US 11,885,244 B2
Pumped heat energy storage system with electric heating integration
Benjamin R. Bollinger, Cambridge, MA (US); and Bao H. Truong, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to MALTA INC., Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed by MALTA INC., Cambridge, MA (US)
Filed on Jul. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/872,489.
Application 17/872,489 is a continuation of application No. 16/991,802, filed on Aug. 12, 2020, granted, now 11,396,826.
Prior Publication US 2023/0012284 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F01K 3/00 (2006.01); F01D 15/10 (2006.01); F01K 3/18 (2006.01); F01K 13/02 (2006.01); F02C 6/14 (2006.01)
CPC F01K 3/004 (2013.01) [F01D 15/10 (2013.01); F01K 3/186 (2013.01); F01K 13/02 (2013.01); F02C 6/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
operating a pumped-heat energy storage (“PHES”) system in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in the hot HTS medium, wherein the PHES system is further operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity; and
heating the hot HTS medium with an electric heater including, at least partially, during operation of the PHES system in the charge, idle, or generation mode.