Patent Application
20200049423
The present invention relates to a device for storage, and/or optionally transport, of heat or cold, for the purpose of its subsequent reuse by transfer to a fluid, on the same site or on a different site.
The field of the invention comes within the scope of transport of energy, and more particularly devices for storage and/or transport of calories/frigories, for the purpose of their subsequent reuse by thermal transfer to a target fluid, such as a gaseous flow.
Devices are known which make it possible to store heat, in order to reuse it subsequently, optionally after transport to another site.
These devices comprise a material, with thermal inertia, which is designed to store heat in order then to restore it subsequently, more or less quickly. These devices comprise an opening for introduction of a fluid into the device in order to carry out a thermal exchange between the fluid and the material with thermal inertia, and an extraction opening in order to extract the fluid which is in said device after said thermal exchange.
The use of such devices is complex, requires substantial handling, and is not ergonomic. In addition, these devices are not strong, meaning that they cannot be transported. Thus, they provide little flexibility on the site of reuse of the stored heat, which must mostly be reused on the site where it has been produced.
An objective of the present invention is to eliminate these disadvantages.
Another objective of the present invention is to propose a device for storage of heat/cold with greater flexibility in space.
Another objective of the present invention is to propose a device for storage of heat/cold which is stronger.
Another objective of the invention is to propose a device for storage of heat/cold which is designed for storage on a semitrailer.
Another objective of the present invention is to propose a device for storage of heat/cold which is simpler to use, requiring minimum handling during charge and discharge operations.
Another objective of the present invention is to propose a device for storage of heat/cold which is more ergonomic.
At least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved by a device for storage of heat/cold by means of transfer from a fluid, known as a charge fluid, for subsequent reuse by means of transfer to a fluid, known as a discharge fluid, said device comprising:
With the device according to the invention, the storage module which comprises a internal rigid container is rigid as a whole, and is integrated in the external container. The device according to the invention is thus strong, and can be transported with few or no risks of damage. The internal container can be made of steel, in particular stainless steel. The walls of the internal container can have a thickness of between 2 mm and 8 mm, in particular equal to 6 mm. The internal container can have dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the external container. For example, the internal container can have a width of between 140 cm and 240 cm, in particular equal to 220 cm, and a height of between 140 cm and 240 cm, in particular equal to 220 cm. The internal container can have a length of between 300 cm and 500 cm, in particular equal to 400 cm. In addition, the internal container can be secured on the external container by any securing means, such as by welding, by screwing, by attachment straps, by a rail system, etc.
In addition, the external interfaces for passage of the fluid(s) to/from the storage module are provided on the external rigid container comprising said rigid storage module, such that any ducts which convey the charge fluid and the discharge fluid to and from the storage module are all in the interior of the external container. The internal interfaces are arranged on the storage module, and are thus integrated in the external container. Consequently, the device according to the invention is stronger, and can be more easily transported from one site to the other with fewer risks of damage.
In addition, since the external interfaces are arranged on a single wall or on two adjacent walls of said external container, the connection of the device to an external source of fluid(s) is faster and easier. Furthermore, the device according to the invention can be installed in more confined locations leaving access to only one or two faces of said devices, whilst guaranteeing access to the external interfaces, which is not the case for the devices according to the prior art. Consequently, the device can be used on sites which have reduced accessibility, contrary to the devices according to the prior art.
Preferably, the external interfaces are arranged on a single wall of the external container, in particular on a lateral wall or on an upper wall of said external container. In this configuration, the use of the device according to the invention (for charging or discharging fluids) requires intervention only on one wall of the external container, whilst reducing the handling operations.
Alternatively, the external interfaces can be arranged on two adjacent walls of the external container, in particular close to a ridge formed by said adjacent walls.
The temperature of the so-called cold fluid(s) passing through the cold external interface can be a temperature lower than 600° C., preferably lower than 200° C., whereas the temperature of the so-called hot fluid(s) passing via the hot external interface can be between 200° C. and 1000° C., whilst being higher than the temperature of the cold fluids.
According to an advantageous embodiment version of the device according to the invention, the cold and hot internal interfaces are spaced from the walls of the external container.
In particular, the cold internal interface can be arranged on a wall of the storage module which is spaced from the walls of the external container, such that there is thus a non-zero space between the wall comprising said cold internal interface and the wall of the external container facing it. This space can in particular be an empty space, or it can be occupied by an insulator.
In particular, the hot internal interface can be arranged on a wall of the storage module which is spaced from the walls of the external container, such that there is a non-zero space between the wall comprising said hot internal interface and the wall of the external container facing it. This space can be an empty space, or it can be filled by an insulator.
According to an advantageous version of the device according to the invention, said internal interfaces can be arranged on two different walls of said storage module.
In particular, the internal interfaces can be arranged on two opposite walls of the storage module. Thus, the charge and/or discharge fluid which is injected into the storage module passes through all of the storage module, which increases the thermal transfer between the storage module and said fluid.
According to an embodiment of the device according to the invention, the hot internal interface can be situated in the vicinity of and facing the wall of the external container which receives the hot external interface.
In particular, the hot internal interface can be on a wall of the storage module which is situated on the hot external interface side. This configuration makes it possible to ensure a short area of heat connection, whilst avoiding the phenomena of loss, and optimizing the size of the device according to the invention, since, in most cases, as will be seen hereinafter, the hot ducts have dimensions larger than those of the cold ducts.
In this case, the cold internal interface can be on a wall of the storage module opposite the wall of the external container comprising the external interfaces.
Preferably, the device according to the invention comprises at least one cold duct, connecting the cold external interface to the cold internal interface, and at least one hot duct connecting the hot external interface to the hot internal interface, the cold and hot ducts being arranged in the interior of the external rigid container.
The cold duct can be surrounded by a thermal insulator. The thermal insulator makes it possible to reduce the thermal conduction from the exterior towards the charge and/or discharge fluid in the cold duct.
In the case when the cold internal interface is opposite the external interfaces, then the cold duct can be a duct which is elbowed in order to permit the connection between the cold internal interface and the cold external interface.
According to a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention, the cold duct can have a dimension, in particular a diameter, which is smaller than a dimension, in particular a diameter, of the hot duct. The dimension, in particular the diameter, of the cold duct, can be between 200 mm and 400 mm, in particular equal to 300 mm. The dimension, in particular the diameter, of the hot duct, can be between 400 mm and 700 mm, in particular equal to 500 mm.
The arrangement of the cold and hot ducts in the interior of the external rigid container provides the device according to the invention with an ergonomic and mobile nature which is optimal. In fact, since the assembly of the structural elements involved in the functioning of the charge and discharge operations is contained in the interior of the external container, the use of the device for carrying out these charge and discharge operations requires only connection of appropriate ducts on the hot and cold external interfaces which are arranged in the vicinity on the external container.
Advantageously, the storage module is arranged spaced from at least one wall of the external rigid container, forming at least one space between the storage module and said wall, in order to permit the passage of the cold and/or hot ducts. By way of example, the storage module can be supported on the lower wall of the external container, and can be arranged spaced from at least one other wall, in particular a lateral wall, of said external container, such that there is a space between the storage module and said wall. The cold duct can thus be arranged in this space. For this purpose, the duct can have a rectangular cross section, which permits an optimized arrangement of said duct in the space between the storage module and said wall.
The distance between the storage module and said at least one other wall of the external container can be between 200 mm and 1200 mm.
According to a version of the device according to the invention, the internal interfaces can be spaced from the walls of the external container, the storage module being contiguous to a single lateral wall of said external container.
In particular, the space between the storage module and at least one wall of the external container can be empty or occupied by a flexible thermal insulator.
According to a preferred mode of the invention, the storage module is arranged against the lower wall of the external rigid container, and against a longitudinal wall of said container, the cold and hot external interfaces are arranged on a single lateral wall of said external container, the cold and hot internal interfaces are arranged on two opposite walls of the storage module, and the hot internal interface is situated in the vicinity of and facing the hot external interface. In this configuration, as previously stated, the cold duct is arranged in the space between the storage module and the longitudinal wall of the external container which is situated spaced from said storage module.
According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the external rigid container is a freight container which can be mounted on, and transported by, a semitrailer, and the cold and hot external interfaces are arranged on a single lateral wall of said external container.
In this configuration, the cold and hot external interfaces can be arranged on the lateral wall of the container which is situated at the rear relative to the direction of advance when the container is mounted on the semitrailer. The connection of the cold and hot external interfaces for the purpose of charge and/or discharge operations can thus be carried out by simple reversing performed by the semitrailer.
In addition, as is known in the field of freight containers, in this configuration, the external rigid container can comprise a door for access to the interior of said container, which door is arranged on the lateral wall opposite the lateral wall which receives the cold and hot external interfaces. Thus, when the container is mounted on the semitrailer, said access door is situated on the cab side of the semitrailer.
Advantageously, the device according to the invention can comprise:
It is thus possible to insulate the storage module, for example during its transport.
In particular, the device can comprise a valve arranged on the cold duct and a valve arranged on the hot duct.
In particular, the device according to the invention can comprise at least one temperature sensor and/or at least one pressure sensor, which are designed to measure the temperature and/the pressure of the charge and/or discharge fluid.
Advantageously, a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor can be provided on the cold duct, and a temperature sensor and/or a pressure sensor can also be provided on the hot duct.
Alternatively, or in addition, at least one temperature sensor and/or at least one pressure sensor can be provided on/in the storage module, designed to measure the temperature and the pressure in the interior of the storage module.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the device according to the invention can comprise a means for control of the valves according to the data measured by the temperature and/or pressure sensors.
For example, the control means can close a valve if the temperature in the cold duct is greater than a first temperature threshold, in particular lower than 600° C., preferably lower than 200° C. Similarly, the control means can close a valve if the temperature in the hot duct is greater than a second temperature threshold, in particular between 200 and 1000° C.
According to a preferred version of the device according to the invention, the storage module can comprise:
The storage assembly can be an assembly of pieces made of material with thermal inertia, for example balls, cylinders, Raschig rings and/or granulates made of material with thermal inertia.
The storage assembly can have a length of between 100 cm and 500 cm, in particular between 250 cm and 350 cm.
The rigid insulating layer can be made with rigid bricks, i.e. by assembly of rigid bricks.
The rigid insulating layer can have a thickness of between 100 mm and 150 mm, in particular equal to 114 mm.
The flexible insulating layer can comprise at least one wall made of calcium silicate.
The flexible insulating layer can have a thickness of between 100 mm and 150 mm, in particular equal to 115 mm.
In addition, the storage module can comprise:
Said grids can be secured on the internal container removably or detachably, for example by screwing, or permanently, for example by welding.
Advantageously, the storage module can comprise:
The cross section of the cold diffuser of the cold internal interface side can be smaller than the cross section of said cold diffuser of the storage assembly side.
Similarly, the cross section of the hot diffuser of the hot internal interface side can be smaller than the cross section of said hot diffuser of the storage assembly side.
Preferably, the cross section of said diffusers of the storage assembly side can have the same height and width as the storage assembly.
The cross section of the cold and respectively hot diffusers of the cold and respectively hot internal interface sides can have the same dimensions as the cold and respectively hot ducts.
In particular, the cold grid can be arranged between the cold diffuser and the storage assembly.
The hot grid can be arranged between the hot diffuser and the storage assembly.
In particular, the internal container can comprise an opening in its upper wall, in order to permit access to the storage assembly.
Said opening can be arranged along the entire length of the storage assembly in order to permit filling, emptying, or any maintenance operation in the storage assembly.
The external container for its part can comprise an opening arranged in its upper wall at the storage module, in order to permit access to the storage assembly.
Said opening can be a trap door, in order to allow access by an operator to the storage module, or to the hot and cold ducts for the purpose of maintenance or any other intervention operation in the external container.
In addition, the device according to the invention can comprise at least one diameter reducer which is designed to connect the cold internal interface and respectively the hot internal interface to the cold duct and respectively the hot duct.
Other advantages and characteristics will become apparent from examining the detailed description of exemplary embodiments which are in no way limiting, and the appended drawings in which:
It is understood that the embodiments which will be described hereinafter are in no way limiting. In particular, it is possible to conceive of variants of the invention which comprise only a selection of characteristics described hereinafter, isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to provide a technical advantage, or to differentiate the invention from the prior art. This selection comprises at least one characteristic which is preferably functional without structural detail, or with only part of the structural details, if this part alone is sufficient to provide a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.
With reference to
The external interfaces 104 are arranged on a single lateral wall 1061 of the external container 102, situated opposite the lateral wall 1063 in which a door 101 is provided for access to the interior of the container 102, which access door 101 is designed to be situated on the driver's cab side, when the container 102 is a freight container which can be mounted on a semitrailer.
The device 100 additionally comprises a storage module 108 which is arranged in said external container 102, contiguous to a lateral wall 1062 of said external container 102, and spaced from the other lateral walls 1061, 1063 and 1064 such as to form a space between these walls and the storage module 108. This space can be empty or filled with a thermal insulator.
The storage module 108 comprises an interface 1101, known as the cold internal interface, which is connected to the cold external interface 1041 by a duct 1121, known as the cold duct, and an interface 1102, known as the hot internal interface, which is connected to the hot external interface 1042 by a duct 1122, known as the hot duct.
The hot duct 1122 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the cold duct 1121. In fact, the fluid(s) passing through the hot duct 1122 has/have a temperature greater than the temperature of the fluid(s) passing through the cold duct 1121, and the volume of the fluid(s) passing through the hot duct 1122 is therefore greater than that of the fluid(s) passing through the cold duct 1121.
The hot internal interface 1102 is arranged adjacent to the wall 1061, whereas the cold internal interface 1101 is arranged adjacent to the wall 1063 opposite the wall 1061 comprising the external interfaces 104.
In addition, the cold duct 1121 is a duct which is elbowed in order to connect the cold internal interface 1101 to the cold external interface 1041. The cold duct 1121 is disposed in the space formed between the storage module 108 and the walls 1063 and 1064. This space also makes it possible to form a technical sheath.
The storage module 108 also comprises a container 116, known as an internal container, which is made of steel for example, and comprises the internal interfaces 110. More specifically, the hot internal interface 1102 is arranged on a lateral wall 1161 of the internal container 116 which is adjacent to the wall 1061 of the external container 102, whereas the cold internal interface 1101 is arranged on an opposite lateral wall 1163 of the internal container 116 which is adjacent to the wall 1063 of the external container 102 opposite the wall 1061 comprising the external interfaces 104.
The internal container 116 can be secured on the external container 102 at its lower walls and one of its longitudinal walls by any securing means such as welding, screwing, etc. Securing of the internal container 116 on a longitudinal wall of the external container 102 is preferred because of the more suitable structural arrangements of the longitudinal walls of the external container 102.
The internal container 116 can have a length equal to 420 cm, a width equal to 220 cm, and a height equal to 220 cm. The thickness of the walls of the internal container 116 can be equal to 6 mm.
The internal container 116 surrounds a storage assembly 118 which can be an assembly of balls or cylinders made of material with thermal inertia.
The storage assembly 118 can have a length equal to 325 cm, a width equal to 170 cm and a height equal to 170 cm.
The storage module 108 also comprises a diffuser 1201, known as a cold diffuser, arranged between the cold internal interface 1101 and the storage assembly 118, which diffuser is designed for the dispersion and/or convergence of fluid(s) from/to the cold internal interface 1101 to/from the storage assembly 118.
The storage module 108 also comprises a diffuser 1202, known as a hot diffuser, arranged between the hot internal interface 1102 and the storage assembly 118, which diffuser is designed for the dispersion and/or convergence of fluid(s) from/to the hot internal interface 1102 to/from the storage assembly 118.
The cross sections of the diffusers 120 of the storage assembly 118 side are identical to the cross section of the storage assembly 118.
The cross section of the hot diffuser 1202 of the hot internal interface 1102 side has dimensions close to the dimensions of the hot duct 1122. Similarly, the cross section of the cold diffuser 1201 of the cold internal interface 1101 side has dimensions close to the dimensions of the cold duct 1121.
In addition, the storage module 108 can comprise a rigid insulating layer and/or a flexible insulating layer, not represented in
The device 100 comprises two valves 1221-1222 arranged respectively on the cold duct 1121 and the hot duct 1122.
The device 100 also comprises a pressure sensor 1241 and a temperature sensor 1261 arranged on the cold duct 1121, in order to measure the pressure and the temperature of the fluids in the cold duct 1121.
The device 100 also comprises a pressure sensor 1242 and a temperature sensor 1262 arranged on the hot duct 1122, in order to measure the pressure and the temperature of the fluids in the hot duct 1122.
The device 100 comprises a trapdoor 128 provided in the upper wall 1065 of the external container 102, in order to permit access to the storage module 108 and/or to the ducts 112, for the purpose of a maintenance operation. In addition, the internal container 116 comprises an opening provided in its upper wall 1165 in order to permit access, from the exterior of the external container 102, to the storage assembly 118, in order to fill or empty the storage assembly 118, or for a maintenance intervention in the storage assembly 118.
In order to store calories in the device 100, the charge fluid with a temperature of between 200 and 1000° C. is injected in the storage module 108 through the hot external interface 1042. The hot diffuser 1202 disperses the charge fluid in the storage assembly 118, which permits the transfer of the calories from the charge fluid to the storage assembly 118. By passing through the storage assembly 118, the charge fluid is cooled, and reaches a temperature lower than 600° C., preferably lower than 200° C. The charge fluid is then channeled through the cold diffuser 1201 to the cold internal interface 1101. The charge fluid is finally discharged to the cold external interface 1041 through the cold duct 1121.
The device 100 can be transported, thanks to the external rigid container 102 and internal rigid container 116, to a site other than that used for the storage of calories. As previously indicated, the device can be transported by a semitrailer when the external container 102 is a freight container.
On the other hand, in order to reuse the calories stored in the device 100, a discharge fluid is injected in the cold external interface 1041 at a temperature lower than 200° C. The discharge fluid passes through the cold duct 1121 and is introduced into the storage module 108 through the cold internal interface 1101. The cold diffuser 1201 disperses the discharge fluid in the storage assembly 118 which transfers the calories, previously stored, to the discharge fluid, which reaches a temperature of between 200 and 1000° C. The discharge fluid is then channeled through the hot diffuser 1202 to the hot internal interface 1102. The discharge fluid is finally discharged to the hot external interface 1042 through the hot duct 1122.
The device 100 can additionally comprise a means, not represented in
For example, the control means can close the valve 1221 if the temperature in the cold duct 1121 is greater than 200° C., or close the valve 1222 if the temperature in the hot duct 1122 is greater than 1000° C., or less than 200° C.
It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described, and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the context of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR1752856 | Apr 2017 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2018/050827 | 4/3/2018 | WO | 00 |
