Method of and apparatus for conditioning air

• US 5,317,904 A
• Filed: 01/12/1993
• Issued: 06/07/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ormat Technologies Incorporated (Ormat Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: 4E Co.
• Inventors: Bronicki, Lucien Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capossela, Ronald C.
• Application Number:
  US08/003,878
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 62/87, 62/401, 60/659
• US Class Current: 62/87
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/16 for storing compressed air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2005/0032 Systems storing energy during the night
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2203/023 with turbine used for expansion
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2203/025 with turbine for compression
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0085 Systems using a compressed air circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/004 the refrigerant being air
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids

Abstract

Air is conditioned by compressing air at a first location during a first interval of time and storing the compressed air at the first location. Compressed air stored at the first location is transported by pipeline to a second location remote from the first location during a second interval of time different from the first interval of time and expanded at the second location. The expanded air is delivered to enclosures at the second location. The first interval of time is preferably during the night when the power required to compress the air is relatively inexpensive.

Claims

1. A method for conditioning air comprising the steps of:

a) compressing air at a first location during a first interval of time;

b) storing the compressed air at said first location;

c) transporting air stored at said first location to a second location remote from the first location during a second interval of time different from the first interval of time;

d) expanding the transported air at said second location;

e) delivering the expanded air to one or more utilization means at said second location; and

f) extracting heat from compressed air at the first location and converting some of the extracted heat to electrical power.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for treating the air in said utilization means in order to reduce the level of contaminants therein.

2. A method for conditioning air comprising the steps of:

a) compressing air at a first location during a first interval of time;

b) storing the compressed air at said first location;

c) transporting air stored at said first location to a second location remote from the first location during a second interval of time different from the first interval of time;

d) expanding the transported air at said second location;

e) delivering the expanded air to one or more utilization means at said second location; and

f) wherein the expansion of the air at said second location releases energy that is converted into electrical power.

3. Apparatus for conditioning air comprising

a) compressor means at a first location for compressing air;

b) storage means for storing air compressed by said compressor means;

c) expander means at a second location for expanding the compressed air;

d) pipeline means for transporting air from said storage means to said expander means;

e) control means constructed and arranged so as to effect operation of said compressor means and to prevent operation of said expander means during a first interval of time, and to effect operation of said expand err means and to prevent operation of said compressor means during a second interval of time different from the first interval of tie; and

f) utilization means for receiving expanded compressed air from said expander means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said second location is remote from said first location.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said compressor means is located at sea.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first interval of time is at night.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the first location is rural and the second location is urban.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4 including heat exchanger means operatively associated with said compressor means for extracting heat from the air compressed by the latter.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including means responsive to extracted heat for generating electrical power.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said last named means includes an organic fluid, Rankine cycle heat engine.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8 including turbogenerator means operatively associated with said heat exchanger means and responsive to heat extracted from the air for generating electrical power.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3 including electrical generator means operatively associated with said expander means for converting energy released by the expansion of the compressed air in the expander means into electrical power.

13. The apparatus according to claim 3 including heat exchanger means operatively associated with said compressor means for extracting heat from the air compressed by the latter;

turbogenerator means associated with said heat exchanger means and responsive to heat extracted from the air for generating electrical power; and

means operatively associated with said expander means for converting energy released by the expansion of the compressed air in the expander means into electrical power.

14. The apparatus according to claim 3 including means for treating the air in said utilization means in order to reduce the level of CO₂ therein.

23. A method according to claim 14 including the step of mixing expanded air with other air.

24. A method according to claim 14 including the step of using said expanded air to dehydrate air.

25. A method according o claim 14 wherein said utilization means includes cold storage facilities.

26. A method according to claim 23 including the step of exhausting air from the buildings at a predetermined elevation.

27. A method according to claim 14 wherein said utilization means includes buildings.

28. A method according to claim 14 including the step of treating the air in said utilization means in order to reduce the level of CO₂ therein.

29. A method according to claim 14 including the step of using said expanded air for treating the air from the utilization means in order to reduce the level of odors therein.

16. A method for conditioning air comprising the steps of:

a) compressing air at a first location;

b) transporting the compressed air to a second location;

c) expanding only the transported air at said second location and using energy released during expansion to produce electricity; and

d) delivering the expanded air to one or more utilization means at said second location.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said second location is remote from said first location.

18. A method according to claim 16 including the step of storing the compressed air.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the air is compressed and stored during a first interval of time and transported air is expanded during a second interval of time.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said first interval of time is at night.

21. A method according to claim 19 wherein said second interval of time is at night.

22. A method according to claim 16 including the step of storing heat produced during the compression of air.

30. A method for conditioning air comprising the steps of:

a) compressing air at a first location;

b) storing the compressed air;

c) transporting the stored compressed air to a second location;

d) expanding only the transported air at the said second location; and

e) delivering the expanded transported air to a utilization means at said second location.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the air is compressed and stored during a first interval of time and transported air is expanded during a second interval of time.

32. A method according o claim 30 wherein the expansion of the air at second location releases energy that is converted into electrical power.

33. A method for conditioning air comprising the steps of:

a) compressing air at a first location;

b) transporting the compressed air to a second location;

d) expanding the transported air at the said second location for producing energy, and using said energy for producing electricity; and

d) delivering the transported air to a utilization means at said second location

34. A method according to claim 33 including the step of temporarily storing the compressed air.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein the air is compressed and stored during a first interval of time and the transported air is expanded during a second interval of time.

36. A method for conditioning air comprising the steps of:

a) compressing air at a first location;

b) transporting the compressed air to a second location;

c) expanding the transported air at the said second location;

d) controlling the compression of air and expansion of air such that the air is compressed and prevented from expanding during a first interval of time and expanded and prevented from being compressed during a second interval of time different from the first interval of time; and

f) delivering the transported air to a utilization means at said second location.

37. A method according to claim 36 including the step of temporarily storing the compressed air.

38. A method according to claim 36 wherein the air is compressed and stored during a first interval of time and the transported air is expanded during a second interval of time.

39. A method according to claim 36 wherein the expansion of the air at said second location releases energy that is converted into electrical power.

40. A method for conditioning air in a building comprising the steps of:

a) compressing air at a first location remote from the building;

b) transporting the compressed air to said building;

c) expanding the transported air at said building; and

d) delivering the expanded air to a utilization means;

e) expanding the air in the utilization device to generate electricity; and

f) delivering the expanded air to said building.

41. A method according to claim 40 including the step of temporarily storing the compressed air.

42. A method according to claim 41 wherein the air is compressed and stored during a first interval of time and transported air is expanded during a second interval of time.

43. A method according to claim 40 wherein the expansion of the air at said second location releases energy that is converted into electrical power.

44. A method for conditioning air comprising the steps of:

a) compressing air at a first location;

b) transporting compressed air to a second location remote from the first location;

c) expanding the transported air at said second location;

d) delivering the expanded air to one or more utilization means at said second location; and

e) extracting heat from compressed air at the first location and converting some of the extracted heat to electrical power.

45. A method for conditioning air comprising the steps

a) compressing air at a first location;

b) transporting compressed air form the first location to a second location remote from the first location;

c) expanding the transported air at said second location thereby releasing energy;

d) delivering the expanded air to one or more utilization means at said second location; and

e) converting the released energy at said second location into electrical power.

46. Apparatus for conditioning air comprising:

a) compressor means at a first location for compressing air;

b) pipeline means for transporting air from said first location to a second location;

c) an expander at said second location for expanding the compressed air thereby releasing energy;

d) utilization means for receiving expanded compressed air from said expander means; and

e) a converter associated with said expander for converting the released energy into electrical power.

47. Apparatus according to claim 46 including heat exchanger means operatively associated with said compressor means for extracting heat from the air compressed by the latter.

48. Apparatus according to claim 47 including means responsive to extracted heat for generating electrical power.

49. Apparatus according to claim 48 wherein said last named means includes an organic fluid, Rankine cycle heat engine.

50. Apparatus according to claim 47 including turbogenerator means operatively associated with said heat exchanger means and responsive to heat extracted from the air for generating electrical power.

51. Apparatus according to claim 46 wherein said expander is in the form of a turbine, and said converter is in the form of a generator coupled to the turbine.

52. Apparatus according to claim 46 wherein said first location is on water, and the second location is on land.

53. Apparats according to claim 46 wherein said first location and said second location are on land.