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Systems and methods for compressed-gas energy storage using coupled cylinder assemblies

  • US 8,117,842 B2
  • Filed: 02/14/2011
  • Issued: 02/21/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2009
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for energy storage and recovery suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the method comprising:

  • at least one of expanding or compressing a gas via reciprocal motion within a pneumatic cylinder assembly, the reciprocal motion arising from or being converted into rotary motion, whereby energy is recovered and stored during expansion and compression of the gas, respectively; and

    during the at least one of expansion or compression, exchanging heat with the gas by spraying a heat-transfer liquid into the gas via a spray mechanism in order to maintain the gas at a substantially constant temperature, thereby increasing efficiency of the energy recovery and storage,wherein (i) the spray mechanism comprises at least one of a spray head or a spray rod fluidly connected to a circulation mechanism configured to circulate the heat-transfer liquid into the pneumatic cylinder assembly via the spray mechanism at high pressures ranging between 300 psi and 3000 psi, (ii) the heat exchanging is performed by a heat-exchange subsystem, and (iii) a control system controls the pneumatic cylinder assembly and the heat-exchange subsystem to enforce substantially isothermal expansion or compression of the gas.

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