US 12,291,982 B2
Thermal energy storage systems for use in material processing
John Setel O'Donnell, Oakland, CA (US); Yusef Desjardins Ferhani, Menlo Park, CA (US); Peter Emery Von Behrens, Oakland, CA (US); Chiaki Treynor, Berkeley, CA (US); and Matthieu Jonemann, Redwood City, CA (US)
Assigned to Rondo Energy, Inc., Alameda, CA (US)
Filed by Rondo Energy, Inc., Alameda, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/395,266.
Application 18/171,602 is a division of application No. 17/650,522, filed on Feb. 9, 2022, granted, now 11,585,243, issued on Feb. 21, 2023.
Application 18/395,266 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/106,403, filed on Feb. 6, 2023, granted, now 11,873,741, issued on Jan. 16, 2024.
Application 18/106,403 is a continuation of application No. 17/668,342, filed on Feb. 9, 2022, granted, now 11,572,811, issued on Feb. 7, 2023.
Application 17/668,342 is a continuation of application No. 17/537,407, filed on Nov. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,603,776, issued on Mar. 14, 2023.
Application 18/395,266 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/171,602, filed on Feb. 20, 2023, granted, now 11,873,743, issued on Jan. 16, 2024.
Application 17/650,522 is a continuation of application No. 17/537,407, filed on Nov. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,603,776, issued on Mar. 14, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/434,919, filed on Dec. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/119,443, filed on Nov. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/155,261, filed on Mar. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/165,632, filed on Mar. 24, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/170,370, filed on Apr. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/231,155, filed on Aug. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0125251 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. F01K 3/02 (2006.01); B63H 11/00 (2006.01); F01K 3/08 (2006.01); F01K 3/18 (2006.01); F01K 13/02 (2006.01); F01K 15/00 (2006.01); F03G 6/00 (2006.01); F22B 29/06 (2006.01); F22B 35/10 (2006.01); F28D 20/00 (2006.01); H01M 8/04007 (2016.01); H01M 8/04014 (2016.01); H01M 8/04029 (2016.01); H02J 1/10 (2006.01); H02J 3/00 (2006.01); H02J 3/04 (2006.01); H02M 1/00 (2006.01); B63H 1/12 (2006.01); B63H 11/12 (2006.01); B63H 11/14 (2006.01); B63H 11/16 (2006.01); F01K 11/02 (2006.01); F01K 19/04 (2006.01); F03D 9/18 (2016.01)
CPC F01K 3/02 (2013.01) [B63H 11/00 (2013.01); F01K 3/08 (2013.01); F01K 3/186 (2013.01); F01K 13/02 (2013.01); F01K 15/00 (2013.01); F03G 6/071 (2021.08); F22B 29/06 (2013.01); F22B 35/10 (2013.01); F28D 20/00 (2013.01); H01M 8/04014 (2013.01); H01M 8/04029 (2013.01); H01M 8/04037 (2013.01); H01M 8/04052 (2013.01); H01M 8/04074 (2013.01); H02J 1/102 (2013.01); H02J 3/00 (2013.01); H02J 3/04 (2013.01); H02M 1/0003 (2021.05); H02M 1/007 (2021.05); B63H 1/12 (2013.01); B63H 11/12 (2013.01); B63H 11/14 (2013.01); B63H 11/16 (2013.01); F01K 11/02 (2013.01); F01K 19/04 (2013.01); F03D 9/18 (2016.05); F28D 2020/0004 (2013.01); Y02E 60/14 (2013.01)] 53 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A material processing system, including:
a thermal energy storage (TES) unit configured to store thermal energy generated from an electric heater, wherein the TES unit is configured to heat a process gas using stored thermal energy; and
a material processing reactor configured to receive the heated process gas and perform a process on the material in the reactor;
wherein the TES unit is configured to output stored thermal energy at a rate that maintains a selected process condition in the reactor,
wherein the TES unit includes a thermal storage medium and a fluid movement system that are configured to direct a working gas through the thermal storage medium to heat the working gas, and
wherein the fluid movement system is configured to direct the heated working gas to a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the heated working gas to the process gas.