SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIQUID AIR PRODUCTION, POWER STORAGE AND POWER RELEASE
First Claim
1. An energy release system comprising:
- a storage apparatus;
one or more heat exchangers, at least one of the heat exchangers being fluidly connected to the storage apparatus;
at least one combustion chamber fluidly connected to at least one of the heat exchangers;
one or more generator-loaded hot-gas expanders fluidly connected to the at least one combustion chamber and at least one of the heat exchangers;
at least one generator fluidly connected to at least one of the hot-gas expanders, the generator producing electric power; and
a stream of liquid air and a stream of working loop fluid, the stream of liquid air and the stream of working loop fluid being separate and distinct streams, the working loop fluid traveling in a closed loop such that liquid air released from the storage apparatus flows in a first general direction, and working loop fluid flows in a second general direction, the second general direction being substantially opposite to the first general direction; and
the working loop fluid warms the released liquid air such that the released liquid air is substantially vaporized, and the released liquid air cools the working loop fluid such that the working loop fluid is substantially liquefied.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for storing and releasing energy comprising directing inlet air into a vertical cold flue assembly, a portion of moisture being removed from the air within the cold flue assembly. The air is directed out of the cold flue assembly and compressed. The remaining moisture is substantially removed and the carbon dioxide is removed from the air by adsorption. The air is cooled in a main heat exchanger such that it is substantially liquefied using refrigerant loop air. The substantially liquefied air is directed to a storage apparatus. The refrigerant loop air is cooled by a mechanical chiller and by a plurality of refrigerant loop air expanders. In energy release mode, working loop fluid warms the released liquid air such that the released liquid air is substantially vaporized, and the released liquid air cools the working loop fluid such that the working loop fluid is substantially liquefied. A portion of the released liquid air is directed to the at least one generator and used as bearing air for the at least one generator. The substantially vaporized air is directed to a combustion chamber and combusted with a fuel stream. Combustion gas may be directed from the combustion chamber to at least one expander and expanded in the expander, the expanded combustion gas split into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being relatively larger than the second portion. The first portion may be directed to a first heat exchanger, and the second portion may be directed to a second heat exchanger such that the second portion heats and substantially vaporizes the released liquid air.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An energy release system comprising:
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a storage apparatus; one or more heat exchangers, at least one of the heat exchangers being fluidly connected to the storage apparatus; at least one combustion chamber fluidly connected to at least one of the heat exchangers; one or more generator-loaded hot-gas expanders fluidly connected to the at least one combustion chamber and at least one of the heat exchangers; at least one generator fluidly connected to at least one of the hot-gas expanders, the generator producing electric power; and a stream of liquid air and a stream of working loop fluid, the stream of liquid air and the stream of working loop fluid being separate and distinct streams, the working loop fluid traveling in a closed loop such that liquid air released from the storage apparatus flows in a first general direction, and working loop fluid flows in a second general direction, the second general direction being substantially opposite to the first general direction; and the working loop fluid warms the released liquid air such that the released liquid air is substantially vaporized, and the released liquid air cools the working loop fluid such that the working loop fluid is substantially liquefied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of releasing stored power, comprising:
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releasing stored liquid air; pumping the released liquid air to pressure; creating a closed loop containing working loop fluid such that the released liquid air and the working loop fluid are separate and distinct streams; directing the released liquid air through at least one heat exchanger in a first general direction; directing working loop fluid through the at least one heat exchanger such that the working loop fluid flows in a second general direction, the second general direction being substantially opposite to the first general direction; warming the released liquid air with the working loop fluid such that the released liquid air is substantially vaporized; and cooling the working loop fluid with the released liquid air such that the working loop air is substantially liquefied. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for releasing power, comprising:
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a storage apparatus; one or more heat exchangers, at least one of the heat exchangers being fluidly connected to the storage apparatus; at least one combustion chamber fluidly connected to at least one of the heat exchangers; one or more generator-loaded hot-gas expanders fluidly connected to the at least one combustion chamber and at least one of the heat exchangers; at least one generator fluidly connected to at least one of the hot-gas expanders, the generator producing electric power as a supplemental source of electric power; and a stream of liquid air and a stream of working loop fluid, the stream of liquid air and the stream of working loop fluid being separate and distinct streams, the working loop fluid traveling in a closed loop such that liquid air released from the storage apparatus flows in a first general direction, and working loop fluid flows in a second general direction, the second general direction being substantially opposite to the first general direction; and the working loop fluid warms the released liquid air such that the released liquid air is substantially vaporized, and the released liquid air cools the working loop fluid such that the working loop fluid is substantially liquefied; wherein the substantially vaporized air is directed to the at least one combustion chamber, combusted with a fuel stream and expanded in one of the generator-loaded hot-gas expanders. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification