Systems and methods for energy storage and recovery using compressed gas

• US 7,900,444 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• 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:
  US12/945,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20110056193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 116 Days
• Field of Search: 604/05, 604/07, 604/08, 604/10, 604/18, 604/59
• 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. An energy storage and recovery system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a cylinder assembly comprising two chambers separated by a movable boundary mechanism;

a plurality of control mechanisms associated with the cylinder assembly for controlling a flow of fluid therethrough; and

a control system for actuating the control mechanisms, the control system (i) being responsive to at least one sensor that monitors a system parameter comprising at least one of a fluid state, a fluid flow, a temperature, a pressure, a position of the boundary mechanism, or a rate of movement of the boundary mechanism, (ii) actuating at least one of the plurality of control mechanisms based on the monitored system parameter, and (iii) actuating at least one of the plurality of control mechanisms during at least one of compression or expansion of gas in the cylinder assembly in order to maintain the gas at a substantially constant temperature.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic motor/pump in fluid communication with the cylinder assembly.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control system controls the hydraulic motor/pump based on the monitored system parameter.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electric generator/motor controlled by the control system based on the monitored system parameter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the chambers is a pneumatic chamber.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the cylinder assembly comprises a pneumatic-hydraulic cylinder.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second cylinder assembly connected to the cylinder assembly, the control system operating the cylinder assembly and the second cylinder assembly in a staged manner to provide a predetermined pressure profile at least one outlet.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second cylinder assembly comprises two separated chambers, at least one of which is a pneumatic chamber.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second cylinder assembly comprises a pneumatic-hydraulic cylinder.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein (i) the cylinder assembly transfers mechanical energy at a first pressure ratio, and (ii) the second cylinder assembly transfers mechanical energy at a second pressure ratio greater than the first pressure ratio.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the cylinder assembly and the second cylinder assembly are connected in parallel.

12. An energy storage and recovery system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a cylinder assembly comprising two chambers separated by a movable boundary mechanism;

a plurality of control mechanisms associated with the cylinder assembly for controlling a flow of fluid therethrough;

a control system for actuating the control mechanisms, the control system (i) being responsive to at least one sensor that monitors a system parameter comprising at least one of a fluid state, a fluid flow, a temperature, a pressure, a position of the boundary mechanism, or a rate of movement of the boundary mechanism, and (ii) actuating at least one of the plurality of control mechanisms based on the monitored system parameter; and

a second cylinder assembly connected to the cylinder assembly, the control system operating the cylinder assembly and the second cylinder assembly in a staged manner to provide a predetermined pressure profile at least one outlet.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second cylinder assembly comprises two separated chambers, at least one of which is a pneumatic chamber.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second cylinder assembly comprises a pneumatic-hydraulic cylinder.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein (i) the cylinder assembly transfers mechanical energy at a first pressure ratio, and (ii) the second cylinder assembly transfers mechanical energy at a second pressure ratio greater than the first pressure ratio.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the cylinder assembly and the second cylinder assembly are connected in parallel.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a hydraulic motor/pump in fluid communication with the cylinder assembly.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the control system controls the hydraulic motor/pump based on the monitored system parameter.

19. The system of claim 12, further comprising an electric generator/motor controlled by the control system based on the monitored system parameter.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the chambers is a pneumatic chamber.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the cylinder assembly comprises a pneumatic-hydraulic cylinder.

22. For an energy storage and recovery system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, comprising (i) a cylinder assembly comprising two chambers separated by a movable boundary mechanism, and (ii) a plurality of control mechanisms associated with the cylinder assembly for controlling a flow of fluid therethrough:

a control system for actuating the control mechanisms, the control system (i) being responsive to at least one sensor that monitors a system parameter comprising at least one of a fluid state, a fluid flow, a temperature, a pressure, a position of the boundary mechanism, or a rate of movement of the boundary mechanism, (ii) actuating at least one of the plurality of control mechanisms based on the monitored system parameter, and (iii) actuating at least one of the plurality of control mechanisms during at least one of compression or expansion of gas in the cylinder assembly in order to maintain the gas at a substantially constant temperature.

23. For an energy storage and recovery system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, comprising (i) a cylinder assembly comprising two chambers separated by a movable boundary mechanism, (ii) a second cylinder assembly connected to the cylinder assembly, and (iii) a plurality of control mechanisms associated with the cylinder assembly for controlling a flow of fluid therethrough:

a control system for actuating the control mechanisms, the control system (i) being responsive to at least one sensor that monitors a system parameter comprising at least one of a fluid state, a fluid flow, a temperature, a pressure, a position of the boundary mechanism, or a rate of movement of the boundary mechanism, (ii) actuating at least one of the plurality of control mechanisms based on the monitored system parameter, and (iii) operating the cylinder assembly and the second cylinder assembly in a staged manner to provide a predetermined pressure profile at least one outlet.