Method And Device For Charging A Stratified Thermal Energy Store

Abstract

A method and a device for charging a stratified thermal energy store are disclosed. According to the method, a working fluid of a heat pump is introduced in the gaseous phase into a liquid heat transfer medium of the stratified thermal energy store at at least one introduction point and is brought into direct physical contact with the heat transfer medium, the pressure in the stratified thermal energy store at the introduction point being greater than or equal to the condensation pressure of the working fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for charging a stratified thermal energy store, comprising:
 introducing a working fluid of a heat pump in the gaseous state into a liquid heat carrier of the stratified thermal energy store at at least one point of introduction;   bringing the working fluid into direct material contact with the heat carrier,   wherein the pressure in the stratified thermal energy store at the point of introduction is greater than or equal to the condensation pressure of the working fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein working fluid that is condensed in the stratified thermal energy store is returned to the heat pump. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the density of the condensed working fluid downstream of condensation in the stratified thermal energy store is greater than or equal to the density of the heat carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid in the liquid state and the heat carrier are the same fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condensation pressure of the working fluid at a temperature of 100° C. is lower than 1 MPa. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid includes at least one of the substances 1,1,1,2,2,4,5,5,5-nonafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pentanone, perfluoromethyl butanone, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene, cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and/or cyclopentane. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is water. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid, in the liquid state, is not miscible with the heat carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein comprising introducing the gaseous working fluid into the heat carrier by a distribution device,
 wherein the distribution device distributes the working fluid homogeneously in a layer of the heat carrier that is at a constant temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stratified thermal energy store comprises a regulated pressure accumulator. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising supplying heat from the stratified thermal energy store to the working fluid before introducing the working fluid into a compressor of the heat pump. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the heat carrier that has been separated off from an evaporator of the heat pump by a droplet separator is returned to the stratified thermal energy store. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat carrier is conducted to a heat consumer for, wherein the heat carrier is conducted through a separator before being utilized by the heat consumer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a phase change material is used in the stratified thermal energy store for storing thermal energy. 
     
     
         15 . A device, including:
 a stratified thermal energy store including a liquid heat carrier, and   a heat pump with a working fluid,   wherein the stratified thermal energy store and the heat pump are configured and coupled such that the working fluid is introduced in the gaseous state into the heat carrier at a point of introduction and is brought into direct material contact with the heat carrier, wherein the pressure of the stratified thermal energy store at the point of introduction is greater than or equal to the condensation pressure of the working fluid.