Pumped heat energy storage system with hot-side thermal integration

1. A system comprising:

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 by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in a hot HTS medium, and

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

wherein the PHES system comprises, when operating in the generation mode, a working fluid path circulating the 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 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 the working fluid to the warm HTS medium.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric heater is electrically connected to a power generation plant without an intervening electrical grid and receives electricity from the power generation plant.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the power generation plant is a thermal plant.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the PHES system, when in the charge mode, receives at least a portion of the electricity for conversion into the stored thermal energy from the power generation plant without use of an intervening electrical grid.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the PHES system further comprises a recuperator heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid path of the PHES system, when operating in the generation mode, comprises circulating the working fluid through, in sequence, at least the compressor system, the recuperator heat exchanger system, the hot-side heat exchanger system, the turbine system, the recuperator heat exchanger system, the cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system.

6. A system comprising:

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 by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in a hot HTS medium, and

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

wherein the PHES system comprises, when operating in the generation mode, a working fluid path circulating the 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;

an HTS heat exchanger;

an HTS medium fluid path operable to circulate the hot HTS medium through the HTS heat exchanger; and

a first fluid path operable to circulate a first fluid through the HTS heat exchanger in thermal contact with the hot HTS medium and directing the first fluid to a power generation plant.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the power generation plant is a thermal plant.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first fluid is directed to a reheater in the power generation plant.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the PHES system, when in the charge mode, receives at least a portion of the electricity for conversion into the stored thermal energy from the power generation plant without use of an intervening electrical grid.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the PHES system further comprises a recuperator heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid path of the PHES system, when operating in the generation mode, comprises circulating the working fluid through, in sequence, at least the compressor system, the recuperator heat exchanger system, the hot-side heat exchanger system, the turbine system, the recuperator heat exchanger system, the cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system.

11. A system comprising:

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 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

wherein the PHES system comprises, when operating in the generation mode, a working fluid path circulating the 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

a first fluid path operable to direct a first fluid through an a the power generation plant, wherein the working fluid path through the compressor system, when the PHES system is operating in the generation mode, comprises circulating the working fluid through, in sequence, at least a first compressor, the intercooler, and a second compressor, and wherein the intercooler thermally contacts the working fluid with the first fluid.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are stages in a single physical turbomachine.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first fluid is directed to a water reheater in the power generation plant.

14. A system comprising:

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 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

wherein the PHES system comprises, when operating in the generation mode, a working fluid path circulating the working fluid through, in sequence, at least a compressor system, a hot-side heat exchanger system, a turbine system, an ambient heat exchanger, a cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system; and

an ambient fluid path operable to direct a first fluid through the ambient heat exchanger and to a power generation plant, wherein, when the PHES system is operating in the generation mode, the ambient heat exchanger thermally contacts the working fluid with the ambient fluid.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the power generation plant is a thermal plant.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the PHES system, when in the charge mode, receives at least a portion of the electricity for conversion into the stored thermal energy from the power generation plant without use of an intervening electrical grid.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the PHES system further comprises a recuperator heat exchanger, wherein the working fluid path of the PHES system, when operating in the generation mode, comprises circulating the working fluid through, in sequence, at least the compressor system, the recuperator heat exchanger system, the hot-side heat exchanger system, the turbine system, the recuperator heat exchanger system, the ambient heat exchanger, the cold-side heat exchanger system, and back to the compressor system.