公开(公告)号：US20210324791A1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-21

申请号：US17365341

申请日：2021-07-01

Applicant: MALTA INC.

Inventor： Raj APTE ,  Philippe LAROCHELLE

IPC: F02C6/14 ,  F28D20/00 ,  F02C1/04 ,  F02C1/10 ,  F28F13/14

Abstract: Solid-state thermoclines with internal baffle structures are in used in place of heat exchangers in a closed thermodynamic cycle power generation or energy storage system, such as a closed Brayton cycle system. The baffles limit the conductive and/or radiative transfer of heat between a solid thermal medium within different zones defined by the baffle structures.

公开(公告)号：US20210180472A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-17

申请号：US17164295

申请日：2021-02-01

Applicant: MALTA INC.

Inventor： Philippe LAROCHELLE ,  Raj APTE

IPC: F01K13/02 ,  F01K7/16 ,  F01K25/10 ,  F25B13/00 ,  F25B9/00 ,  F25B25/00 ,  F25B9/06 ,  F01K3/06 ,  F01K3/12 ,  F01K3/18 ,  F01K7/38 ,  F22B1/00 ,  F01K3/02

Abstract: Extra heat in a closed cycle power generation system, such as a reversible closed Brayton cycle system, may be dissipated between discharge and charge cycles. An extra cooling heat exchanger may be added on the discharge cycle and disposed between a cold side heat exchanger and a compressor inlet. Additionally or alternatively, a cold thermal storage medium passing through the cold side heat exchanger may be allowed to heat up to a higher temperature during the discharge cycle than is needed on input to the charge cycle and the excess heat then dissipated to the atmosphere.

公开(公告)号：US10907513B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-02

申请号：US16111151

申请日：2018-08-23

Applicant: Malta Inc.

Inventor： Robert B. Laughlin

IPC: F01D1/02 ,  F01L1/02 ,  F01K5/00 ,  F25B9/06 ,  F01K25/00 ,  F25B11/02 ,  F01K3/12 ,  F25B9/00 ,  F02C1/04 ,  F01K25/10 ,  F02C6/14

Abstract: Efficient energy storage is provided by using a working fluid flowing in a closed cycle including a ganged compressor and turbine, and capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. This system can operate as a heat engine by transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side to mechanically drive the turbine. The system can also operate as a refrigerator by mechanically driving the compressor to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. Heat exchange between the working fluid of the system and the heat storage fluids occurs in counter-flow heat exchangers. In a preferred approach, molten salt is the hot side heat storage fluid and water is the cold side heat storage fluid.

公开(公告)号：US10443452B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-15

申请号：US15440289

申请日：2017-02-23

Applicant: Malta Inc.

Inventor： Robert B. Laughlin ,  Philippe Larochelle ,  Nicholas Cizek

IPC: F02C1/10 ,  F02C6/14 ,  F01K3/12 ,  F01K3/00 ,  F01K3/18 ,  F01K3/20 ,  F24S60/00 ,  F28D15/00 ,  F28D20/00

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped thermal energy storage systems that can be used to store electrical energy. A pumped thermal energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump or refrigerator, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output. Systems of the present disclosure can employ solar heating for improved storage efficiency.

公开(公告)号：US10436109B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-08

申请号：US15396461

申请日：2016-12-31

Applicant: Malta Inc.

Inventor： Raj Apte ,  Philippe Larochelle ,  Julian Green

IPC: F02C6/16 ,  F01K23/10 ,  F02C1/10 ,  H02K7/18 ,  F01K3/12 ,  F01K7/16

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.

公开(公告)号：US20190162082A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-30

申请号：US16260932

申请日：2019-01-29

Applicant: Malta Inc.

Inventor： Philippe Larochelle ,  Raj Apte

IPC: F01K13/02 ,  F01K25/10 ,  F01K3/12 ,  F25B9/06 ,  F25B25/00 ,  F25B9/00 ,  F25B13/00 ,  F01K3/06 ,  F01K7/16 ,  F01K3/02 ,  F22B1/00 ,  F01K7/38 ,  F01K3/18

Abstract: Extra heat in a closed cycle power generation system, such as a reversible closed Brayton cycle system, may be dissipated between discharge and charge cycles. An extra cooling heat exchanger may be added on the discharge cycle and disposed between a cold side heat exchanger and a compressor inlet. Additionally or alternatively, a cold thermal storage medium passing through the cold side heat exchanger may be allowed to heat up to a higher temperature during the discharge cycle than is needed on input to the charge cycle and the excess heat then dissipated to the atmosphere.

公开(公告)号：US10288357B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-14

申请号：US15440308

申请日：2017-02-23

Applicant: Malta Inc.

Inventor： Robert B. Laughlin ,  Philippe Larochelle ,  Nicholas Cizek

IPC: F01K3/00 ,  F01K3/12 ,  F01K3/18 ,  F01K3/20 ,  F02C1/10 ,  F02C6/14 ,  F24S60/00 ,  F28D15/00 ,  F28D20/00

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped thermal energy storage systems that can be used to store electrical energy. A pumped thermal energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump or refrigerator, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output. Systems of the present disclosure can employ solar heating for improved storage efficiency.

公开(公告)号：US10280804B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-07

申请号：US15393874

申请日：2016-12-29

Applicant: Malta Inc.

Inventor： Raj Apte

IPC: F01K3/12 ,  F22B1/00 ,  F01K7/38 ,  F01K25/06 ,  F01K3/02 ,  F01K25/10 ,  F01K3/06 ,  F01K3/18 ,  F01K13/02

Abstract: Thermocline arrays comprising a plurality of pressure vessels that are in used in place of heat exchangers in a closed thermodynamic cycle system, such as a closed Brayton cycle power generation or energy storage system. Each pressure vessel is configurable to be connected to the working fluid stream or isolated from the working fluid stream.

公开(公告)号：US20250116210A1

公开(公告)日：2025-04-10

申请号：US18990951

申请日：2024-12-20

Applicant: MALTA INC.

Inventor： Benjamin R. BOLLINGER ,  Bao H. TRUONG

IPC: F01K3/00 ,  F01D15/10 ,  F01K3/18 ,  F01K13/02 ,  F02C6/14

Abstract: A method including: (i) operating a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”) in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage medium (“HTS medium”) by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in a hot HTS medium, wherein the PHES system is further operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity; and (ii) heating the hot HTS medium with an electric heater above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from the working fluid to the warm HTS medium.

公开(公告)号：US12173643B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-24

申请号：US18108107

申请日：2023-02-10

Applicant: MALTA INC.

Inventor： Benjamin R. Bollinger ,  Bao H. Truong

IPC: F02C1/05 ,  F02C1/00 ,  F02C1/10 ,  F02C6/14 ,  F28D20/00

Abstract: A system including: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium; (ii) an electric heater in thermal contact with the hot HTS medium, wherein the electric heater is operable to heat the hot HTS medium above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium in a thermodynamic cycle.