US 12,173,648 B2
Pumped heat energy storage system with thermal plant 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 Aug. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/400,706.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/064,682, filed on Aug. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0049652 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F02C 6/14 (2006.01); F01K 3/02 (2006.01); F01K 3/12 (2006.01); F01K 3/18 (2006.01); F01K 7/38 (2006.01); F02C 1/05 (2006.01); F02C 1/10 (2006.01); F28D 20/00 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 6/14 (2013.01) [F01K 3/02 (2013.01); F01K 3/12 (2013.01); F01K 3/18 (2013.01); F01K 7/38 (2013.01); F02C 1/05 (2013.01); F02C 1/10 (2013.01); F05D 2220/60 (2013.01); F28D 2020/0047 (2013.01); F28D 20/0056 (2013.01); F28D 2020/0082 (2013.01); Y02E 60/14 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
operating a pumped heat energy storage (“PHES”) system in a charge mode to convert electrical energy into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage medium (“HTS medium”),
wherein operating the PHES system in the charge mode comprises:
circulating a working fluid through, in sequence, at least, a first compressor, a hot-side heat exchanger, a first turbine, and a cold-side heat exchanger, in the hot-side heat exchanger, transferring heat from the working fluid to the HTS medium;
flowing a hot HTS medium from the PHES system to a thermal power plant, including flowing the hot HTS medium through an intermediary HTS heat exchanger to transfer heat to the thermal power plant; and
receiving at the PHES system a warm HTS medium from the thermal power plant via the intermediary HTS heat exchanger, wherein the hot HTS medium has delivered heat to the thermal power plant; and
subsequent to operating the PHES system in the charge mode, operating the PHES system in a generation mode to convert the stored thermal energy into new electrical energy, including circulating the working fluid through, in sequence, at least, the first compressor, the hot-side heat exchanger, the first turbine, and the cold-side heat exchanger, in the hot-side heat exchanger, transferring heat from the HTS medium to the working fluid.