Systems and methods for improving drivetrain efficiency for compressed gas energy storage

• US 7,963,110 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• 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., Schaefer, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/723,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20100229544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 290/54, 290/55, 603/98
• 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 21/08 Servomotor systems incorporating electrically operated control means F15B21/02, F15B21/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/14 Energy-recuperation means
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20515 Electric motor
• 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 2211/216 the pressure sources being pneumatic-to-hydraulic converters
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6309 the pressure being a pressure source supply pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6655 Power control, e.g. combined pressure and flow rate control
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 15/006 in the form of pneumatic energy, e.g. compressed air energy storage [CAES] accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator

Abstract

In various embodiments, systems for providing a constant electrical output from a compressed gas energy storage and recovery system include a hydraulic-pneumatic energy storage and recovery system configured to provide a varying pressure profile at least at one outlet, a hydraulic motor-pump in fluid communication with the outlet, and a control system for enabling the constant electrical output by controlling at least one of pressure, piston position, power, flow rate, torque, RPM, current, voltage, frequency, or displacement per revolution.

Claims

1. A system (i) for providing an electrical output constant in terms of at least one of frequency, voltage, current, or power from a compressed gas energy storage and recovery system, and (ii) suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a hydraulic-pneumatic energy storage and recovery system (i) configured to provide a varying pressure profile at least at one outlet thereof, and (ii) comprising a heat transfer subsystem to provide isothermal expansion and compression of gas within the energy storage and recovery system;

a hydraulic motor-pump in fluid communication with the outlet; and

a control system for enabling the electrical output by controlling at least one variable selected from the group consisting of pressure, piston position, power, flow rate, torque, RPM, current, voltage, frequency, and displacement per revolution.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electric motor-generator mechanically coupled to the hydraulic motor-pump, wherein the hydraulic motor-pump converts hydraulic work to mechanical energy to drive a drive shaft of the electric motor-generator, and the electric motor generator converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy to form the electrical output.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising power electronics in communication with the electric motor-generator to synchronize the electrical output to a power supply.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the control system is configured to maintain at least one of constant torque or RPM of the hydraulic motor-pump to maintain the electrical output.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the control system controls the hydraulic motor-pump to maintain the electrical output such that it matches a required input for a power supply.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic motor-pump is a fixed displacement hydraulic motor-pump, and the system further comprises an electric motor-generator, for forming the electrical output, mechanically coupled to the fixed displacement hydraulic motor-pump.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the control system is configured to vary a flow rate of the fixed displacement hydraulic motor-pump in response to the varying pressure profile at the outlet.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the control device comprises power electronics in communication with the electric motor-generator to synchronize the electrical output to a power supply.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic motor-pump is a digital displacement hydraulic motor-pump.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic motor-pump is a variable displacement hydraulic motor-pump.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage and recovery system is an open-air system comprising, selectively fluidly connected to the at least one cylinder assembly, (i) means for storage of compressed gas after compression and supply of compressed gas for expansion thereof, and (ii) a vent for exhausting expanded gas to atmosphere after expansion and supply of gas for compression thereof.

12. A system (i) for providing an electrical output constant in terms of at least one of frequency, voltage, current, or power from a compressed gas energy storage and recovery system, and (ii) suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a hydraulic-pneumatic energy storage and recovery system configured to provide a varying pressure profile at least at one outlet thereof;

a hydraulic motor-pump in fluid communication with the outlet; and

a control system for enabling the electrical output by controlling at least one variable selected from the group consisting of pressure, piston position, power, flow rate, torque, RPM, current, voltage, frequency, and displacement per revolution,

wherein the control system is configured to vary the displacement per revolution of the hydraulic motor-pump in response to the varying pressure profile at the outlet.

13. A system (i) for providing an electrical output constant in terms of at least one of frequency, voltage, current, or power from a compressed gas energy storage and recovery system, and (ii) suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a hydraulic-pneumatic energy storage and recovery system configured to provide a varying pressure profile at least at one outlet thereof;

a variable displacement hydraulic motor-pump in fluid communication with the outlet; and

a control system for enabling the electrical output by controlling at least one variable selected from the group consisting of pressure, piston position, power, flow rate, torque, RPM, current, voltage, frequency, and displacement per revolution,

wherein the control system varies flow rate inversely with pressure as a function of time.

14. A system (i) for providing an electrical output constant in terms of at least one of frequency, voltage, current, or power from a compressed gas energy storage and recovery system, and (ii) suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a hydraulic-pneumatic energy storage and recovery system (i) configured to provide a varying pressure profile at least at one outlet thereof, (ii) using staged hydraulic conversion to provide the varying pressure profile, and (iii) comprising;

a cylinder assembly including a staged pneumatic side and a hydraulic side, the sides being separated by a movable mechanical boundary mechanism that transfers energy therebetween, and

a compressed gas storage system in fluid communication with the cylinder assembly;

a hydraulic motor-pump in fluid communication with the outlet; and

a control system for enabling the electrical output by controlling at least one variable selected from the group consisting of pressure, piston position, power, flow rate, torque, RPM, current, voltage, frequency, and displacement per revolution.

15. A system (i) for providing an electrical output constant in terms of at least one of frequency, voltage, current, or power from a compressed gas energy storage and recovery system, and (ii) suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a hydraulic-pneumatic energy storage and recovery system configured to provide a varying pressure profile at least at one outlet thereof;

a fixed displacement hydraulic motor-pump in fluid communication with the outlet;

an electric motor-generator, for forming the electrical output, mechanically coupled to the fixed displacement hydraulic motor-pump; and

a control system (i) for enabling the electrical output by controlling at least one variable selected from the group consisting of pressure, piston position, power, flow rate, torque, RPM, current, voltage, frequency, and displacement per revolution, and (ii) comprising a variable frequency drive coupled to the electric motor-generator to control a load on the hydraulic motor-pump.

16. A system (i) for providing an electrical output constant in terms of at least one of frequency, voltage, current, or power from a compressed gas energy storage and recovery system, and (ii) suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a hydraulic-pneumatic energy storage and recovery system configured to provide a varying pressure profile at least at one outlet thereof;

a fixed displacement hydraulic motor-pump in fluid communication with the outlet;

an electric motor-generator, for forming the electrical output, mechanically coupled to the fixed displacement hydraulic motor-pump; and

a control system (i) for enabling the electrical output by controlling at least one variable selected from the group consisting of pressure, piston position, power, flow rate, torque, RPM, current, voltage, frequency, and displacement per revolution, and (ii) comprising a continuously variable transmission disposed between the hydraulic motor-pump and the electric motor-generator to control a load on the hydraulic motor-pump.

17. A system (i) for providing an electrical output constant in terms of at least one of frequency, voltage, current, or power from a compressed gas energy storage and recovery system, and (ii) suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a hydraulic-pneumatic energy storage and recovery system configured to provide a varying pressure profile at least at one outlet thereof;

a digital displacement hydraulic motor-pump in fluid communication with the outlet; and

a control system for enabling the electrical output by controlling at least one variable selected from the group consisting of pressure, piston position, power, flow rate, torque, RPM, current, voltage, frequency, and displacement per revolution,

wherein the digital displacement hydraulic motor-pump comprises;

a high pressure input-output;

a low pressure input-output;

an off-center rotating cam;

a plurality of radial piston assemblies coupled to the off-center rotating cam; and

a control valve arrangement responsive to the control system for operating the hydraulic motor-pump at, at least one of a substantially constant pressure, power output, flow rate, torque, RPM, or displacement per revolution.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the control valve arrangement comprises pairs of high speed valves in fluid communication with each piston assembly and the control system actuates the high speed valves to control aggregate displacement of the hydraulic motor-pump.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the digital displacement hydraulic motor-pump further comprises a plurality of high-pressure inputs-outputs and a plurality of low-pressure inputs-outputs.