Separated phase thermal storage system

A thermal storage system employing a fluid having a relatively high boiling point and capable of storage in separate phases, together with a substantial quantity of a chemically-compatible solid thermal storage medium.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to thermal storage and is particularly directed to 
methods and apparatus for storing thermal energy in solar energy systems 
and the like. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In recent years, the world has become aware that its oil reserves are 
finite and are approaching depletion. As a result, there has been 
considerable study of alternative energy sources. One of the most 
promising of these alternatives is solar energy. However, due to diurnal 
temperature changes, cloudiness and various other matters, the problem of 
thermal storage has been one of the major obstacles to widespread 
acceptance of solar energy systems, especially for large scale systems, 
such as municipal utilities. 
One technique for solving the problem of thermal storage is taught in U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,124,061, issued Nov. 7, 1978, to Rex. C. Mitchell et al. This 
technique constituted a significant step forward in the art of thermal 
storage. However, the temperatures which the Mitchell et al system is 
capable of storing are extremely limited. Consequently, the search for 
improved thermal storage concepts has continued. 
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present 
invention and a thermal storage technique is provided which is capable of 
storing temperatures several times greater than could be stored by prior 
art systems. 
The advantages of the present invention are preferably achieved by 
providing a dual medium thermal storage system employing a fluid having a 
relatively high boiling point greater than about 500.degree. F., for 
example, and capable of storage in separate phases, together with a 
substantial quantity of a chemically-compatible solid thermal storage 
medium. Thus, for example, sulfur has a normal boiling point of 
830.degree. F. and can be stored in separate phases, as a liquid and as a 
superheated vapor, at temperatures up to about 1000.degree. F., together 
with a substantial quantity of solid iron pyrite. Such temperatures are 
close to the upper limits of the operating range of much of the existing 
turbogenerators and the like. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved 
thermal storage techniques. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal storage 
mechanism capable of storing temperatures up to about 1000.degree. F. 
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a 
separated-phase, dual medium thermal storage system. 
A specific object of the present invention is to provide a thermal storage 
system employing a fluid having a relatively high boiling point and 
capable of storage in separate phases, together with a substantial 
quantity of a chemically-compatible solid thermal storage medium. 
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be 
apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to 
the accompanying drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration, 
the FIGURE shows a thermal storage system, indicated generally at 2, 
having a storage tank 4 that is substantially filled with particles of a 
solid, thermal-transfer material 6 having the interstices filled to a 
desired level 8 with a suitable thermal storage fluid 10. The thermal 
storage fluid 10 has a relatively high boiling point, above about 
500.degree. F., and is capable of being heated to still higher 
temperatures in its vapor phase which can exist separately within the tank 
2, as in the region 12 above the fluid level 8. 
The bottom of tank 4 is connected by conduit 14 and 16, pump 18 and conduit 
20 to an evaporator 22 and superheater 24, which are supplied, via conduit 
26 with high temperature fluid from a suitable energy source, not shown, 
such as a solar energy receiver. The superheater 24 is connected by 
conduit 28, valve 30, and conduit 32 to the top of tank 4. The tank 4 is 
also connected by conduit 32, valve 34 and conduit 36 to a heat exchanger 
38, which serves to transfer thermal energy to fluid flowing through 
conduit 40 for delivery to suitable utilization means, not shown, such as 
a turbogenerator. The heat exchanger 38 is also connected by conduit 42, 
pump 44 and conduit 14 to the bottom of tank 4. In addition, a suitable 
overflow tank 46 is connected by conduit 48 and check valve 50 to receive 
fluid from conduit 20 and to deliver fluid via check valve 52 and conduit 
54 to conduit 44 for return through pump 44 and conduit 14 to tank 4. 
In use, when energy is to be stored, some of the thermal storage liquid 10 
is supplied via conduits 14 and 16, pump 18 and conduit 20 to the 
evaporator 22, where thermal energy from conduit 26 serves to convert the 
liquid 10 into a vapor. This vapor receives additional thermal energy in 
superheater 24 and the superheated vapor is supplied via conduit 28, valve 
30 and conduit 32 to the region 12 of tank 4 where it transfers some of 
its thermal energy for storage by the solid thermal storage medium 6. 
Since the fluid, whether gas or liquid, will occupy the same volume, some 
of the liquid 10, withdrawn from the tank 4, passes through conduit 48 and 
check valve 50 and is stored, at its original temperature, in the overflow 
tank 46. 
To discharge energy from the storage tank 4, valve 30 is closed and valve 
34 is opened. This allows the superheated vapor from region 12 of tank 4 
to flow through conduit 32, valve 34 and conduit 36 to heat exchanger 38, 
where the heat is transferred to the fluid in conduit 40 and is delivered, 
via conduit 40, to the heat utilization means, not shown. In the heat 
exchanger 38, the vapor condenses to a liquid and flows through conduit 
42, pump 44 and conduit 14 to the bottom of the tank 4. At the same time, 
pump 44 draws liquid from the overflow tank 46, via check valve 52 and 
conduit 54, to be delivered through conduit 14 to the bottom of tank 4. 
Preferably, the tank 4 will have an aspect ratio (that is, the ratio of the 
height to the diameter of the tank 4) in the range of about 0.5 to 2.5 and 
the pumps 18 and 44 will produce flow velocities in the range of about 2 
to 50 feet per hour. The thermal storage fluid may be substantially any 
desired fluid having good thermal storage characteristics, having a 
boiling point above about 500.degree. F. and capable of existing 
separately in liquid and gaseous phases at atmospheric pressure. Sulfur 
has been found to be a satisfactory fluid, having a boiling point at 
830.degree. F. at atmospheric pressure and capable of being superheated 
and contained, in its gaseous phase, to about 1000.degree. F. The solid 
thermal storage material will preferably be particulate, and will occupy 
about 50 to 95 percent of the volume of tank 4 and must be chemically 
compatible with the thermal storage fluid at elevated temperatures. Where 
sulfur is the thermal storage fluid, iron pyrite has been found to be 
satisfactory as the solid thermal storage medium. 
Obviously, numerous variations and modifications can be made without 
departing from the present invention. Accordingly, it should be clearly 
understood that the form of the present invention described above and 
shown in the accompanying drawing is illustrative only and is not intended 
to limit the scope of the invention.