Fluid power accumulator using adsorption
First Claim
1. A fluid power accumulator having an energy storage density, comprising:
- an energy storage chamber having an enclosed volume defined in part by a mobile barrier configured such that moving the barrier causes the enclosed volume to increase or decrease; and
a compressible fluid and a second substance contained in the enclosed volume under pressure;
wherein the compressible fluid interacts with the second substance whereby moving the barrier to substantially decrease the enclosed volume causes a portion of the compressible fluid to undergo a change of state and returning the mobile barrier to its previous position substantially reverses the change of state;
the change of state comprises one or more from the group consisting of;
(a) a chemical reaction affecting the composition of the fluid; and
(b) a transition of a portion of the fluid between distinct homogeneous portions of matter within the enclosed volume; and
the change of state substantially increases the energy storage density of the fluid power accumulator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a fluid power accumulator in which the fluid undergoes a state change as the system is pressurized to store energy. A state change can be a phase change, a chemical reaction, or a combination of these. Generally the state change results from the interaction of a compressible fluid contained in the accumulator with another substance, which can be a fluid or a solid. Preferably, the state change includes the physical adsorption of a fluid by a solid adsorbant. The invention can improve the energy storage density of a fluid power accumulator, allow a given energy storage density to be achieved at a lower maximum pressure, facilitate heat transfer and storage within an accumulator, and/or improve accumulator efficiency by storing energy in a form other than thermal energy, such as in the form of chemical energy.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A fluid power accumulator having an energy storage density, comprising:
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an energy storage chamber having an enclosed volume defined in part by a mobile barrier configured such that moving the barrier causes the enclosed volume to increase or decrease; and a compressible fluid and a second substance contained in the enclosed volume under pressure; wherein the compressible fluid interacts with the second substance whereby moving the barrier to substantially decrease the enclosed volume causes a portion of the compressible fluid to undergo a change of state and returning the mobile barrier to its previous position substantially reverses the change of state; the change of state comprises one or more from the group consisting of; (a) a chemical reaction affecting the composition of the fluid; and (b) a transition of a portion of the fluid between distinct homogeneous portions of matter within the enclosed volume; and the change of state substantially increases the energy storage density of the fluid power accumulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle, comprising:
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a fluid power accumulator adapted to store energy in a variable volume container that encloses a volume containing matter distributed in at least two states; wherein substantially decreasing the enclosed volume of the container causes a part of the matter in the first state to transition into the second state; the two states are either; (a) two distinct homogeneous portions of matter within the enclosed volume;
or(b) respectively products and reactants of a reversible chemical reaction; and the part of the matter in the first state transitioning into the second state substantially improves an enemy storage density of the fluid power accumulator;
wherein the first state is a gas phase and the second state is an absorbed phase. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A fluid power accumulator, comprising:
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a housing having a first chamber enclosing a first volume and a second chamber enclosing a second volume, the first and second chambers being separated by a mobile barrier, wherein moving the barrier causes the volume of the second chamber to either decrease or increase; wherein the first volume contains hydraulic fluid; the second volume contains a compressible fluid and an adsorbant; moving the barrier to decrease the second volume causes a portion of the compressible fluid to be adsorbed by the adsorbant; and moving the barrier to increase the second volume causes a portion of the adsorbed fluid to desorb wherein the adsorbing of the compressible fluid by the adsorbant substantially increases an energy storage density of the fluid power accumulator. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification