| 摘要 |
An apparatus for and a method of storing electrical energy as chemical energy and recovering the electrical energy from stored chemical energy by operating an electrochemical cell in two modes, such as a high temperature, solid oxide electrolyte electrochemical cell, in an energy storage mode and an energy recovery mode, is characterized by the steps, in an energy storage mode, of: (A) supplying external electrical energy to electrical leads, and H2O (steam) gas to a cathode of at least one electrochemical cell (56) operating as an electrolysis cell using a solid oxide electrolyte (60) between two electrodes (58 and 62), the electrolysis cell operating to produce H2 gas and O2 gas; (B) passing the H2 gas into an energy storage bed reactor (88) containing iron oxide (90), to produce iron metal (Fe) in the energy storage reactor and H2O (steam); (C) recirculating the H2O (steam) to the electrolysis cell to be electrolyzed; and, (D) repeating steps (A to C) until substantially complete conversion of iron oxide to iron metal, for chemical energy storage of electrical energy; and, further characterized by the steps, in an energy recovery mode, of: (E) supplying H2O (steam) gas to the energy storage bed reactor (88) containing iron metal (Fe) (90) to produce iron oxide (FeO) in the energy storage reactor and H2 gas; (F) passing the H2 gas to an electrode of at least one electrochemical cell operating as a fuel cell and supplying O2 gas or air to the other electrode to produce electrical energy and H2O (steam); (G) recirculating the H2O (steam) produced to the energy storage bed reactor (88); (H) repeating steps (E to G) until substantially complete conversion of iron metal to iron oxide and H2 gas for electrical energy recovery from chemical energy storage; and, (I) recovering the electrical energy produced. |
