Patent Description:
The consumption of energy as well as the demand for producing energy in an environmental friendly manner has been increasing over the last decades and - amongst others due to global warming - it is expected to further increase over the following years. It therefore is of utmost importance that energy handling is performed in an efficient manner.

Although a number of energy handling, storing and conversion systems have been explored over the last tens of years, there is still a quest for efficient energy handling systems. <CIT>, which can be considered as the closest prior art, discloses a heat exchanger having an inner tube and an outer tube for the passage of fluids interchanging heat. Inflatable cells are provided at the outer tube.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a good system for handling energy, e.g. storing, transmitting or converting energy. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that efficient systems for handling energy are provided.

The above objective is accomplished by an apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

The present invention relates to an energy handling system for converting, storing or transmitting energy. The energy handling system comprises a heat exchange unit for exchanging heat between a first substance and a second substance. The heat exchange unit comprises a first inner compartment and a second outer compartment. The first inner compartment and the second outer compartment are positioned adjacent each other and are being separated by a heat exchange inner compartment so as to form in the first inner compartment a hermetically sealed volume between the outer surface of the balloon and the heat exchange surface. The hermetically sealed volume is being filled with the first substance and the balloon is being configured for being filled with a balloon fluid. The second outer compartment is being filled with the second substance.

The area of the heat exchange surface that is in contact with the first substance and the second substance remains substantially the same during the heat exchange process. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that the energy handling system is based on a unit, which may be referred to as a HBVI-unit (Hydraulic Balloon Vessel Interface), which is a unit providing substantially the same heat exchange surface area during the heat exchange process. This unique characteristic results in the fact that the energy conversion system can be performed with a high efficiency, i.e. with high yield. It is for example an advantage of systems according to embodiments of the present invention that little or no losses occur due to friction, since the HBVI unit does not substantially suffer from surfaces that are in contact with each other. The first inner compartment also may be referred to as the vessel. Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is made to the surface area of the heat exchange surface being substantially the same during the heat exchange process, this means that at least during <NUM>% (for example during <NUM>% or during <NUM>%) of the time of heat exchange in the system, the surface area of the heat exchange surface that is in contact with the first substance and the second substance varies less than <NUM>% (for example varies less than <NUM>%, for example less than <NUM>%).

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the system may furthermore comprise a controller for controlling one of the volume of the balloon fluid in the balloon or the second substance in the second outer compartment, for inducing a heat exchange at the heat exchange surface.

The controller may be programmed for controlling the heat exchange process to occur under substantially isentropic, isobaric, isothermic and/or polytropic conditions, during at least <NUM>% of the heat exchange process, advantageously during at least <NUM>% of the heat exchange process or at least <NUM>% of the heat exchange process or at least <NUM>% of the heat exchange process. It is an advantage of at least some embodiments of the present invention that the conditions under which the heat exchange process can occur can be fully controlled, so that a substantially isothermic process, a substantially isentropic process, a substantially isobaric process, a polytropic process or a combination thereof can be selected and fully controlled.

The controller may be programmed for controlling the heat exchange process to occur under substantially the same temperature. In one particular example operation at a substantially constant temperature can for example be obtained, which may advantageously result in especially efficient heat exchange.

According to some embodiments, the balloon may be fixed at two positions in the first inner compartment to form the hermetically sealed volume but to further not touch the walls of the first inner compartment during the heat exchange process. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that energy storage and/or energy conversion can be performed with low losses. It is for example an advantage that the system is not based on a moving piston, since the latter results in friction losses.

It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that by the use of a balloon in a vessel unit as configured as indicated in embodiments the present invention, the amount of dead space in the system is close to zero, resulting in an efficient energy conversion wherein nearly the full volume of the system is used for energy conversion.

The balloon may be pre-shaped so that the shape of the balloon, when the balloon is filled, fills a large part of the volume of the first inner compartment without touching the first inner compartment except at the two fixation points.

The balloon may be fixed in a pre-tensioned manner. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that by fixing the balloon in a pre-tensioned manner, it is assured that no or less contact is present between the balloon and the vessel, also upon filling the balloon with the balloon fluid, thus allowing the area of the heat exchange surface to be and remain substantially constant during the heat exchange process.

According to at least some embodiments, the heat exchange process may be controlled for occurring at a pressure in the range <NUM> to <NUM> bar, e.g. in the range <NUM> to <NUM> bar. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that the pressure at which the heat exchange process is controlled may be selected so that an especially efficient system is obtained. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that the pressure at which the heat exchange process is controlled may be selected so that the system can be kept compact in size.

The heat exchange process may be controlled for occurring with a maximum volume exchange of the balloon in the range <NUM> to <NUM> times, e.g. in the range <NUM> to <NUM> times. The balloon may be made of a material allowing extension towards at least <NUM>% of its volume, e.g. at least <NUM>% of its volume, e.g. at least <NUM>% of its volume, e.g. at least <NUM>% of its volume, without breaking.

The second outer compartment may be isolated from the outer world by an isolation tube. The isolation tube may be an isolation tube providing an additional cavity around the second outer compartment, whereby the additional cavity may be under vacuum or for example filled with an isolation fluid.

The heat exchange surface may be made of a pressure resistant material. The heat exchange surface may be made of any type of material such as for example a metal like aluminum, a metal composite, or alike. Selection of the material may depend on the temperature at which processing will be performed. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited by the materials that is selected, provided they are resistant to the pressures and the temperatures used for performing the heat exchange process.

The balloon fluid may be oil. The first substance may in some embodiments be a liquid, e.g. water.

The first substance may in some embodiments be a supercritical gas.

The second substance may be a liquid. The second substance may be a cold liquid or may be a warm liquid. In some embodiments, the second substance may be a gas. The heat exchange unit may be substantially cylindrically shaped and the first inner compartment and the second outer compartment may be configured as substantially concentric compartments. The compartments may be substantially cylindrically shaped. Alternatively, the compartment also may have any other suitable shape, such as for example droplet shaped.

The system may comprise a pumping unit for controlling the volume of the balloon fluid in the balloon.

In some embodiments, the heat exchange unit may be configured for allowing the system to operate as a compressor.

In some embodiments, he heat exchange unit may be configured for allowing the system to operate as an expander.

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims.

The present invention relates to an energy handling system.

Such an energy handling system may be a system adapted for converting energy, storing energy, transmitting energy,. The energy handling system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises at least one heat exchange unit for exchanging heat between a first substance and a second substance. It is to be noted that the energy handling system may comprise more than one heat exchange unit. The energy handling system may be based on performing expansion or compression of a fluid or may perform a plurality of such actions, resulting in the possibility for converting between different types of energy, such as for example heat/cold, electric energy, mechanical energy, etc.. According to embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchange unit comprises a first inner compartment and a second outer compartment. The first inner compartment and the second outer compartment are positioned adjacent each other and are being separated by a heat exchange surface. The heat exchange unit also comprises a balloon being mounted in the first inner compartment so as to form in the first inner compartment a hermetically sealed volume between the outer surface of the balloon and the heat exchange surface. The hermetically sealed volume is being filled with the first substance and the balloon is being configured for being filled with a balloon fluid. The second outer compartment is being filled with the second substance. According to embodiments of the present invention, the area of the heat exchange surface that is in contact with the first substance and the second substance remains substantially the same during the heat exchange process.

By way of illustration, embodiments not being limited thereto, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will further be discussed with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic representation of an exemplary energy handling system <NUM>. The energy handling system <NUM> is based on one or more heat exchange units <NUM>, which may be referred to as a HBVI-unit (Hydraulic Balloon Vessel Interface). The one or more heat exchange units <NUM> may be used for performing compression and/or expansion of a fluid, used in the energy handling action. The one or more heat exchange units <NUM> may be controlled by a controller <NUM>. Such a controller may comprise any suitable processor. In some embodiments, such a controller may be configured for controlling fluids in the one or more heat exchange units, for inducing a heat exchange at the heat exchange surface of the heat exchange units <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be programmed for controlling the heat exchange process to occur under substantially isentropic, isobaric, isothermic and/or polytropic conditions, during at least <NUM>% of the heat exchange process, advantageously during at least <NUM>% of the heat exchange process or at least <NUM>% of the heat exchange process or at least <NUM>% of the heat exchange process. It is an advantage of at least some embodiments of the present invention that the conditions under which the heat exchange process can occur can be fully controlled, so that a substantially isothermic process, a substantially isentropic process, a substantially isobaric process, a polytropic process or a combination thereof can be selected and fully controlled. In one embodiment, the controller <NUM> may be programmed for controlling the heat exchange process to occur under substantially the same temperature. In one particular example operation at a substantially constant temperature can for example be obtained, which may advantageously result in especially efficient heat exchange. For controlling the fluids in the at least one heat exchange unit <NUM>, the energy handling system <NUM> may comprise one or more pumping systems <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a heat exchange unit as can be used in embodiments of the present invention. The heat exchange unit <NUM> allows for exchanging heat between a first substance <NUM> and a second substance <NUM>. The first substance may in some embodiments be a liquid, e.g. water. The first substance may in some embodiments be a supercritical gas. Furthermore, additional interface liquids may be used to avoid anyt kind of contamination. The heat exchange unit <NUM> comprises a first inner compartment <NUM> and a second outer compartment <NUM>. The first inner compartment <NUM> and the second outer compartment <NUM> are positioned adjacent each other and are separated by a heat exchange surface <NUM>. The heat exchange surface <NUM>, corresponding with the outer surface of the first inner compartment <NUM>, is defined by the outer surface of a vessel. Since high pressures may be induced in the first inner compartment <NUM>, the outer surface of the first inner compartment <NUM>, i.e. the heat exchange surface <NUM>, typically may be made of a pressure resistant material. Such a material may be any type of material such as for example a metal like aluminum, a metal composite, or alike. Selection of the material may also depend on the temperature at which processing will be performed. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited by the materials that is selected, provided they are resistant to the pressures and the temperatures used for performing the heat exchange process.

The vessel may be substantially cylindrically shaped and the first inner compartment and the second outer compartment may be configured as substantially concentric compartments. The compartments may be substantially cylindrically shaped. Alternatively, the compartment also may have any other suitable shape, such as for example droplet shaped. The second outer compartment may be formed conformally with the first inner compartment. In some embodiments, the compartments also may have other shapes. <FIG> illustrates by way of illustration and embodiments not being limited thereto, two examples of cross-sections for the vessels that can be used, a first one for a cylindrically shaped vessel and a second one for an alternatively shaped vessel, having a larger heat exchange surface area.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in <FIG>, a balloon <NUM> is being mounted in the first inner compartment <NUM> so as to form in the first inner compartment <NUM> a hermetically sealed volume <NUM> between the outer surface of the balloon <NUM> and the heat exchange surface <NUM>. The balloon <NUM> may be made of any suitable material such as rubber materials suited for the temperature ranges and the fluids that are applied. The material may be selected as function of the temperature that will be used in the system. Advantageously, the balloon <NUM> is fixed at two positions in the first inner compartment <NUM> to form the hermetically sealed volume <NUM> but to further not touch the walls (or touch them as little as possible) of the first inner compartment <NUM> during the heat exchange process. The balloon <NUM> may be fixed in a pre-tensioned manner. By way of example, embodiments not being limited thereto, four different ways of connecting the balloon to the vessel are illustrated. In example A of <FIG>, the balloon is connected to the vessel via a ring shaped fixation means. In example B of <FIG>, a connection with a larger fixation area between the balloon and the vessel is shown. In examples C and D of <FIG>, a connection to the wider portion of the vessel is obtained. In the examples C and D of <FIG>, a connection element that fits at one side to the vessel shape is used. The connection element is provided with an introduction tube, allowing the balloon fluid to be introduced from outside the vessel into the balloon.

The balloon <NUM> typically may be filled with a balloon fluid <NUM>. The balloon fluid <NUM> may be oil, although embodiments are not limited thereto. The balloon fluid <NUM> may be pumped towards the balloon or away from the balloon <NUM> in the energy handling system. The balloon is configured such with respect to the inner compartment that it forms the hermetically sealed volume <NUM> that is filled with the first substance <NUM>. In some embodiments, the balloon may be pre-shaped so that, when enlarging due to pumping with balloon fluid, it enlarges with a similar shape as the heat exchange surface. The balloon also may be pre-shaped so as to compensate for gravity forces working on the balloon and the balloon fluid. The heat exchange process may be controlled for occurring with a maximum volume exchange of the balloon <NUM> in the range <NUM> to <NUM> times, e.g. in the range <NUM> to <NUM> times. The second outer compartment <NUM> is, in embodiments according to the present invention, being filled with the second substance <NUM>. The second substance may be a liquid. The second substance may be a cold liquid or may be a warm liquid. In some embodiments, the second substance may be a gas. The second outer compartment <NUM> may in some embodiments be isolated from the outer world by an isolation tube <NUM>. The isolation tube may be an isolation tube providing an additional cavity around the second outer compartment, whereby the additional cavity may be under vacuum or for example filled with an isolation fluid.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the area of the heat exchange surface <NUM> that is in contact with the first substance <NUM> and a second substance <NUM> remains substantially the same during the heat exchange process. By providing substantially the same heat exchange surface area during the heat exchange process, the energy conversion system can be performed with a high efficiency, i.e. with high yield. Where reference is made to the surface area of the heat exchange surface being substantially the same during the heat exchange process, this means that at least during <NUM>% (for example during <NUM>% or during <NUM>%) of the time of heat exchange in the system, the surface area of the heat exchange surface that is in contact with the first substance and the second substance varies less than <NUM>% (for example varies less than <NUM>%, for example less than <NUM>%).

Claim 1:
An energy handling system (<NUM>) for converting, storing or transmitting energy, the energy handling system (<NUM>) comprising
a heat exchange unit (<NUM>) for exchanging heat between a first substance (<NUM>) and a second substance (<NUM>), the heat exchange unit (<NUM>) comprising a first inner compartment (<NUM>) and a second outer compartment (<NUM>), the first inner compartment (<NUM>) and the second outer compartment (<NUM>) being positioned adjacent each other and being separated by a heat exchange surface (<NUM>),
a balloon (<NUM>) being mounted in the first inner compartment (<NUM>) so as to form in the first inner compartment (<NUM>) a hermetically sealed volume (<NUM>) between the outer surface of the balloon (<NUM>) and the heat exchange surface (<NUM>), the hermetically sealed volume (<NUM>) being filled with the first substance (<NUM>), the balloon (<NUM>) being configured for being filled with a balloon fluid (<NUM>)
the second outer compartment (<NUM>) being filled with the second substance (<NUM>), wherein
the area of the heat exchange surface (<NUM>) that is in contact with the first substance (<NUM>) and a second substance (<NUM>) remains substantially the same during the heat exchange process.