Systems and methods for energy storage and recovery using compressed gas

• US 7,832,207 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SustainX, Inc. (General Compression, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SustainX, Inc. (General Compression, Inc.)
• Inventors: McBride, Troy O., Bollinger, Benjamin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazo; Thomas E
• Application Number:
  US12/421,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20090282822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 603/98, 604/08, 604/10, 604/15, 604/16, 606/52
• US Class Current: 60/410
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 1/024 used as a supplementary power source, e.g. to store energy in idle periods to balance pump load
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/032 by means of fluid-pressure converters
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/08 Servomotor systems incorporating electrically operated control means F15B21/02, F15B21/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20569 capable of working as pump and motor
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/212 the pressure sources being accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/214 the pressure sources being hydrotransformers
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/216 the pressure sources being pneumatic-to-hydraulic converters
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/30505 Non-return valves, i.e. check valves
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/3057 having two valves, one for each port of a double-acting output member
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/30575 in a Wheatstone Bridge arrangement (also half bridges)
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/3058 having additional valves for interconnecting the fluid chambers of a double-acting actuator, e.g. for regeneration mode or for floating mode directional control valves having a regenerative position F15B2211/3133; directional control valves having a floating position F15B2211/3127
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/3111 the pump port being closed in the centre position, e.g. so-called closed centre
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/31594 having multiple pressure sources and multiple output members
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/327 electrically or electronically
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/40515 with variable throttles or orifices
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/41509 being connected to a pressure source and a directional control valve
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/41554 being connected to a return line and a directional control valve
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/426 electrically or electronically
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/45 Control of bleed-off flow, e.g. control of bypass flow to the return line
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/50581 using counterbalance valves
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/5153 : being connected to an output member and a directional control valve
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/62 : Cooling or heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6309 : the pressure being a pressure source supply pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7058 : Rotary output members

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and systems for the storage and recovery of energy using open-air hydraulic-pneumatic accumulator and intensifier arrangements that combine at least one accumulator and at least one intensifier in communication with a high-pressure gas storage reservoir on a gas-side of the circuits and a combination fluid motor/pump, coupled to a combination electric generator/motor on the fluid side of the circuits.

Claims

1. A compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system comprising a staged energy conversion system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a compressed gas storage system;

a first cylinder assembly having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a boundary mechanism, wherein at least one of the chambers is a pneumatic chamber, the first cylinder assembly being configured to transfer mechanical energy from the first chamber to the second chamber at a first pressure ratio;

a second cylinder assembly having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a boundary mechanism, wherein at least one of the chambers is a pneumatic chamber, the second cylinder assembly being configured to transfer mechanical energy from the first chamber to the second chamber at a second pressure ratio greater than the first pressure ratio; and

a control system for operating the compressed gas storage system and the first and second cylinder assemblies in a staged manner to provide a predetermined pressure profile at, at least one outlet.

2. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 1, further comprising a control valve arrangement, responsive to the control system, for interconnecting the compressed gas storage system, the first and second cylinder assemblies, and the at least one outlet.

3. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 2, wherein the staged energy conversion system further comprises a hydraulic motor/pump having an input side in fluid communication with the at least one outlet and having an output side in fluid communication with at least one inlet in fluid communication with the control valve arrangement.

4. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 3, wherein the staged energy conversion system further comprises an electric generator/motor mechanically coupled to the hydraulic motor/pump.

5. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 3, wherein the control valve arrangement comprises:

a first arrangement providing controllable fluid communication between the first chamber of the first cylinder assembly and the compressed gas storage system;

a second arrangement providing controllable fluid communication between the first chamber of the first cylinder assembly and the first chamber of the second cylinder assembly;

a third arrangement providing controllable fluid communication between the second chamber of the first cylinder assembly and the at least one outlet; and

a fourth arrangement providing controllable fluid communication between the second chamber of the second cylinder assembly and the at least one outlet.

6. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 5, wherein the control system opens and closes each of the control valve arrangements so that, when gas expands in the first chamber of the first cylinder assembly, the first chamber of the second cylinder assembly is vented by a gas vent to low pressure, whereby a fluid is driven from the second chamber of the first cylinder assembly by the expanding gas through the hydraulic motor/pump, and into the second chamber of the second cylinder assembly.

7. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 5, wherein the control system opens and closes each of the control valve arrangements so that, when gas expands in the first chamber of the second cylinder assembly, whereby a fluid is driven from the second chamber of the second cylinder assembly by the expanding gas through the hydraulic motor/pump, and into the second chamber of the first cylinder assembly, and the first chamber of the first cylinder assembly is in fluid communication with the first chamber of the second cylinder assembly.

8. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 2, wherein the control valve arrangement allows gas from the compressed gas storage system to expand first within the first chamber of the first cylinder assembly and then from the first chamber of the first cylinder assembly into the first chamber of the second cylinder assembly in a staged manner.

9. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 1, wherein the staged energy conversion system further comprises a third cylinder assembly having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a boundary mechanism, the third cylinder assembly being configured to transfer mechanical energy from the first chamber to the second chamber at a third pressure ratio greater than the second pressure ratio.

10. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 1, wherein the staged energy conversion system further comprises a third cylinder assembly having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a boundary mechanism, the third cylinder assembly being configured to transfer mechanical energy from the first chamber to the second chamber at the first pressure ratio, wherein the third cylinder assembly is connected in parallel with the first cylinder assembly.

11. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a sensor system that monitors at least one of (a) a fluid state related to at least one of the first and second chambers of the first cylinder assembly and the first and second chambers of the second cylinder assembly, (b) a flow in hydraulic fluid, or (c) a position of at least one of the boundary mechanisms.

12. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 1, wherein the control system operates the compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system in at least one of an expansion cycle and a compression cycle, where the gas expansion and compression occurs substantially isothermally.

13. The compressed-gas based energy storage and recovery system of claim 12, wherein the system is configured to provide substantially isothermal gas expansion and compression via heat transfer between an environment outside the cylinder assemblies and a gas within the cylinder assemblies.

14. The compressed-gas based energy storage and recovery system of claim 1, wherein the first cylinder assembly is a pneumatic-hydraulic accumulator and the second cylinder assembly is a pneumatic-hydraulic intensifier.

15. A compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system comprising a staged energy conversion system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a compressed gas storage system;

at least three cylinder assemblies, each having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a boundary mechanism that transfers mechanical energy therebetween, wherein at least one of the first and second chambers is a pneumatic chamber; and

a control system for operating the compressed gas storage system and the at least three cylinder assemblies in a staged manner such that at least two of the cylinder assemblies are always in at least one of an expansion phase during an expansion cycle and a compression phase during a compression cycle.

16. The compressed-gas based energy storage and recovery system of claim 15, wherein the at least three cylinder assemblies include a plurality of intensifiers configured to transfer mechanical energy from their respective first chambers to their respective second chambers at different pressure ratios.

17. The compressed-gas based energy storage and recovery system of claim 15 further comprising:

a first hydraulic motor/pump having an input side and an output side; and

a second hydraulic motor/pump having an input side and an output side, wherein at least one of the hydraulic motors/pumps is always being driven by at least one of the at least two cylinder assemblies during the expansion cycle.

18. The compressed-gas based energy storage and recovery system of claim 17, wherein both hydraulic motors/pumps are driven by the at least two cylinder assemblies during the expansion cycle, each hydraulic motor/pump being driven at a different point during the expansion cycle, such that the overall power remains relatively constant.

19. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 17, further comprising a control valve arrangement, responsive to the control system, for variably interconnecting the compressed gas storage system, the at least three cylinder assemblies, and the hydraulic motors/pumps.

20. The compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system of claim 17 further comprising:

a first electric generator/motor mechanically coupled to the first hydraulic motor/pump; and

a second electric generator/motor mechanically coupled to the second hydraulic motor/pump, wherein each generator/motor is driven by its respective hydraulic motor/pump, thereby generating electricity during an expansion cycle.