Modular thermal storage

Abstract

A power generation system comprising a shared hot side thermal store, a shared cold side thermal store, a plurality of power subunits, and an electrical bus is disclosed. Each of the power subunits may connected or isolated from the shared hot side thermal store and/or the shared cold side thermal store.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a shared cold-side thermal store comprising a cold thermal storage (“CTS”) medium; and   a plurality of power subunits arranged for thermal communication with the shared cold-side thermal store, each power subunit comprising:
 a turbomachinery arrangement comprising at least one turbomachinery system operable as a compressor, and at least one turbomachinery system operable as a turbine, a hot-side heat exchanger, a cold-side heat exchanger, and a working fluid circulating in a closed cycle path comprising, in sequence, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a compressor, the hot-side heat exchanger, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a turbine, and the cold-side heat exchanger, and 
   a valve arrangement selectively configurable between a connected state and an isolated state, wherein in the connected state the valve arrangement connects the cold-side heat exchanger with the shared cold-side thermal store for flow of CTS medium, wherein in the isolated state, the valve arrangement isolates the cold-side heat exchanger from the shared cold-side thermal store to block against flow of CTS medium.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each power subunit of the plurality of power subunits further comprises a recuperator, wherein the closed cycle path of each power subunit of the plurality of power subunits further comprises, in sequence, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a compressor, the recuperator, the hot-side heat exchanger, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a turbine, the recuperator, and the cold-side heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each power subunit of the plurality of power subunits further comprises a recuperator, wherein the closed cycle path of each power subunit of the plurality of power subunits further comprises, in sequence, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a compressor, the hot-side heat exchanger, the recuperator, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a turbine, the cold-side heat exchanger, and the recuperator. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a CTS heat exchanger, wherein the CTS heat exchanger is configured to remove heat from the CTS medium. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the CTS heat exchanger comprises a cooling tower. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the CTS heat exchanger comprises a radiator. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each power subunit further comprises a generator configured to generate electrical power, the system further comprising:
 an electrical bus electrically coupled to each generator of each power subunit of the plurality of power subunits, wherein the electrical bus is configured to carry electrical power generated by each generator to an electrical node.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the electrical node comprises a frequency converter, wherein the frequency converter is configured to convert electrical power carried by the electrical bus to electrical power for distribution to an electrical grid system. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein, in the connected state, the valve arrangement connects a hot-side heat exchanger of the plurality of power subunits with a hot thermal store to flow hot thermal storage medium. 
     
     
         23 . A system comprising:
 a shared hot-side thermal store comprising a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium; and   a plurality of power subunits arranged for thermal communication with the shared cold-side thermal store, each power subunit comprising:
 a turbomachinery arrangement comprising at least one turbomachinery system operable as a compressor, and at least one turbomachinery system operable as a turbine, a hot-side heat exchanger, a cold-side heat exchanger, and a working fluid circulating in a closed cycle path comprising, in sequence, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a compressor, the hot-side heat exchanger, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a turbine, and the cold-side heat exchanger, and 
   a valve arrangement selectively configurable between a connected state and an isolated state, wherein in the connected state the valve arrangement connects the hot-side heat exchanger with the shared hot-side thermal store for flow of HTS medium, wherein in the isolated state, the valve arrangement isolates the hot-side heat exchanger from the shared hot-side thermal store to block against flow of HTS medium.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each power subunit of the plurality of power subunits further comprises a recuperator, wherein the closed cycle path of each power subunit of the plurality of power subunits further comprises, in sequence, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a compressor, the recuperator, the hot-side heat exchanger, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a turbine, the recuperator, and the cold-side heat exchanger. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each power subunit of the plurality of power subunits further comprises a recuperator, wherein the closed cycle path of each power subunit of the plurality of power subunits further comprises, in sequence, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a compressor, the hot-side heat exchanger, the recuperator, the at least one turbomachinery system operable as a turbine, the cold-side heat exchanger, and the recuperator. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each power subunit further comprises a generator configured to generate electrical power, the pumped thermal system further comprising:
 an electrical bus electrically coupled to each generator of each power subunit of the plurality of power subunits, wherein the electrical bus is configured to carry electrical power generated by each generator to an electrical node.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the electrical node comprises a frequency converter, wherein the frequency converter is configured to convert electrical power carried by the electrical bus to electrical power for distribution to an electrical grid system. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein, in the connected state, the valve arrangement connects a cold-side heat exchanger of the plurality of power subunits with a cold thermal store to flow cold thermal storage medium.