
lower half of well A through the
perforations on LF, facing the lower half of well B, NF. LF and NF are not
necessarily aligned horizontally. The
alignments are also shown in Fig. 14. Thermal fluid in a cold state is
received by well B through the perforations
on NF. The fluid deposits heat to the fractured rock in between wells A and B.
For this operation to be possible,
break valves are placed in each perforation of each segment of the wells as
shown in Fig. 20.
[0140] Referring to Fig. 21, the depicted mode of operation incorporates
the charging phase of Fig. 18
or Fig. 20 and the discharging phase where the reverse flow, as depicted in
Fig. 21, enters well A from segments
KB and LB from NF of well B.
[0141] Referring to Fig. 22, the depicted mode of operation incorporates
the charging phase of Fig. 18
or Fig. 20 and discharging phase where the reverse flow, as depicted in Fig.
22, enters well A from segments KB
and KF from segment NF of well B.
[0142] Referring to Fig. 23, the depicted mode of operation incorporates
the charging phase of Fig. 18
or Fig. 20 and discharging phase where the reverse flow, as depicted in Fig.
23, enters well A from segments KF
and LF from segment NF of well B.
[0143] Other modes of operation involve: (i) the charging phase of Fig. 20
and the discharging phase of
Fig. 23; (ii) unloading phases in each mode of operation above combined with
in-flow to well A through the
bottom of well A; and (iii) well A divided into more segments than depicted
and the reverse flow (i.e., unloading)
into well A can be any combination of these segments.
[0144] Referring to Fig. 25, a flow-controlled bi-cylindrical (FCB) valve
is depicted. The FCB valve is
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made up of two concentric cylinders that are separated by thin bearing 55 at
the top and bottom positions, and any
other place along the length of cylinders that may be necessary for stability.
[0145] Inner cylinder 80 has angled rectangular fin 50 on its inside that
are so angled as to cause this
cylinder to rotate when a flow goes through inner cylinder 80. Flow through
the cylinder in the opposite direction
causes inner cylinder 80 to rotate in the opposite direction. Inner cylinder
80 also has flanges 65 on the outside.
There may be as many flanges 65 as is necessary. Outer cylinder 75 has
corresponding flanges 70 on its inside.
Flanges 70 may be rectangular in cross-section or any other shape that achieve
a seal. The seal should be formed
when the flanges of inner cylinder 80 and outer cylinder 75 come in contact
due to the rotation of inner cylinder
80, as depicted in the middle right diagram of figure 25. If a seal is not
critical, then the flanges can be more
"loosely" designed without expending effort to achieve a tight seal. The left
diagram of figure 25 shows inner
cylinder 80 only, which is perforated with holes (perforations 105). Each
segment may be perforated differently to
suit the purpose. Depending on the intended operation, the entire outer and
inner cylinders may be fully perforated
or each may be perforated differently. Outer cylinder 75 may be perforated to
match the inner cylinder 80
depending on the dynamics required. In one instance, a rotation of inner
cylinder 80 line-up the holes of the inner
and outer cylinder. The opposite rotation misaligns these holes. When the
holes are aligned, the flow takes places.
The cylinders may be perforated to cause flow to the left, to the right, or
straight through, depending on the
alignment of the holes.
[0146] Referring to Fig. 25, the activation of FCB value valve causes flow
to change direction by 90 to
the left or to the right. Fin 50, as depicted in Fig. 25, causes the thermal
fluid that comes up the inner cylinder
rotate the said cylinder counter-clockwise until the flanges 65 and 70 jam.
The flow of fluid is actuated where a
unit of orifice 125 of the outer cylinder aligns with a unit of orifice 125 of
the inner cylinder, as depicted by the
dotted line. At this point the rotation stops. Since the flanges 65 and 70 go
all the way to the bottom of the
cylinders, the flow does not enter the gap between the two cylinders on the
left side. Additionally, the flow is
blocked from flowing through the orifices on the left side. The right side is
now in play and hence the flow goes to
the right. When flow goes down the inner cylinder all the actions are
reversed. While Fig. 25 shows only one pair
of flanges on each cylinder, there may be multiple pairs which facilitate less
rotational movement of the inner
cylinder. As per figure 25, there is 180 rotation of the inner cylinder.
[0147] Referring to Fig. 26, the flow activates the FCB valve to either
cause the flow to continue
straight through or to cause flow to go through all sections of the side walls
of the cylinder. In Fig. 26, the flow is
up. The orientation of the rectangular fin 50 causes the inner cylinder to
rotate counter-clockwise. Flanges 65
(attached to the outside of the inner cylinder) jam flanges 70 (attached to
the inner wall of the outer cylinder) to
stop the rotation. The flow then goes out through the perforations as shown.
When the flow goes down the inner
cylinder, the inner cylinder rotates in the opposite direction. This action
closes off the flow through the
perforations. Thereby, the fluid is transported straight through the cylinder.
[0148] Referring to Fig. 27, the flow activates the FCB valve to either
cause the flow to continue
straight through or to cause flow to go through some sections of the side
walls of the cylinder. In Fig. 27, the flow
is up. The orientation of the rectangular fin 50 causes the inner cylinder to
rotate counter-clockwise. Flanges 65
(attached to the outside of the inner cylinder) jam flanges 70 (attached to
the inner wall of the outer cylinder) to
stop the rotation. The flow then goes out through the perforations as shown.
When the flow goes down the inner
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cylinder, the inner cylinder rotates in the opposite direction. This action
closes off the flow through the
perforations. Thereby, the fluid is transported straight through the cylinder.
[0149] In a mechanical lift may be used such that the inner cylinder is
lifted by rods or wires by a few
inches or far enough to: (i) misalign the holes through which flow is not
needed and (ii) align the ones for which
flow is needed. Releasing the inner cylinder reverse the effect. These rods or
wires are connected to the lift
mechanism on the surface of the earth.
[0150] An electrical motor is attached to the base of the inner cylinder.
The motor is secured to the
ground and the inner cylinder is attached to the disc bearing upon which it
rests. Power leads to the motor are in
the cement between the outer cylinder and the rock or inside the inner
cylinder. Alternatively, the motor can be
remote controlled. This motor can produce the same rotations as the fins in
the FCB valve. For the various
operations of the wells, different combinations of valves maybe needed. For
all operations, the Electronic Lift
Model and the Mechanical Lift Model can be used as long as the relevant
perforations are made in the relevant
locations. Otherwise, the models of the FCB valve in Fig. 25 - Fig. 27 can be
combined in different ways to
accommodate the modes of operation of wells A and B (Fig. 18 - Fig. 23). For
instance, where the mode of
operation in Fig. 18, the upper segment of well A can use model of the FCB
valve depicted in Fig. 27. In contrast,
the lower half can use the mode of operation in Fig. 18. Other combinations
are possible for different flow
patterns. Note that these two models of the valve can be used as separate
entities or combined as a single entity
(meaning a single inner cylinder for both and a single outer cylinder for
both). Based on the operation of the
wells, any two models can be combined as a single entity. Further, for
multiple segments, these valves can be
combined as described above, separately or as single entities.
[0151] Referring to Fig. 28A, Fig. 28B, Fig. 29A, Fig. 29B, Fig. 30A, and
Fig. 30B, and 31 Sub-Surface
Thermal Energy Storage/Retrieval (SS-ThEnStoR) system are depicted where there
is a non-binary topology of
wells in fracked rock environments. The non-binary topology, which results
from one or more combination of the
binary arrangement of wells, allows for linear or non-linear enhancement of
fluid transfer in comparison to a
solely binary arrangement of wells. The wells may be non-segmented variants or
one or more segmented variants
(as described above).
[0152] In an example of a solely binary arrangement wells in a fracking
environment, the conditions of
the system are: (i) 500 meter depth of the heat reservoir; (ii) sandstone
rock; (iii) 26% porosity of the rock; (iv) a
rock permeability of 67 x 10-12 m2; (v) hot fluid at 250 C flowing down one of
the wells in a binary well setup
for 12 hours to charge the system; the system resting for 1 hour after
charging for 12 hours; (vi) the flow of fluid
reserves for 4 hours; and (vii) the system rests for 8 hours after reversing
the flow. The flow of fluid, charging,
and resting steps of the conditions above undergo 10 cycles. For the 10th
cycle, the efficiency of the amount of
sensible heat (which is extracted from the system) in relation to the amount
of sensible heat (which is entering the
system) is 96.9%. Additionally for the 10th cycle, the efficiency of the
amount of sensible heat (which is leaving
the system) to the amount of sensible heat (which is entering the system) is
99.1%. The amount of sensible heat
extracted is 1.41 x 109 kilo-Joules. A combination of these type of binary
arrangements which results in the non-
binary topologies approaches efficiency values of 100%, while also
accommodating heat flows for larger scale
applications.
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[0153] In the non-binary topology of wells, three or more wells can be
arranged as an array of wells.
The array of wells may be arranged and placed in the formation of circles,
triangles, squares or other quadrilateral
shapes, pentagons, hexagons, and other polygon shapes to send water down to
the bottom region through any
number of wells and cold water returns to the top region from unused wells
(Fig. 28A). To retrieve heat from the
group, cold fluid flows in the reverse direction. All of these topologies may
also come with a larger central well.
[0154] In another non-binary topology, six wells can be placed around a
central well in the center (Fig.
28B) instead of six wells disposed at the vertices of the hexagon (Fig. 28A).
Hot fluid may enter through the
central well, pass to the ground, and leave through any number of the
surrounding wells. For heat retrieval, cold
fluid enters through any of the surrounding wells and leaves through the
central well. For heat storage, hot fluid
may enter from any combination of wells surrounding the central well and
leaving from the unused wells. For heat
retrieval, cold fluid may enter from any combination of used wells and leave
through the unused wells. Other non-
binary topologies may be arrays of wells which form a two dimensional
rectangular pattern or concentric circular
patterns. These numbers of wells can be as large as necessary for the
application at hand.
[0155] In the non-binary topology of wells, three wells can be arranged
and placed in the formation of a
straight line (Fig. 29A) or a triangle (Fig. 29B). Fractured rock below the
surface of the earth are connected to the
bottom ends of these wells. Hot fluid may enter one or two of the wells,
thereby delivering heat to the subsurface
region (fractured rock) and returning cold fluid from the other well(s). If
there are two unused wells, then the cold
fluid can return from one or two of the used wells. Stated another way, not
all of the unused wells retrieve heat
from the ground, cold fluid is flown in the reverse direction.
[0156] In the non-binary topology of wells, three wells can be arranged
and placed in the formation of a
straight line (Fig. 29A) or a triangle (Fig. 29B). Fractured rock below the
surface of the earth are connected to the
bottom ends of these wells. Hot fluid may enter one or two of the wells,
thereby delivering heat to the subsurface
region (fractured rock) and returning cold fluid from the other well(s). If
there are two unused wells, then the cold
fluid can return from one or two of the used wells. Stated another way, not
all of the to retrieve heat from the
ground, cold fluid is flown in the reverse direction.
[0157] In the non-binary topology of wells, four wells can be arranged and
placed in the formation of a
straight line (Fig. 30A) or a quadrilateral (Fig. 30B). Fractured rock below
the surface of the earth are connected
to the bottom ends of these wells. Hot fluid may enter one, two, or three of
the four wells (wells in use), thereby
delivering heat to the subsurface region (fractured rock) and returning cold
fluid from the unused well(s). To
retrieve heat from the ground, cold fluid is flown in the reverse direction.
[0158] In the non-binary topology of wells, an array of wells can be
arranged, such as a 4 x 3 array of
wells (Fig. 31). Other array combinations are possible. By way of example, in
this 4 x 3 array of wells, the
number of wells is increased in all directions. Of the 12 total wells, any
amount can be used for charging (i.e., the
in-use wells) and any amount of un-used can be for discharging. For example, 2
wells are used for charging (e.g.,
well in row 1, column 1 and the well in row 3 column 2, then there are
remaining 10 wells which are unused. If
there are two or more unused wells, not all of the unused wells are used for
discharging. In this topology, not all
of the wells need to be used for discharging. One or more of the 10 unused
wells can be used for discharging.
As exhibited in the other non-binary topologies mentioned herein, heat is
extracted by the combination of
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charging and noncharging wells.
[0159] In the above description of the binary and non-binary topologies,
the wells are applied in
subsurface conditions when transporting fluid. In the case of the subsurface
operation, the entire wells with all the
segments are below ground. And the flow pattern can be from one or more than
one segments from the first well
to one or more than one segments of the second well. This segments well
principle can be use in its entirety above
ground for fluid flow in various fluid flow operations, including pipe flow.
For example, the systems and methods
herein can also be applied in above surface condition when transporting fluid.
The segments of the wells are
supported a disc bearing. In above surface instances, the disc bearing is not
necessary as the bottom segments of
well A and well B are disposed on the surface or slightly below the surface.
The remaining segments which
comprise perforations can be aligned with each other, as described above, with
the FCB valve and other valves.
Thus, piping or other transporting devices, which is above ground, connects
well A and well B to each other and
can allow for bidirectional flow of thermal fluid above the surface. In other
instances where piping and thermal
and non-thermal fluid flow is above the surface, a single well can be used for
some simple fluid operations
without the need for the second well. Further, the transported fluid can be
hot or cold. Thus, a flow control
mechanism is achieved by the wells herein.
[0160] In all of the embodiments, while air and fluid may be used
interchangeably, more generally any
thermal fluid can be used (any fluid acting to collect, transport and deliver
heat). A non-fracking single unit heat
and fluid storage/retrieval system can be implemented as an encapsulated
compressed air storage system. The
adiabatic encapsulated compressed air energy storage systems store air and
heat in the same chamber (or vessel
but compartmentalized). In one instance, the encapsulated compressed air
storage system may be used to only
store heat, where a chamber may be: (1) below the ground or about the ground;
and (2) existing wells that are re-
purposed for this technology. It may be noted that these are not drawn to
scale and some of the parts may be
removed from subsequent diagrams for the purposes of clarity, even though
these removed parts are present in the
actual implementation of these diagrams. In all of the embodiments below,
annular is taken to mean the gap
between two concentric vessels. In all of the embodiments, the adiabatic
encapsulated compressed air energy
storage (CAES) systems are can be sold as a single unit for above ground,
small scale operations. However, they
may also be used for subsurface storage. The compressor to compress the air
and the gas turbine to generate
electricity are each an external unit where the adiabatic encapsulated CAES
systems store air and heat in the same
chamber. Further, compressed air from windmills, compressors etc. can pass
through the focal point (or focal line)
of solar parabolic reflectors to further heat it up. The adiabatic
encapsulated CAES system is also referred to as
the adiabatic CAES capsule.
[0161] Note: In all of the embodiments, three are cylinder separators,
insulation on the double
perforated plates, and multilevel insulation/heat shield around the inner
cylinders. The double perforated plate
has a gap between them to allow the movement of check valves to allow the flow
in one direction or
the other. Some of these valves are reversed (explained in earlier invention).
However, a single
plate may be used as long as there is a gap between the upper heat storage
materials. For clarity,
since check valves have been shown in other embodiments in this patent, they
are not shown here.
Check valves are standard valves selling in most hardware stores and is
therefore not a part of this
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invention. However, for the purpose of clarity, and to avoid cluttering the
diagrams, these depictions are only
shown in the first two diagrams (Figures 32A and 32B). Their absence in the
subsequent diagrams (Figures 33A,
33B, 33C, 34A, 34B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 37A, 37B, 38A, 38B, 39A, 39B, and 40)
does not indicate that they
are removed from the designs.
[0162] Further, while the diagrams show only two levels of insulation on
the inner cylinder, there may
be more or less than two levels of insulation on the inner cylinder. Also,
these levels can be a mixture of
insulation and phase change materials. For example, LI-900 Silica Tiles are
used as one of the layers of insulation.
This is the tile used in the space shuttle to block heat from reaching the
inner parts of the fuselage, which is
recommended in extreme cases. In preferred embodiment, LI-900 Silica Tiles are
used on level surfaces, which
means that the inner "cylinder" may not be a cylinder but rather made of
straight faces as in a prism. However,
they can still be used on curved surfaces but would have to be in smaller
sizes. These tiles are not exclusive. Other
types of insulation can be used (even the spray on ones). To avoid repetition,
the insulation layers or heat shield
layers around the inner cylinder will not be discussed again unless necessary.
[0163] Note that while is some of the descriptions, air may be stated as
the heat transport fluid.
However, the heat transport fluid is not limited to air. Carbon dioxide (CO2),
nitrogen (N2), water (H20), oil, etc.
can be used instead of air as the heat transport fluid. While the shape in the
description is a cylinder, other shapes
are possible, such as rectangular, square, elliptical, etc.
[0164] The cylinder, as depicted in Fig. 32C, may be placed horizontally,
in which hemispherical or
semi-elliptical ends are typically used. Flanges are connected to the center
cylinder to accommodate flow through
the center cylinder. The more complex case of having flow from the entrance
and exit of the annular region and
the entrance and exit from center cylinder at the same time are shown in
figures 37A and 37B. For flow just
through the entrance or exit of annular region, the flange from the center
cylinder is blinded. In other figures, the
flanges are not explicitly shown for the sake of clarity.
[0165] Specifics regarding the features of the various configurations of
encapsulated CAES systems are
described below.
[0166] A first variant of the adiabatic Encapsulated CAES system is a HeF-
StoR system with lower
level heat and fluid storage and retrieval system, as depicted in Fig. 32A,
Fig. 32B, Fig. 32C, and Fig. 31D. In the
Central Flow Lower Annular Heat Reservoir Central Hot Fluid Duct variation
(see Fig. 32A), hot fluid uses the
center cylinder as its conduit. Heat is stored in the lower part of this
system. The first cylinder has a controlled
opening at the top. It can open and close whenever the need arises. During the
charging (heat and fluid storage)
process (see Fig. 32A), hot air is forced down the first cylinder. The double
plates with perforations facilitate the
flow of air to the region below it and to the region above it. The double
plates are configured in such a way that
they can close off the perforations when there is no flow (this is the nature
of the check valves). These check
valves on the plates are between the first and second cylinders. The extension
of this plate between the second and
third and between the third and fourth cylinders are not necessarily
perforated. These extensions serve to help
keep the cylinders in place. They may also be flanges from the cylinders to
seal those gaps. The bottom of the
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system may be plates joined to the bottom of the cylinders or welded in the
case of metals. The top plate that
covers the system (with the only hole through the first or inner cylinder) can
also be joined or welded or tightly
pressed against the head with a gasket in between them. The bottom plate may
simply be the ground if the
cylinders can be placed in groves on the floor. Extremely high pressures may
not make this possible in some
cases. Also, additional support may be placed between the cylinders to
maintain rigidity. These are called cylinder
separators in the diagram. The first cylinder is the innermost one, which has:
(i) perforations disposed on its lower
portion and (ii) venting to the lowest level of heat storage material (e.g.,
heat storage material C). The inner
cylinder may also be equipped with the bidirectional valve described in an
earlier embodiment or perforations on
the lower portion of the inner cylinder. Furthermore, the upper segment of the
first cylinder (above the heat
storage materials) may have a smaller cross-sectional area than the bottom
part. This depiction is shown in figure
34A and 34B. In other cases they may be used but not necessarily shown in the
other diagrams. This allows for
greater storage volume in the cold storage duct between the first and the
second cylinders. As the air passes
through the perforations, the air is forced upward and passes through the
other heat storage materials (heat storage
materials B and A). The heat storage material separators might be a physical
or just a virtual boundary. In the case
of a physical boundary, made of a plate of an appropriate material (e.g.,
copper, steel, aluminum, etc.), the
physical boundary can be perforated to facilitate the flow of fluid. While
there are three heat storage materials
shown, there may be more or less than three heat storage materials. The cold
air exits the heat storage material 'A'
and gets stored in the upper segment between the first and the second
cylinder. Material A, B, and C can be
chosen depending on the pressure, flow velocity, temperature, fluid type, and
other factors. In the case of fast
flowing air, material C may be aluminum, alumina, or copper. While these
materials have fairly low heat
capacities, relatively high heat conductivity is a property allowing a
material to quickly absorb heat from the
faster flowing fluid. As the air passes through material C, the air flow slows
down and thereby, material B can
have a smaller heat conductivity than material C. Material B can be steel but
other materials can be used as
material B as well. For the same reasons above, material A can be gravel or
another material. However, some
applications may consider the order of these materials differently. Concentric
insulation layers surround the lower
part (heat storage segment of the system). While three insulation materials A,
B, and C are depicted that
correspond to the concentric insulation layers, there may be more or less than
insulation layers used in other
examples. Depending on the temperature of operation, various materials may be
selected for these concentric
insulation layers from the group of materials comprising fiber glass, mineral
wool, poly styrene, etc. The lower
part and the upper part of the third cylinder (between the second and third
cylinder) may have different insulation.
The space between the third and the fourth cylinders maybe used to trap a
phase change material. Segment A and
B can have two different kinds of phase change material or the same, which can
arrest heat trying to bleed off into
the surrounding environment. For example in underground applications, in
regions beyond areas corresponding
insulation materials C, the temperature and the environment, which is rock,
just outside of the system are both 50
degrees Celsius. In this example, wax may be used as the phase change
material, in which the rock has a specific
heat capacity of 2 to 3 kJ/kg. Some wax, in that temperature range have a
latent heat of fusion of about 170 kJ/kg.
After the wax takes in a substantial amount of heat (135 times that of rock
for the same mass), the wax starts to
lose heat to the formation and thus functions as a heat capacitor. While wax
is just cited as an example, other
phase change materials can be used in the system depicted in Fig. 32A and Fig.
32B. Instead of a phase change
material, a material of high heat capacity that does not necessarily go
through phase change in the desired
temperature range can be used in the system depicted in Fig. 32A and Fig. 32B.
In place of insulation materials A,
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B and C, various kinds of phase change (or non-phase change) materials may be
used. A mixture of phase change
materials, non-phase change material (in the desired temperature range) and
insulations may also be used. Also,
more concentric layers beyond the fourth cylinder may be used. During the
discharge process, the valve at the top
of the inner cylinder is opened and the fluid reverses its direction of flow,
flows down the gap between the first
cylinder and the second cylinder, through the heat storage materials (heat
storage material A to heat storage
material B to heat storage material C), through the perforations at the bottom
of the inner cylinder, and up the
inner cylinder then out at the top of the inner cylinder (See Fig. 32B.) The
setup of the system in Fig. 32C and
Fig.32D have semi-elliptical heads whereas those in Fig 32A and Fig 32B do
not. The semi-elliptical head comes
with a gasket inside to seal the cylinders against it. While not explicitly
depicted, open and shut valves may be
disposed along the first, second, third, and fourth cylinders in Fig. 32A
through Fig. 32D, to further control the
transport of fluid or phase change material as the need arises. Figures 32A
and 32C are referred to as the
encapsulated versions while Figures 32B and 32D are referred to as the non-
encapsulated versions. However, this
is for ease of communication because both can be used as encapsulated
versions. As per the discussion at hand,
the encapsulated versions (figures 32A and 32B) can be used differently from
figures 32C and 32D. The sections
of all embodiments that encase the heat storage materials and the cylinders
that carry the hot fluids will be made
of much thicker walls from the rest of the system. This saves on the cost by
not making the entire cylinder with
this thickness. If it is desired that all cylinders be of the same thicknesses
(on the thinner side), then the ones that
carry the hot fluids and the ones that enclose the heat storage materials have
to be made of much stronger material
than the rest of the system. The two sections are separated by gaskets (not
shown on the diagrams to avoid
clutter). The two sections can be secured by many methods, however, the one
shown in figure 32A and 32C use
flanges with bolts and nuts. There are valves in the upper flanges
(inlet/outlet) that are shown in these figures. To
avoid cluttering, these depictions will not be shown again.
[0167] The encapsulated versions may be ideal for above ground storage.
The non-encapsulated
versions, may be used both above ground and from the surface to below the
surface of the earth. In the subsurface
case, the cylinder surrounding the heat storage material may not necessarily
need to be thicker as the surrounding
earth may suffice to withstand the pressure. However, if the pressure is high,
then it may be necessary to revert to
a case with the thicker cylinder that stores the heat storage material. These
ones may also be ideal to re-purpose
wells. There may be cases where the outer cylinder may not even be needed,
with the earth serving that purpose.
In all cases of figures 32, the inner cylinder maybe designed with a smaller
diameter for the segment above the
heat storage material.
[0168] It should be noted that the heat storage material may also be
placed in the lower portion of the
inner cylinder, making the entire lower portion of the first and second
cylinders filled with these layers of the
material. Different conductive and insulation materials may be selected from
the ones mentioned above. More or
less layers of heat storage materials may be used. More or less concentric
cylinders with phase change materials
or insulations may also be used.
[0169] A second variant of the adiabatic Encapsulated CAES system is a HeF-
StoR system with lower
level heat and fluid storage and retrieval system, as depicted in Fig. 33A and
Fig. 33B. A third variant of the
adiabatic Encapsulated CAES system CAES system is a HeF-StoR system with lower
level heat and fluid storage
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and retrieval system that contains a rocket-shaped portion for storing cold
fluid, as depicted in Fig. 34A and Fig.
34B. In the Annular Flow Lower Annular Heat Reservoir Annular Hot Fluid Duct
variation, the annulus between
the first and second cylinders is used for the hot air conduit (see Fig. 33A).
However, the entire length of the
annulus may also be filed with the heat storage material. During the heat
storage phase, hot air may enter through
the top between the center cylinder and the second cylinder and deliver heat
to the layered heat storage materials
(which may be placed in a reverse order compared with the Central Hot Fluid
Duct variation). Material A may be
the highest thermal conductivity material and be disposed in combination with
material B as the second highest
conductivity material and material C as the lowest conductivity material. (See
Fig. 33A.) More or less layers of
heat storage materials may be used. More or less concentric cylinders with
phase change materials or insulations
may also be used. In other instances, the order of conductivity may vary among
materials A, B, and C. In Fig.
33B, the heat extraction process is shown for the second variant of the
encapsulated CAES system. The cold air
from the cold storage flows down the inner cylinder and through the
perforations at the bottom of the inner
cylinder and up through the gap between the inner cylinder and the second
cylinder, thereby picking up heat from
the layered heat storage materials, C, B, and A, in that order. The hot fluid
exits the system at the top of the
annulus. The upper segment of the inner cylinder maybe made larger than the
lower portion. This increased the
volume of air stored in the inner cylinder. However, due allowances may be
made to get the air from the annulus
to the heat storage materials, which are achieved by tapering the lower part
of the upper segment of the inner
cylinder to reach the diameter of the lower segment. This is similar in some
aspects to a rocket nose (see Fig. 34A
and Fig. 34B). In the case of figures 34A and 34B, the heat storage material
is stored in the lower central cylinder,
otherwise the principles of operation is the same as those for the variants in
figures 33A and 33B. In both the
Annular and Central Hot Fluid variations, the heat storage materials may also
be placed in the lower part of the
central cylinder, thereby occupying the entire lower region of the first and
second cylinders.
[0170] A fourth variant of the adiabatic Encapsulated CAES system CAES
system is a HeF-StoR
system with lower level heat and fluid storage and retrieval system, as
depicted in Fig. 35A and Fig. 35B. This is
basically the same as variants in figures 34A and 34B but more compatible with
subsurface usage.
[0171] A fifth variant of the adiabatic encapsulated CAES system is a HeF-
StoR system with upper
level heat and fluid storage and retrieval system, as depicted in Fig. 36A and
Fig. 36B. This is referred to as The
Center Flow Upper Central Heat Reservoir Lower Central Cold Fluid Duct
variation Heat is stored in the upper
part of this system and the fluid is stored below the heat storage materials,
all in the center cylinder. (See Fig
36A.) The first cylinder has a controlled opening at the top, which can open
and close. During the charging (heat
and fluid storage) process, hot air is forced down the first cylinder (which
is not a full length cylinder.) The
second cylinder is also not a full length cylinder. The double plates with
perforations facilitate the flow of air to
the region below it and to the region above it. These double plates and
associated check valves are described
above. The extension of this plate between the second and third and between
the third and fourth cylinders are: (i)
not necessarily perforated and (ii) aid in keeping the cylinders in place. The
bottom of the system may be plates
joined to the bottom of the cylinders or welded (in the case of metals). The
top plate that covers the system (with
the only hole through the first or inner cylinder) may also be joined to the
bottom the cylinders or welded. The
bottom plate may simply be the ground if the cylinders can be placed in
groves. Also, additional support may be
placed between the cylinders to maintain rigidity. The entire first cylinder
(inner cylinder) is filled with heat
storage material as described above. During the charging phase, hot air comes
in from the top of the first cylinder
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such that the hot hair is forced through the different layers of heat storage
materials and then through the
perforations through the bottom plate and into the fluid storage segment
below. In this case, the air goes through
the highest conductivity material first, which is disposed at the top most
position (i.e., material A), then the
material with the second highest conductivity disposed in the intermediate
position (i.e., material B), and finally
the material with the lowest conductivity disposed at the lowest position
(i.e., material C). The order may be
materials like aluminum (or alumina), followed by steel, then gravel. However,
the order may change depend on
other factors, as described above. The heat storage material separators might
be a physical boundary or just a
virtual boundary. For a physical boundary, a plate of an appropriate material
(e.g., copper, steel, aluminum, etc.)
may be perforated to facilitate the flow of fluid. While there are three heat
storage materials shown, there may be
more layers or less. The cold air, which exits the heat storage material 'C',
is adapted to be stored in the lower
segment, inside first cylinder. Materials A, B, and C can be chosen depending
on the pressure, flow velocity,
temperature, fluid type, and other factors. In the case of fast flowing air,
material A may be aluminum or alumina.
Although aluminum has fairly low heat capacity, aluminum has relatively high
heat conductivity, which allows
aluminum to quickly absorb heat from the faster flowing air. As the air passes
through material A, the flow of air
slows down. Because of this, material B can be one with a smaller heat
conductivity than material A. Steel can be
used, for example, as material B. For the same reasons described above,
material C can be gravel. However,
materials A, B, and C may be selected from the ones mentioned above.
Concentric insulation materials are
surrounding the upper part (heat storage segment of the system). There may be
more or less than three concentric
insulation materials in other examples. Depending on the temperature of
operation, various materials may be
selected for these concentric layers. Such materials may be fiber glass,
mineral wool, polystyrene, etc. The lower
part and the upper part of the third cylinder (between the second and third
cylinder) may have different insulation.
The space between the third and the fourth cylinders may be used to trap a
phase change material. Segments A
and B can have two different kinds of phase change materials. The phase change
material arrests heat trying to
bleed off into the surrounding environment. For instance, if the temperature
of the region beyond insulation C and
the environment just outside of the system are each 50 degrees Celsius, wax
can be used as the phase change
material. If the environment just outside of the system is rock, then the rock
has a specific heat capacity of only 2
to 3 kJ/kg. Some waxes in that temperature range have a latent heat of fusion
of about 170 kJ/kg. After the wax
takes in or absorbs a substantial amount of heat (135 times that of rock for
the same mass), the wax starts to lose
heat to the formation, thereby the wax functions as a heat capacitor. In place
of insulation materials A, B and C,
various kinds of phase change materials can be used. A mixture of phase change
materials and insulations may be
used. Fewer or more concentric layers than the four cylinders (first, second,
third, and fourth cylinders) may be
used. More or fewer layers of heat storage materials may also be used. During
the discharge process, the top of the
inner cylinder is opened and the fluid reverses the direction of flow. This
fluid is: (i) flowing up through the
double perforated plates at the bottom of the first cylinder, (ii) flowing
through the heat storage material C; (iii)
flowing through material B; (iv) flowing through material A; and (v) finally
flowing out of the first cylinder. (See
Fig 36B.)
[0172] A
sixth variant of the adiabatic encapsulated CAES system is a non-fracking heat
and retrieval
storage system, as depicted in Fig. 37A and Fig. 37B. In the sixth variant,
heat is separated from the heat transport
fluid and store the heat in a single side central heat storage-retrieval
setup. A flange is operatively connected to a
center cylinder and another flange is operatively connected to the hot fluid
source. In the storage or charging state,
hot fluid flows through the annulus. The fluid may be recycled to bring more
heat to the system, in a closed loop
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system or in an open loop system. Also, the reversal of fluid flow retrieves
the previously stored heat. As shown
in Fig. 37A, the heat is stored in between the first and second cylinders. In
contrast to above described systems in
Fig. 32A, Fig. 32B, Fig. 32C, Fig. 33A, Fig. 33B, Fig. 34A, Fig. 34B, Fig.
35A, Fig. 35B, Fig. 36A, and Fig. 36B,
both of the first cylinder and the second cylinder can open and close to
accommodate flow of the thermal fluid.
Heat storage material layers are disposed between the first and the second
cylinders. The storage material
separators are perforated and may be physical plates or just virtual
boundaries, in which case there may be no
perforations. During the charging phase, air flows down the gap between the
first cylinder and the second cylinder
(see Fig. 37A) and through the heat storage material. Materials A, B, and C
may be of different heat conductivities
and heat capacities, as described above. There may also be more or less layers
of heat storage materials than
depicted in Fig. 37A and Fig. 37B. When the air reaches the bottom of the gap
between the first cylinder and the
second cylinder, the air is forced through perforations at the bottom of the
inner cylinder from the annulus. The air
then rises inside of the inner cylinder and exits at the top of cylinder one.
To extract the heat, the reverse flow is
engaged (see Fig. 37B). In this case, the cold air is (i) entering through the
top of first cylinder, (ii) forced to the
bottom and through the perforations there; and (iii) forced in the gap between
the first cylinder and the second
cylinder. As the cold air rises between the gaps, heat is picked in the
reverse order in which it was deposited and
goes through the layers of heat storage material. Thus, the hot air exits at
the top of the second cylinder. The gaps
between the subsequent concentric cylinders (the third and fourth cylinders,
the fourth and fifth cylinders, and the
fifth and sixth cylinders), may be filled with either insulation or phase
change materials or some gaps with one or
the other. There may be more or less concentric cylinders than depicted, in
which the number of concentric
cylinders is dictated by the application at hand.
[0173] A seventh variant of the adiabatic encapsulated CAES system is a non-
fracking heat and retrieval
storage system, as depicted in Fig. 38A and Fig. 38B. In the seventh variant,
heat is separated from the heat
transport fluid and store the heat in a two-sided flow central heat storage-
retrieval setup. The fluid may be
recycled to bring more heat to the system in the seventh variant in a closed
loop system or an open loop system.
Also, the reversal of fluid flow can retrieve the previously stored heat. As
depicted in Fig. 38A, the heat is stored
in the first cylinder. Unlike the previous systems, both the first cylinder
and the second cylinder can open and
close to accommodate flow of the thermal fluid. Heat storage material layers
are in the first cylinder. The storage
material separators are perforated and may be physical plates or just virtual
boundaries, in which case no
perforations. During the charging phase, air flows down the first cylinder
(see Fig. 38A) and through the heat
storage materials A, B, and C. Heat storage materials A, B, and C may be of
different heat conductivities and heat
capacities. There may also be more or less layers of heat storage materials
than depicted in Fig. 38A and Fig. 38B.
When the air reaches the bottom of the first cylinder, the air is forced
through perforations at the bottom of the
inner cylinder. The air then rises inside the annulus between the inner and
second cylinder and exits at the top of
this annulus. To extract the heat, the reverse flow is engaged (see Fig. 38B).
In this case, the cold air is: (i)
entering through the top of the annulus between the first and second
cylinders; (ii) forced to the bottom and
through the perforations therein; and (iii) forced into the inner cylinder. As
the cold air rises in the first cylinder
one, heat is picked up in the reverse order in which it was deposited and goes
through the layers of heat storage
materials. Thus, the hot air exits at the top of first cylinder. The gaps
between the subsequent concentric cylinders
(the third and fourth cylinder, fourth and fifth cylinders, and fifth and
sixth cylinders), may be filled with either
insulation or phase change materials or some gaps with one or the other. There
may be more or less concentric
cylinders and/or heat storage materials than depicted, in which the number of
concentric cylinders and/or heat
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storage materials is dictated by the application at hand.
[0174] An eighth variant of the adiabatic encapsulated CAES system is a non-
fracking heat and retrieval
storage system, as depicted in Fig. 38A and Fig. 38B. In the eighth variant,
heat is separated from the heat
transport fluid and store the heat in a two side flow central heat storage-
retrieval setup. The fluid may be recycled
to bring more heat to the system, in a closed loop system, or it may not, in
an open loop system. Also, the reversal
of fluid flow will retrieve the previously stored heat. However, this is
different from the Singe Side Flow system
because in this case hot fluid enters one side and leaves through the other.
As shown in Fig. 39A, the heat is stored
in the first cylinder. Heat storage material layers are in the first cylinder.
The storage material separators are
perforated and may be physical plates or just virtual boundaries, in which
case there may be no perforations.
During the charging phase, air flows down the first cylinder (see Fig. 39A)
and through the heat storage materials
A, B, and C. Heat storage materials A, B, and C may be of different heat
conductivities and heat capacities. There
may also be more or less layers of heat storage materials than depicted in
Fig. 39A and Fig. 39B. When the air
reaches the bottom of the first cylinder, the air exits. To extract the heat,
the reverse flow is engaged (see Fig.
39B). In this case the cold air enters through the opposite side of the
mechanism. As the cold air rises in the first
cylinder, heat is picked up in the reverse order in which it is deposited and
going through the layers of heat
storage materials. The hot air exits at the top of the first cylinder. The
gaps between the subsequent concentric
cylinders (the third and fourth cylinder, fourth and fifth cylinders, and
fifth and sixth cylinders), may be filled
with either insulation or phase change materials or some gaps with one or the
other. There may be more or less
concentric cylinders and/or heat storage materials than depicted, in which the
number of concentric cylinders
and/or heat storage materials is dictated by the application at hand.
[0175] In all of the embodiments where the air is stored in the annulus,
the central cylinder may have a
smaller diameter in its segment above the heat storage material. This
felicitates a greater volume of storage.
Further, in ALL cases, the cylinders that are responsible to accommodate the
flow of the hot fluid are thicker than
the other cylinders although they may not all be shown on the diagrams.
However, they may also be of the same
thickness if the operational pressures and temperatures allow that. In all of
the embodiments, the inner cylinder
has one or more layers of insulation or surrounded by phase change material or
a mixture of concentric layers of
phase change materials and insulators.
[0176] A symbiotic distributed adiabatic compressed air energy storage
system is depicted in Fig. 40.
Unlike distributed CAES systems known in the art, the adiabatic compressed air
energy storage system is
characterized by the following aspects.
[0177] The nodes, A, G, M, D, J, and P may be close to each other or far
apart. STUV is a reference
surface, which is the earth's surface. WX is a fluid storage unit, which may
be of any shape and shown to be a
cylinder. WX is located below the earth's surface in the diagram, which may be
on or above the earth's surface in
other instances. A, G, M, D, J, and P are inlets/outlets for the pipe segments
ABC, DEF, GHI, JKL, MNO, and
PQR (i.e., the conduits of storage). The segments AB and BC are shown at an
angle, as with all the other conduits,
and may be acute, obtuse or straight-line or even larger than 180 degrees,
depending on the application and ABC
may also be curved. If the conduit ABC happens to be above ground, it may be
in the horizontal plane or any
plane angled to the horizontal. The same can be said for it below the ground.
The same can be said for all the
other conduits. In the case of ABC being in the horizontal plane below the
surface, a vertical pipe will have to
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protrude from A to the surface. The conduits may be of any shape, e.g.,
curved, several straight-line segments, etc.
Each segment (AB, BC, DE, DF, etc.) or the entire lengths of the conduits
(ABC, DEF, etc.) are equipped with
heat reservoir on its inside.
[0178] In contrast to heat storage systems in the prior art, the heat
storage systems are in the conduits
(not outside on the surface of the earth) where: (i) the heat storage systems
are layered; (ii) there is inter-
connectivity between the nodes, A, G, M, D, J, and P via valves; (iii) all or
some of the fluid flow can be directed
to one or more nodes by adjusting the valves shown in Fig. 40; (iv) each node
can share in each other's heat
content, as based on (iii), which is ideal in emergencies (e.g., one town is
hit with a storm and needs extra power).
The nodes are equipped with valves to intake or release fluid to or from an
external source, which may be in a
separate town. Town 'A' may be windy and therefore can produce compressed air
by way of wind energy. Other
towns may be using other means, for instance pumped hydro or solar power. The
compressed air flows through
the conduit ABC to the storage WX, which gives p the heat to a built in heat
storage unit (built in to ABC). The
heat storage unit used in Fig. 40 may similar or identical to the heat storage
unit in Fig. 39A and Fig. 39B.
Modifications of Fig. 39A and Fig. 39B can also be made, although not
necessary to conform to the adiabatic
environment depicted in Fig. 40. Some of the modifications may include:
removing all of the concentric cylinders
and use the part of ABC as the enclosure; using some or all or one of the
layered heat storage materials; and/or
using some or all of the layered heat storage material along with perhaps one
outer cylinder with phase change
material or maybe one or two or more concentric cylinders with phase change
materials. The system in Fig. 39A
and Fig. 39B can be placed longitudinally inside ABC or take the shape of the
inside of ABC. In the event of not
using any concentric cylinders, the layered heat storage materials may simply
be packed to fill the cross-section of
ABC, with the material that has the highest heat conductivity being closest to
A, which is the point of entry for hot
air. Other arrangements may be possible as well.
[0179] For example, when the town that has inlet 'A' produces compressed
air, the air flows from A to
B to C and into WX. In this flow, heat is deposited to the inbuilt heat
storage system. When that town needs
electricity, a valve at A allows air to exit, thereby reversing the flow of
air from WX and now through CBA. It
absorbs the heat from the built in heat storage and exits A as hot air. The
same process occurs from other sites,
namely, G, M, D, J, and P. The symbiotic relationship comes in to play when a
town has an emergency. There
may be instances where say site G needs to generate more electricity. In this
case, the valves between A and G
and between M and G may be opened. This way, not only do the valve combine
airflow in emergencies, the
valves also share the heat content from each conduit. The valves between S and
V and between T and U may also
be opened to accommodate flows from the other side. Note, that WX is shown as
a horizontal cylinder but maybe
a vertical one or an incline or an arc or any other shape. And the shapes are
not limited to cylinders. In the case of
a disc shape, the conduits maybe placed around the circumference. If there is
enough piping volume beyond the
heat storage material, a vessel may not be employed. To give a sense of the
lengths, BC and AB may be a fraction
of a kilometer to several kilometers long. Note there may be more than one
node in a small town and while the
diagram shows only these nodes and conduits, other nodes and conduit
combinations are possible.
Other Embodiments
[0180] The detailed description set-forth above is provided to aid those
skilled in the art in practicing the
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present invention. However, the invention described and claimed herein is not
to be limited in scope by the
specific embodiments herein disclosed because these embodiments are intended
as illustration of several aspects
of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the
scope of this invention. Indeed,
various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and
described herein will become apparent to
those skilled in the art from the foregoing description which does not depart
from the spirit or scope of the present
inventive discovery. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the
scope of the appended claims.
References Cited
[0181] All
publications, patents, patent applications and other references cited in this
application are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the
same extent as if each individual
publication, patent, patent application or other reference was specifically
and individually indicated to be
incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Citation of a
reference herein shall not be construed as an
admission that such is prior art to the present invention.
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