Moving thermal bed to time shift liquifaction and vaporization

Abstract

A method to store and utilize thermal energy is provided. During a first phase, transferring heat from the heat relocation media to the lower temperature reservoir, transferring heat from the higher temperature stream to the heat relocation media, and transferring heat from the heat relocation media to the high temperature reservoir, thereby at least partially liquefying the higher temperature stream. During a second phase, transferring heat from the higher temperature reserve to the heat relocation media, transferring heat from the heat relocation media to the lower temperature stream, and transferring heat from the heat relocation media to the lower temperature reservoir, thereby at least partially vaporizing the lower temperature stream.

1 . A method to store and utilize thermal energy, comprising:
 providing a higher temperature stream, and a lower temperature stream,   providing a higher temperature reservoir,   during a first phase,   transferring heat from said higher temperature stream to said high temperature reservoir, thereby at least partially liquefying said higher temperature stream; and   during a second phase,
 transferring heat to said lower temperature stream from said higher temperature reservoir, thereby at least partially vaporizing said lower temperature stream 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said lower temperature stream is selected from the group consisting of essentially pure oxygen, essentially pure nitrogen, air. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said higher temperature stream is selected from the group consisting of essentially pure oxygen, essentially pure nitrogen, air. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first phase and said second phase do not occur concurrently. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first phase and said second phase occur concurrently. 
     
     
         6 . A method to store and utilize thermal energy, comprising:
 providing a heat relocation media,   providing a higher temperature stream, and a lower temperature stream,   providing a heat transfer means between said higher temperature stream and said heat relocation media,   providing a heat transfer means between said lower temperature stream and said heat relocation media,   providing a higher temperature reservoir and a lower temperature reservoir,   providing a heat transfer means between said heat relocation media and said higher temperature reservoir,   providing a heat transfer means between said heat relocation media and said lower temperature reservoir,   during a first phase,
 transferring heat from said heat relocation media to said lower temperature reservoir, 
 transferring heat from said higher temperature stream to said heat relocation media, 
 transferring heat from said heat relocation media to said high temperature reservoir, thereby at least partially liquefying said higher temperature stream; and 
   during a second phase,
 transferring heat from said higher temperature reserve to said heat relocation media, 
 transferring heat from said heat relocation media to said lower temperature stream, 
 transferring heat from said heat relocation media to said lower temperature reservoir, thereby at least partially vaporizing said lower temperature stream. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said heat relocation media comprises a solid heat transfer media. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said solid heat transfer media is selected from the group consisting of metal particles, carbon particles, pebbles, sand, shot, and ceramic particles. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said solid heat transfer media comprise solid spheres. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said solid heat transfer media comprise hollow spheres. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said solid spheres are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, glass, or quartz. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said hollow spheres are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, glass, or quartz. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said solid heat transfer media comprises solid metal spheres. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of steel, bronze, brass, iron, and copper. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said lower temperature stream is selected from the group consisting of essentially pure oxygen, essentially pure nitrogen, air. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said higher temperature stream is selected from the group consisting of essentially pure oxygen, essentially pure nitrogen, air. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said first phase and said second phase do not occur concurrently. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said first phase and said second phase occur concurrently. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the amount of heat transferred from said higher temperature stream to said heat relocation media is greater than the amount of heat transferred from said heat relocation media to said lower temperature stream. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the amount of heat transferred from said higher temperature stream to said heat relocation media is less than the amount of heat transferred from said heat relocation media to said lower temperature stream.