System and method for rapid isothermal gas expansion and compression for energy storage
First Claim
1. A method of substantially isothermal expansion and compression of a gas for energy storage and recovery to promote efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the method comprising:
- at least one of;
(i) transferring a gas from a surrounding atmosphere into a pneumatic chamber of a cylinder assembly, the gas comprising atmospheric air,compressing the gas in the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly,during the compression, thermally conditioning the gas by heat exchange with fluid from a heat transfer subsystem in fluid communication with the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly, the heat transfer subsystem comprising a fluid source having a substantially constant temperature, andstoring the compressed gas outside of the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly;
or(ii) transferring compressed gas from a vessel of compressed gas into the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly, the gas comprising air,expanding the gas in the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly,during the expansion, thermally conditioning the gas by heat exchange with fluid from a heat transfer subsystem in fluid communication with the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly, the heat transfer subsystem comprising a fluid source having a substantially constant temperature, andventing the expanded gas into the surrounding atmosphere.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to systems and methods for rapidly and isothermally expanding gas in a cylinder. The cylinder is used in a staged hydraulic-pneumatic energy conversion system and includes a gas chamber (pneumatic side) and a fluid chamber (hydraulic side) and a piston or other mechanism that separates the gas chamber and fluid chamber while allowing the transfer of force/pressure between each opposing chamber. The gas chamber of the cylinder includes ports that are coupled to a heat transfer subassembly that circulates gas from the pneumatic side and exchanges its heat with a counter flow of ambient temperature fluid from a reservoir or other source.
663 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of substantially isothermal expansion and compression of a gas for energy storage and recovery to promote efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the method comprising:
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at least one of; (i) transferring a gas from a surrounding atmosphere into a pneumatic chamber of a cylinder assembly, the gas comprising atmospheric air, compressing the gas in the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly, during the compression, thermally conditioning the gas by heat exchange with fluid from a heat transfer subsystem in fluid communication with the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly, the heat transfer subsystem comprising a fluid source having a substantially constant temperature, and storing the compressed gas outside of the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly;
or(ii) transferring compressed gas from a vessel of compressed gas into the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly, the gas comprising air, expanding the gas in the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly, during the expansion, thermally conditioning the gas by heat exchange with fluid from a heat transfer subsystem in fluid communication with the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly, the heat transfer subsystem comprising a fluid source having a substantially constant temperature, and venting the expanded gas into the surrounding atmosphere. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for substantially isothermal expansion and compression of a gas, the system comprising:
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a cylinder assembly comprising a pneumatic chamber for the expansion and compression of gas therein, the pneumatic chamber being partially bounded by a moveable boundary mechanism that transfers mechanical energy; a second cylinder assembly comprising a pneumatic chamber for the expansion and compression of gas therein, the pneumatic chamber being partially bounded by a moveable boundary mechanism that transfers mechanical energy, the pneumatic chambers of the cylinder assembly and the second cylinder assembly being selectively fluidly connectable; selectively fluidly connectable to the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly, a vessel for storage of compressed gas; selectively fluidly connectable to the pneumatic chamber of the second cylinder assembly, a vent to a surrounding atmosphere; and a heat transfer subsystem configured for fluid communication with the pneumatic chamber of the cylinder assembly and a fluid source having a substantially constant temperature. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification