Comments on: Is a Heat Pump and Gravel the Answer to Energy Storage for the Grid? http://gigaom.com/2009/05/14/is-a-heat-pump-and-gravel-the-answer-to-energy-storage-for-the-grid/ Wed, 22 May 2013 07:25:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Mike http://gigaom.com/2009/05/14/is-a-heat-pump-and-gravel-the-answer-to-energy-storage-for-the-grid/#comment-22942 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:35:32 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=31651#comment-22942 This technology sound very interesting. Im also active in field of green energy and particularly interested in heat pumps as can be seen on my website heat pump prices and wonder if this solution will be cost efficient to use it in households.

]]> By: Flow Batteries: EnerVault Quietly Building Energy Storage for the Grid http://gigaom.com/2009/05/14/is-a-heat-pump-and-gravel-the-answer-to-energy-storage-for-the-grid/#comment-22941 Thu, 21 May 2009 12:01:51 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=31651#comment-22941 [...] (pumping water uphill and then letting the water move downhill) or just in a really early stage (the gravel plus heat pump approach). But there is a technology that’s had decades of research, could offer one of the lowest [...]

]]> By: AgentG http://gigaom.com/2009/05/14/is-a-heat-pump-and-gravel-the-answer-to-energy-storage-for-the-grid/#comment-22940 Tue, 19 May 2009 20:25:16 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=31651#comment-22940 From Isentropic’s website:

“The round trip efficiency is over 70%.”

I am assuming they are now talking about thermal efficiency. The website also states:

“the machine works both as an engine and a heat pump (an engine turns a temperature difference into work, a heat pump turns work into a temperature difference – every fridge has one). High reversibility means that if it first turns electricity into a temperature difference, it can then regenerate most of the electricity from the temperature difference it has created.”

They further refer to the “Ericsson cycle of 1833″ which implies that a Stirling-type external engine is used to power a generator.

This article would have benefitted from greater technical scrutiny of the claims of Isentropic, which are somewhat misleading. If the technology is being used for storage of electrical energy, then only the overall power out vs. power in is relevant, regardless of how efficient internal components may operate.

]]> By: AgentG http://gigaom.com/2009/05/14/is-a-heat-pump-and-gravel-the-answer-to-energy-storage-for-the-grid/#comment-22939 Tue, 19 May 2009 20:11:49 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=31651#comment-22939 The claim of 99% energy efficiency is unheard of, particularly where thermodynamic heat transfer is involved. Think of all the possible losses from all the components that would have to be insulated with vacuum-like isolation If it can be proven, it is truly amazing. My gut feeling is that this number reflects only some core aspect, rather than effective power out vs. power in.

For comparison, an isolation transformer is typically only 98% efficient, due to capacative losses, but no moving parts.

]]> By: Jeanne http://gigaom.com/2009/05/14/is-a-heat-pump-and-gravel-the-answer-to-energy-storage-for-the-grid/#comment-22938 Mon, 18 May 2009 16:05:46 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=31651#comment-22938 Could this heat pump and gravel technology be used here? http://tinyurl.com/pkq8qv. This is an abandon power plant in Morro Bay. The smoke stakes seem like it would work well and it is right on the ocean which seems like it would also work well with the hydro idea.

Thank you.

Jeanne

]]> By: Pumped Hydro Energy Storage: It Takes A Heck of a Long Time http://gigaom.com/2009/05/14/is-a-heat-pump-and-gravel-the-answer-to-energy-storage-for-the-grid/#comment-22937 Mon, 18 May 2009 07:01:30 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=31651#comment-22937 [...] But decades? Startups, start looking into alternatives like these eight technologies and this one that just uses a heat pump and gravel. [...]

]]> By: Is a Heat Pump and Gravel the Answer to Energy Storage for the Grid? « SmartGrid Current http://gigaom.com/2009/05/14/is-a-heat-pump-and-gravel-the-answer-to-energy-storage-for-the-grid/#comment-22936 Thu, 14 May 2009 20:21:09 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/?p=31651#comment-22936 [...] Is a Heat Pump and Gravel the Answer to Energy Storage for the Grid? Posted May 14, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized | http://earth2tech.com/2009/05/14/is-a-heat-pump-and-gravel-the-answer-to-energy-storage-for-the-grid… [...]

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