Regenerator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a regenerator comprising a bed ( 11 ) of energy storage media ( 12 ) placed in a chamber ( 14 ), the chamber comprising a shell ( 34 ) and a protective layer ( 22 ) placed between said shell and said energy storage media, in contact with said energy storage media, having a minimum thickness higher than 50 mm and consisting, at least partially, of a protective material having a composition, in weight percent based on the oxides, such that: Fe 2 O 3 +Al 2 O 3 +CaO+TiO 2 +SiO 2 +Na 2 O+K 2 O>80%, and other oxides: complement to 100%.

1 . A regenerator comprising a bed ( 11 ) of energy storage media ( 12 ) placed in a chamber ( 14 ), the chamber comprising a shell ( 34 ) and a protective layer ( 22 ) placed between said shell and said energy storage media, in contact with said energy storage media, having a minimum thickness higher than 50 mm and consisting, at least partially, of a protective material having a composition, in weight percent based on the oxides, such that:
 Fe 2 O 3 +Al 2 O 3 +CaO+TiO 2 +SiO 2 +Na 2 O+K 2 O>80%, and   other oxides: complement to 100%.   
     
     
         2 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the composition of the material of the protective layer, or protective material is such that:
 Fe 2 O 3 +Al 2 O 3 +SiO 2 >80% and   Al 2 O 3 >60%, and   Fe 2 O 3 <20%, and/or   SiO 2 <10%, and/or   CaO<2%, and/or   Na 2 O+K 2 O<0.5%.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the protective material has a composition, in weight percent based on the oxides and for a total of 100%, such that:
 25%<Fe 2 O 3 <70%, and   5%<Al 2 O 3 <30%, and   CaO<20%, and   TiO 2 <25%, and   3%<SiO 2 <50%, and   Na 2 O+K 2 O<10%, and   other oxides<5%.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the protective material comprises a majority compound selected from the group consisting of alumina, bauxite, spinel MgAl 2 O 4 , mullite, hibonite CaAl 12 O 19 , aluminum titanate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the protective material has:
 an open porosity lower than 20%, and   a compressive strength higher than 50 MPa, and   a pyroscopic resistance higher than 350° C.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the minimum thickness of the protective layer is higher than 100 mm. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the protective layer is run through by holes ( 23 ). 
     
     
         19 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the protective layer is a single piece. 
     
     
         20 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising an insulating layer ( 24 ) extending between the shell ( 20 ) and the protective layer ( 22 ), the thermal resistance of the insulating layer being higher than 0.1 m 2 ·K/W. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 20 , in which the insulating layer comprises an insulating material, and in which:
 the thermal conductivity of the insulating material is lower than 2 W/m·K, and/or   the mechanical compressive strength of the insulating layer is higher than 1 MPa, and/or   the linear thermal expansion coefficient of the insulating material, measured at 500° C., is lower than 0.5%, and/or   in which the minimum thickness of the insulating layer is higher than 150 mm, and/or in which:   the silica content of the insulating material is lower than 50%, and/or   the CaO content of the insulating material is lower than 10%, and/or   the alumina content of the insulating material is higher than 40%.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 20 , comprising an intermediate layer ( 26 ) extending between the protective layer ( 22 ) and the insulating layer ( 24 ), the maximum thickness of the intermediate layer being lower than 10 mm and the intermediate layer comprising a fibrous material. 
     
     
         32 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 31 , in which the intermediate layer comprises an alumina content higher than 30% and/or has a thermal resistance R PI  higher than 0.05 m 2 ·K/W. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The regenerator as claimed in  claim 32 , in which the weight of the bed is higher than 700 tonnes. 
     
     
         37 . A thermal installation comprising:
 a unit producing heat energy ( 4 ), and   a regenerator ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , and   a circulating device ( 7 ) which, during a charge phase, circulates a charge heat transfer fluid from the unit producing heat energy to the regenerator, and then through said regenerator.   
     
     
         38 . A method for operating a thermal installation as claimed in the  claim 37 , in which heat transfer fluid from said unit producing heat energy ( 4 ) condenses in said regenerator ( 10 ) in the form of an acidic liquid. 
     
     
         39 . The method for operating a thermal installation as claimed in  claim 37 , in which the temperature of the heat transfer fluid from said unit producing heat energy ( 4 ) and entering the regenerator is lower than 1000° C. and higher than 350° C. 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The method for operating a thermal installation as claimed in  claim 37 , in which the unit producing heat energy comprises a compressor. 
     
     
         42 . The method for operating a thermal installation as claimed in  claim 37 , said installation comprising a heat energy consumption unit ( 6 ), the circulating device ( 7 ) circulating, during a discharge phase, a discharge heat transfer fluid through said regenerator, and then from said regenerator to the heat energy consumption unit. 
     
     
         43 . The method for operating a thermal installation as claimed in  claim 42 , in which the heat energy consumption unit comprises a turbine.