MALTA INC.

A method including: operating a pumped-heat energy storage (“PHES”) system in a generation mode to generate electricity; and responsive, at least in part, to a determination that a power generation plant will reduce supply of electricity to an electrical grid by a reduction amount of electricity, changing modes of the PHES system from the generation mode to operate in a charge mode. Operating in the charge mode can include receiving a charge amount of electricity, at least equal to the reduction amount of electricity, into the PHES system from the power generation plant and converting at least a portion of the charge amount of electricity to stored thermal energy.

The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be integrated with a Coal Fired Energy Generation Unit (CF-EGU) to repurpose CF-EGUs as thermal energy storage systems. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store thermal energy by operating as a heat pump with heat discharge occurring as a result of heat engine operation of the pumped heat energy storage system and/or a steam cycle of the CF-EGUs to provide heating thereto. For example, thermal energy can be exchanged via working fluids flowing between the pumped heat energy storage systems and the CF-EGUs to drive turbines that provide power to generators while repurposing equipment from the CF-EGUs to create energy.

A method including: operating a pumped-heat energy storage (“PHES”) system in a generation mode to generate electricity; and responsive, at least in part, to a determination that a power generation plant will reduce supply of electricity to an electrical grid by a reduction amount of electricity, changing modes of the PHES system from the generation mode to operate in a charge mode. Operating in the charge mode can include receiving a charge amount of electricity, at least equal to the reduction amount of electricity, into the PHES system from the power generation plant and converting at least a portion of the charge amount of electricity to stored thermal energy.

The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be integrated with a Coal Fired Energy Generation Unit (CF-EGU) to repurpose CF-EGUs as thermal energy storage systems. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store thermal energy by operating as a heat pump with heat discharge occurring as a result of heat engine operation of the pumped heat energy storage system and/or a steam cycle of the CF-EGUs to provide heating thereto. For example, thermal energy can be exchanged via working fluids flowing between the pumped heat energy storage systems and the CF-EGUs to drive turbines that provide power to generators while repurposing equipment from the CF-EGUs to create energy.

A system including: 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, wherein the PHES system comprises a working fluid path circulating a working fluid through, in sequence, at least a compressor system, a hot-side heat exchanger system, a turbine system, a cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system; and (ii) a fluid path directing a hot fluid from a heat source external to the PHES system through a reheater, wherein a portion of the working fluid path through the turbine system comprises circulating the working fluid through a first turbine, the reheater, and a second turbine, and wherein the working fluid thermally contacts the hot fluid in the reheater, thereby transferring heat from the hot fluid to the working fluid.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a pumped-heat energy storage (“PHES”) system operable in charge and power generation modes can include a working fluid path circulating a working fluid through, in sequence, at least a compressor system, a hot-side heat exchanger system, a turbine system, a cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system; and an intercooler system for providing cooling to the compressor system, the intercooling system including at least one intercooler heat exchanger arranged for transferring heat out from working fluid amid different stages of the compressor system to a power plant. A fluid path can be arranged for providing a power plant fluid to receive heat from the intercooler system. The fluid path can be arranged to pass the power plant fluid to the intercooler system to receive heat and to the power plant for use in heating in power generation.

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.

The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be integrated with a Coal Fired Energy Generation Unit (CF-EGU) to repurpose CF-EGUs as thermal energy storage systems. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store thermal energy by operating as a heat pump with heat discharge occurring as a result of heat engine operation of the pumped heat energy storage system and/or a steam cycle of the CF-EGUs to provide heating thereto. For example, thermal energy can be exchanged via working fluids flowing between the pumped heat energy storage systems and the CF-EGUs to drive turbines that provide power to generators while repurposing equipment from the CF-EGUs to create energy.

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.

The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be used to store and/or extract electrical energy. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump, 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. Such pumped energy storage systems can be beneficially integrated with thermal plants to provided heat transfer to and/or from the thermal plants.