Method and apparatus for operating an improved the

专利名称：Method and apparatus for operating an

improved thermocline storage unit

发明人：Robert J. Copeland申请号：US06/429740申请日：19820930公开号：US04523629A公开日：19850618

摘要：A method and apparatus for operating a thermocline storage unit in which aninsulated barrier member is provided substantially at the interface region between thehot and cold liquids in the storage tank. The barrier member physically and thermallyseparates the hot and cold liquids substantially preventing any diffusing or mixingbetween them and substantially preventing any heat transfer therebetween. The barriermember follows the rise and fall of the interface region between the liquids as the tank ischarged and discharged. Two methods of maintaining it in the interface region aredisclosed. With the structure and operation of the present invention and in particular thesignificant reduction in diffusing or mixing between the hot and cold liquids as well as thesignificant reduction in the thermal heat transfer between them, the performance of thestorage tank is improved. More specifically, the stability of the interface region orthermocline is enhanced and the thickness of the thermocline is reduced producing acorresponding increase in the steepness of the temperature gradient across thethermocline and a more efficiently operating thermocline storage unit.

申请人：THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE UNITED STATESDEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

代理人：Kenneth L. Richardson,Jeannette M. Walder,Judson R. Hightower

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