The present invention relates to self-regulated thermal energy system, methods and consuls thereof.
Various approaches were taken in the art to generate thermal energy, wherein this energy is being either the presence of heat, as provided by a heating system, boiler, heat exchanger or the like, or the presence of cold, as provided by a cooling system, chiller, heat exchanger, or the like. In a simplified manner, a heat exchange system comprises two reciprocal steps: after a first thermal energy exchange, thermal energy carrier fluid is recycled from a thermal energy generator to a client, whereat a second (and opposite) thermal energy exchange is provided and vice versa.
More specifically, and as utilized in many industrial systems, the thermal energy is generated by one or more thermal energy generation sources and supplied in a predetermined capacity to at least one thermal energy client by a means of a conduit system, cycling at least one thermal energy carrier fluid, capable for effective and reversible supply of a predetermined measure of the thermal energy. In a simple case, the thermal requirements of the client are fixed and provided in a steady state along the day so that the thermal production capacity of the generator equals the thermal requirements of the client. In more complicated cases however, the thermal requirements of the client are not steady, e.g., the client's thermal requirements are temporarily lower than the generator's and solids tend to be distributed generally vertically, with warmer layers being positioned above cooler lower layers. A simple to operate and cost effective self-regulating thermal energy storage system is hence still a long felt need.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a self-regulating thermal energy storage system (10) for use in conjunction with at least one thermal energy client (16), which comprising: (I) at least one thermal energy generation source (12) for imparting to at least one thermal energy carrier fluid a predetermined temperature change; (II) said at least one thermal energy client (16) is communicated in series, parallel or a combination thereof to said generator (12); (III) at least one thermal energy storage reservoir (14), adapted to store thermal energy generated by said generator (12) at the time that the said client (16) does not fully utilize said energy, communicated in parallel to a bypass of said storage and in series, parallel or a combination thereof to said generator (12) and said client (16); (IV) a first and a second fluid flow directors configured so that said first director (22A) is located in an upstream junction (USJ) communicating said generator (12), client (16) and reservoir (14); said first director (22A) functions to direct the flow of said fluid from the generator (12) in at least one of two directions, namely towards said client (16) and/or towards said reservoir (14); said second director (22B) is located in a downstream junction (DSJ) communicating said generator (12), client (16) and reservoir (14), said second director (22B) functions to direct the flow of said fluid towards the generator (12) in at least one of two directions, namely from said client (16) and/or from the reservoir (14), being interconnected with the DSJ-USJ supply line, via Dc or Dh, wherein Dc or Dh is a junction communicating said reservoir (14) and said DSJ-USJ supply line junction; wherein the thermal energy consumption of said client (16) equals the thermal energy generation capacity of said generator (12), said fluid is circled directly from said generator (12) to said client (16) via said USJ, and vice versa, from said client (16) to said generator (12) via said DSJ; and, wherein the momentary thermal energy requirements of said client (16) is lower than the thermal energy generation capacity of said generator (12), only a portion of said fluid is circled from said generator (12) to said client (16) via said USJ, and the remaining portion is supplied by said first director (22A) towards said reservoir (14), in case said generator (12) is adapted to cool said client (16) (a cooling system), a cold fluid is supplied to said lower portion of said reservoir (14) thereby to cause a release of heat from the relatively warm layers of said storage medium in said upper portion thereof, yet in case said generator (12) is adapted to heat said client (16) (a heating system), a worm fluid is supplied to said higher portion of said reservoir (14) thereby to cause a release of cold fluid from the relatively cold layers of said storage medium in said lower portion thereof, fluids provided from said reservoir (14) and said client (16) are admixed in said DSJ, and supplied to said generator (12) by said second director (22B); in a particular case, wherein the momentary thermal energy requirements of said client (16) is approximately zero, said fluid is circled directly from said generator (12) to said reservoir (14) via said USJ, preferably until the temperature of the outlet fluid at DSJ equals the inlet fluid at USJ.
More specifically, the aim of the present invention is to disclose the self-regulated thermal system (1) that is additionally comprises a first temperature sensor (12S) and a second temperature sensor (16S), said first sensor (12S) is located upwardly to said generator (12) and a second temperature sensor (16S) located downwardly to said client (16); said first sensor (12S) is in communication with said second director (22A) at the DSJ via a first processing means (PLVB), and said second sensor (16S) is in communication with said first director (22A) at the USJ via a second processing means (PLVA); said processing means (PLVA, PLVB) are adapted to regulate said directors, such that wherein the thermal energy generating capacity of said generator (12) is lower than the thermal energy capacity (i.e., fluid temperature folded fluid flux) of fluid outlet of said DSJ, said second director (22B) is supply higher portion of fluid that is directed from said reservoir (14); and, wherein the momentary energy requirements of the thermal energy client (16), namely the temperature of the fluid exit said client (16) is different from a predetermined measure, said first director (22A) is regulating the fluid outlet of USJ in a manner that less fluid is supplied to said reservoir (14) and more fluid is supplied to said client (146), and vice versa.
Moreover, the present invention discloses a consul (20) for system (10) as defined above. The consul is adapted to control and interconnect modules selected from a group consisting of at least one thermal energy client (16, e.g., three clients 16/1, 16/2 and 16/3); at least one reservoir (14); at least one thermal energy generation source (12, e.g., two clients 12/1 and 12/2); at least one first (22A, e.g., three FFDs 22A1, 22A2 and 22A3) and at least one second (22B, e.g., two FFDs 22B1 and 22B2) fluid flow directors; at least one upstream junction (USJ); at least one downstream junction,(DSJ); supply lines; temperature sensors (12S, 16S), a first processing means (PLVB), and a second processing means (PLVA), chillers (3), solar collectors (1), supply or collecting lines (i.e., lines being parallel, in series, bypass or a combination thereof), and/or connections thereof, or any combination thereof. The consul is modulated, unitary, integrated or stands alone as is control system adapted for controlling the heated/cooled system defined above.
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
The following description is provided, alongside all chapters of the present invention, so as to enable any person skilled in the art to make use of said invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out this invention. Various modifications, however, will remain apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined specifically to provide self-regulating thermal energy storage system and self-regulating method.
The term ‘Energy generation source’ or ‘generator’ refers hereinafter to any source of heat and/or cold. For example, it may be an electric or diesel powered boiler, a solar powered system, a geothermal system or the like; a chiller, or cold river or sea water or the like etc.
The term ‘Energy client’ or ‘client’ refers hereinafter to any ‘beneficiary’ of the stored energy to which energy (heat or cold) generated in the energy generation source is provided. The client can be a liquid, such as, freshly produced milk to be cooled, a solid, such as a molten iron to be cooled, or gas, such as air in an air cooling system. The client may receive the energy either directly or indirectly, for example, via a heat exchanger.
The term ‘Energy reservoir’ or ‘reservoir’ refers hereinafter to any body containing a thermal storage medium having a thermal heat capacity which may change phase or temperature. This medium stores either heat or cold energy by accumulation in thermal layers at a time when energy is generated and releases it to the client when it is required. This latter situation may arise when the energy required by the client at a particular moment is greater than the momentary energy production capacity of the energy generation source. The thermal storage medium may be a solid, such as, rock gravel, as used in domestic heat/cold reservoir systems, liquid, such as any suitable brine solution, or gas, such as steam, and so on. Most preferably, the thermal storage medium is a medium in which thermal layering occurs.
The term ‘Conduit system’ refers hereinafter to conduit system transfers energy from the energy generation source to the energy reservoir and/or to the energy client. It may include, as required, piping, ducts, valves, blowers, and pumps, and, generally, all hardware components that are required to facilitate energy transfer among the other system components. The conduit system may be open or closed, as will be appreciated from the detailed description herein.
The term ‘Control system’ refers hereinafter to any control equipment and software including thermostats, mechanized valve controllers, computer controls for pumps and blowers etc.
The term ‘consul’ refers hereinafter to any central control system adapted to control and interconnect modules selected inter alia from a group consisting of conduits and tubing, reservoirs, heating/cooling means, detectors and regulators and valves. Fluids (e.g., water) and power (e.g., electricity) supplies, etc., especially to at least partially integrated or stand-alone consuls, and to at least partially modular or all-included (As Is) consuls.
The term ‘thermal energy carrier fluid’ refers to at least one type of water, water solutions, water immiscible solutions, polyethylene glycol, ice, ice-water mixtures or any other fluids useful as a phase change materials, flowing aggregates or microcapsules which encapsulate a phase change material, etc. The ice can be hence reciprocally liquefied by a stream of respectively hot fluids, interchangeably transverse form a solid state to a liquid state. Optionally, the thermal energy carrier fluid is forcefully flow by a means of at least one valve, pump, rotating screw, reciprocally actuated piston, blower, compressor or the like.
Referring now to
System (10) further comprises in a non-limiting manner a first and a second fluid flow directors. The directors are configured so that the first director (22A) is located in an upstream junction (USJ) communicating the generator (12), client (16) and reservoir (14). The first director (22A) functions to direct the flow of fluid from the generator (12) in at least one of two directions, namely towards client (16) and/or towards reservoir (14).
The second director (22B) is located in a downstream junction (DSJ) communicating generator (12), client (16) and reservoir (14), second director (22B) functions to direct the flow of said fluid towards the generator (12) in at least one of two directions, namely from client (16) and/or from the reservoir (14), being interconnected with the DSJ-USJ supply line, via Dc in a cooling system, or via Dh in a heating system, wherein Dc and/or Dh is a junction communicating said reservoir (14) and the DSJ-USJ supply line junction.
In a simple case that the thermal energy consumption of client (16) equals the thermal energy generation capacity of generator (12), the fluid is circled directly from generator (12) to client (16) via USJ, and vice versa, from said client (16) to generator (12) via DSJ.
In another situation, however, wherein the momentary thermal energy requirements of client (16) is lower than the thermal energy generation capacity of generator (12), only a portion of the fluid is circled from said generator (12) to client (16) via USJ, and the remaining portion is supplied by first director (22A) towards reservoir (14).
In a case that generator (12) is adapted to cool client (16) (a cooling system, such depicted in
Yet in case generator (12) is adapted to heat client (16) (a heating system, See
System (10) as defined in any of the above may additionally comprise various sensors and hence provide for a feed backed regulation. Here for example and according to another embodiment of the present invention, a first temperature sensor (12S) and a second temperature sensor (16S) are provide in a non-limiting manner. The first sensor (12S) is located upwardly to generator (12) and a second temperature sensor (16S) located downwardly to client (16). The first sensor (12S) is in communication with the second director (22A) at the DSJ via a first processing means (PLVB). The second sensor (16S) is in communication with the first director (22A) at the USJ via a second processing means (PLVA).
The processing means (PLVA, PLVB) are adapted to regulate the aforesaid directors, such that wherein the thermal energy generating capacity of generator (12) is lower than the thermal energy capacity (i.e., fluid temperature folded fluid flux) of fluid outlet of the DSJ, the second director (22B) is supply higher portion of fluid that is directed from the reservoir (14). Additionally or alternatively, wherein the momentary energy requirements of the thermal energy client (16), namely the temperature of the fluid exit client (16) is different from a predetermined measure, the first director (22A) is regulating the fluid outlet of USJ in a manner that less fluid is supplied to reservoir (14) and more fluid is supplied to client (146), and vice versa. It is acknowledged in this respect that reservoir 14 may contain at least one of the aforesaid junctions and tubing within its inner volume.
It is according to one embodiment of the present invention wherein more than one generator is provided; especially wherein the generators are being interconnected in a series and/or parallel. It is according to another embodiment of the present invention wherein more than one reservoir is provided more than one reservoir; said reservoirs are being interconnected in a series and/or parallel. It is according to another embodiment of the present invention wherein more than one client is provided, especially wherein the clients are being interconnected in a series and/or parallel.
It is according to another embodiment of the present invention wherein system (10) is utilized wherein more than one generator is provided especially adapted for both heating and cooling at least one client (16), wherein said reservoir (12) is interconnected with the DSJ-USJ line and the client-DSJ in both its upper and lower portions.
It is according to another embodiment of the present invention wherein system (10) is utilized with or without valves or regulators, and with or without pumping means.
The present invention also discloses a cost effective and novel method for self-regulating the storage and use of thermal energy in thermal energy storage system (10) as defined in any of the above. The method comprises inter alia steps of
The method described above may additionally comprising steps of:
The method is especially useful wherein the thermal energy consumption of client (16) is equal to the thermal energy generation capacity of said generator (12). In this case, the method defines a step of circulating the fluid directly from generator (12) to client (16) via the USJ, and vice versa, from client (16) to generator (12) via DSJ.
Alternatively, method is especially useful wherein the momentary thermal energy requirements of client (16) is lower than the thermal energy generation capacity of generator (12), supplying only a portion of said fluid from generator (12) to said client (16) via the USJ, and supplying the remaining portion by the first director (22A) towards said reservoir (14).
In a case that generator (12) is adapted to cool the client (16) (a cooling system,
Yet in a case generator (12) is adapted to heat said client (16) (a heating system,
In a particular case, the momentary thermal energy requirements of client (16) is approximately zero. Here, a step of circulating the fluid directly from generator (12) to reservoir (14) via the USJ is provided, preferably until the temperature of the outlet fluid at DSJ equals the inlet fluid at USJ.
It is according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first temperature is higher than the second temperature and the first extreme position is substantially near the top of said reservoir (14) and the second extreme position is substantially near the bottom of said reservoir (14).
It is according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first temperature is lower than the second temperature and the first extreme position is substantially near the bottom of said reservoir (14) and the second extreme position is substantially near the top of said reservoir (14).
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The system controlled by consul 10 also comprises a plurality of valves, e.g., a first and a second fluid flow directors. The directors are configured so that the first director (22A) is located in an upstream junction (USJ, not marked) communicating the generator (12), client (16) and reservoir (14). The first director (22A) functions to direct the flow of fluid from the generator (12) in at least one of two directions, namely towards client (16) and/or towards reservoir (14).
The second director (22B) is located in a downstream junction (DSJ, not marked) communicating generator (12), client (16) and reservoir (14), second director (22B) functions to direct the flow of said fluid towards the generator (12) in at least one of two directions, namely from client (16) and/or from the reservoir (14), being interconnected with the DSJ-USJ supply line, via Dc in a cooling system, or via Dh in a heating system, wherein Dc and/or Dh (not marked) is a junction communicating said reservoir (14) and the DSJ-USJ supply line junction.
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It is in the scope of the invention wherein the aforesaid consuls are adapted to be remotely interconnected with system 10. Additionally or alternatively, it is in the scope of the invention wherein the aforesaid consuls are adapted to be at least partially integrated with system 10. Reference is now made to
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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174262 | Mar 2006 | IL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IL07/00318 | 3/7/2007 | WO | 00 | 9/11/2008 |