Carnot battery and energy storage system

Abstract

A Carnot battery ( 10 ) includes a heat source device ( 11 ) that converts electric power into heat to generate hot air, a high-temperature heat accumulator ( 12 ) that is disposed downstream of the heat source device ( 11 ) and includes a phase change material configured to receive the hot air supplied by the heat source device ( 11 ) to accumulate and dissipate heat, and a steam power generation plant ( 13 ) that is disposed downstream of the high-temperature heat accumulator ( 12 ) and collects heat from the hot air supplied by the high-temperature heat accumulator ( 12 ) to convert the heat into electric power. The high-temperature heat accumulator ( 12 ) includes a covering member that covers the phase change material, and the phase change material may accumulate and dissipate heat in a molten state in the covering member.

1 . A Carnot battery comprising:
 first conversion means for converting electric power into heat to generate hot air;   a high-temperature heat accumulator disposed downstream of the first conversion means and including a phase change material, the phase change material being configured to receive hot air supplied by the first conversion means to accumulate and dissipate heat; and   second conversion means for collecting heat from hot air supplied by the high-temperature heat accumulator to convert the heat into electric power, the second conversion means being disposed downstream of the high-temperature heat accumulator.   
     
     
         2 . The Carnot battery according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the high-temperature heat accumulator includes a covering member to cover the phase change material, and   the phase change material accumulates and dissipates heat in a molten state inside the coating material.   
     
     
         3 . The Carnot battery according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first conversion means includes a blower to blow hot air toward the high-temperature heat accumulator, and   the high-temperature heat accumulator includes a plurality of passages through which hot air blown by the blower passes, the plurality of passages being arranged to extend in an identical direction.   
     
     
         4 . The Carnot battery according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the high-temperature heat accumulator is formed by combining a large number of phase change material capsules in which the covering member covers the phase change material.   
     
     
         5 . An energy accumulation system comprising:
 the Carnot battery according to  claim 1 ;   a low-temperature heat accumulator configured to be attachable to and detachable from the second conversion means of the Carnot battery, the low-temperature heat accumulator including a phase change material to collect and accumulate heat discharged by the second conversion means; and   a dissipated-heat collector configured to be able to dispose the low-temperature heat accumulator therein and to collect heat dissipated by the low-temperature heat accumulator to supply heat to a heat-demanding area.   
     
     
         6 . The energy accumulation system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the low-temperature heat accumulator includes
 a large number of phase change material capsules in which a covering member covers a phase change material, and 
 a container accommodating the large number of phase change material capsules, the container being formed to allow heat transfer between the large number of phase change material capsules and an outside. 
   
     
     
         7 . The energy accumulation system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the second conversion means is a steam power generation plant to generate steam by a steam boiler using heat dissipated by the high low-temperature heat accumulator and drive a steam turbine using the steam generated by the steam boiler, and   the energy storage system includes a melter connected to the steam boiler, the melter being configured to melt a phase change material included in the low-temperature heat accumulator using exhaust from the steam boiler.   
     
     
         8 . The energy accumulation system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the low-temperature heat accumulator includes a phase change material to undergo a phase transition from a molten state to a glassy state via a supercooled liquid state by rapidly cooling the phase change material at a certain rate or higher, and   the energy accumulation system includes a rapid cooler connected to a condenser of the steam power generation plant, the rapid cooler being configured to cause the phase change material in the molten state included in the low-temperature heat accumulator to undergo a phase transition to the glassy state by cold water flowing through a cooling pipe of the condenser.