Energy storage vessel, systems, and methods

Abstract

A vessel for a thermal energy storage system comprising a bottom wall joined to a surrounding side wall, and an inner liner disposed within the bottom wall and side wall and comprising an inner liner bottom and an inner liner side wall. One aspect of the inner liner bottom and side wall is that they are configured to repeatedly expand and contract during the thermal cycling of the storage system. A thermal energy storage system comprising the containment vessel and an array of heat exchangers is also disclosed. The heat exchangers are disposed in the vessel, and arranged so as to enclose a volume within the vessel. Each of the heat exchangers is suspended by a suspension assembly. The assembly may be comprised of a central support hanger, a spring loaded upper hanger, and a lower hanger.

1 . A vessel comprising a bottom wall joined to a surrounding side wall, and an inner liner disposed within the bottom wall and side wall and comprising:
 a) an inner liner bottom comprising a central plate surrounded by an array of radially arranged sector-shaped plates, each of the sector-shaped plates joined at a radial portion of its perimeter to a radial portion of the perimeter of an adjacent sector-shaped plate by a radial flexible joint and joined at an inner portion of its perimeter to the central plate by an inner flexible joint; and   b) an inner liner side wall joined to the inner liner bottom and comprising a plurality of panels, each of the panels joined at a lateral portion of its perimeter to a lateral portion of the perimeter of an adjacent panel by a lateral flexible joint.   
     
     
         2 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the vessel is cylindrical, and the vessel bottom wall is circular. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the central plate is circular. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the central plate is a polygon. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the number of radially arranged sector-shaped plates is between three and twelve inclusive. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel of  claim 5 , wherein the number of radially arranged sector-shaped plates is eight. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the radial flexible joint between each pair of adjacent sector-shaped plates is an arcuate member. 
     
     
         8 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral flexible joint between each pair of adjacent panels of the side wall is an arcuate member. 
     
     
         9 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lateral flexible joints are integrally formed along one of the radial portions of the perimeters of each of the sector-shaped plates. 
     
     
         10 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer liner comprising an outer liner bottom having an outer perimeter and an outer liner side wall joined to the outer perimeter of the outer liner bottom, the outer liner containing the inner liner therein and separated from the inner liner by thermal insulation. 
     
     
         11 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising bottom thermal insulation disposed between the bottom wall of the vessel and the inner liner bottom, the bottom thermal insulation comprising a plurality of support members of a first insulating material interspersed within a second insulating material. 
     
     
         12 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the surrounding side wall is comprised of a network of structural members, and the vessel is further comprised of a plurality of insulating support members disposed between the network of structural members and the inner liner side wall. 
     
     
         13 . The vessel of  claim 12 , further comprising thermal insulation covering the plurality of insulating support members and the network of structural members. 
     
     
         14 . A vessel comprising a bottom wall joined to a surrounding side wall, and a liner disposed within the bottom wall and side wall, the liner comprising:
 a) a liner bottom comprised of means for expanding radially outwardly when heated and contracting radially inwardly when cooled; and   b) a liner side wall joined to the inner liner bottom and comprised of means for expanding radially outwardly when heated and contracting radially inwardly when cooled.   
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An expandable liner for a vessel, the expandable liner comprising:
 a) a liner bottom comprising a central plate surrounded by an array of radially arranged sector-shaped plates, each of the sector-shaped plates joined at a radial portion of its perimeter to a radial portion of the perimeter of an adjacent sector-shaped plate by a radial flexible joint and joined at an inner portion of its perimeter to the central plate by an inner flexible joint; and   b) a liner side wall joined to the liner bottom and comprising a plurality of panels, each of the panels joined at a lateral portion of its perimeter to a lateral portion of the perimeter of an adjacent panel by a lateral flexible joint.   
     
     
         18 . The liner of  claim 17  wherein the liner side wall is cylindrical, and the liner bottom is circular. 
     
     
         19 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein the central plate is circular. 
     
     
         20 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein the central plate is a polygon. 
     
     
         21 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein the number of radially arranged sector-shaped plates is between three and twelve inclusive. 
     
     
         22 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein the radial flexible joint between each pair of adjacent sector-shaped plates is an arcuate member. 
     
     
         23 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein the lateral flexible joint between each pair of adjacent panels of the side wall is an arcuate member. 
     
     
         24 . The liner of  claim 17 , wherein each of the lateral flexible joints are integrally formed along one of the radial portions of the perimeters of each of the sector-shaped plates. 
     
     
         25 - 45 . (canceled)