Control of System with Gas Based Cycle
First Claim
1. A system for carrying out a gas based thermodynamic cycle, the system comprising:
- at least one compressor configured to compress a gas in one part of the cycle;
at least one expander configured to operate simultaneously to expand the gas in an upstream or downstream part of the cycle, wherein a change in absolute internal power with gas mass flow rate differs as between the compressor and the expander; and
a control system configured to make selective adjustments so as individually to control, either directly or indirectly, respective gas mass flow rates through each of the compressor and the expander so as to provide independent control of first and second system variables.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System (2) for carrying out a gas based thermodynamic cycle in which a gas is compressed in at least one compressor (8) in one part of the cycle and is expanded in at least one expander (10) operating simultaneously in an upstream or downstream part of the cycle, wherein the change in absolute internal power with gas mass flow rate differs as between the compressor and the expander and wherein the system comprises a control system configured to make selective adjustments so as individually to control, either directly or indirectly, the respective gas mass flow rates through each of the compressor and expander. The system may be an energy storage system including a pumped heat energy storage system configured to provide independent graduated control of system pressure and output power by selective adjustment of the respective gas mass flow rates through each half-engine.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A system for carrying out a gas based thermodynamic cycle, the system comprising:
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at least one compressor configured to compress a gas in one part of the cycle; at least one expander configured to operate simultaneously to expand the gas in an upstream or downstream part of the cycle, wherein a change in absolute internal power with gas mass flow rate differs as between the compressor and the expander; and a control system configured to make selective adjustments so as individually to control, either directly or indirectly, respective gas mass flow rates through each of the compressor and the expander so as to provide independent control of first and second system variables. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 27, 28, 29, 66)
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2. (canceled)
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6. (canceled)
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10. (canceled)
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13. (canceled)
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18. (canceled)
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21-26. -26. (canceled)
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30-65. -65. (canceled)
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67. A method of implementing a gas based thermodynamic cycle with an energy storage system, wherein the energy storage system comprises a first stage comprising a hot half-engine and a first heat store, and a second stage comprising a cold half-engine and a second heat store, wherein the energy storage system uses an external power input during a charging mode, and the energy storage system generates an external power output during a discharging mode, the method comprising:
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operating the hot half-engine and cold half-engine simultaneously; compressing a gas using the hot half-engine of the first stage as a compressor during the charging mode and expanding the gas using the hot half-engine as an expander during the discharging mode, the hot half-engine comprising a single reversible machine or respective machines for the compression function and the expansion function; receiving and storing, in the first heat store of the first stage, thermal energy from gas compressed by the hot half-engine in the charging mode; transferring, in the first heat store, thermal energy to gas compressed by the cold half-engine in the discharging mode; using the cold half-engine of the second stage as an expander to receive and expand gas coming from the first heat store during the charging mode, and using the cold half-engine as a compressor to compress and drive the gas into the first heat store during the discharging mode, the cold-half engine comprising a single reversible machine or respective machines for the expansion function and the compression function; transferring, in the second heat store of the second stage, thermal energy to gas expanded by the cold half-engine during the charging mode; receiving and storing, in the second heat store, thermal energy from gas expanded by the hot half-engine during the discharging mode; and selectively adjusting, with a control system of the energy storage system, respective gas mass flow rates through the simultaneously operating hot half-engine and the cold half-engine to provide independent graduated control of a pressure or a pressure related variable associated with the energy storage system and independent graduated control of the external power input or output of the energy storage system.
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Specification