Systems and methods for energy storage and recovery using gas expansion and compression
First Claim
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1. An energy storage and generation system comprising:
- a first pneumatic cylinder assembly for at least one of compressing gas to store energy or expanding gas to recover energy, the first pneumatic cylinder assembly comprising a first compartment, a second compartment, and a piston separating the compartments;
a motor/generator outside the first cylinder assembly;
a transmission mechanism, coupled to the piston and to the motor/generator, for at least one of (i) converting reciprocal motion of the piston into rotary motion of the motor/generator, or (ii) converting rotary motion of the motor/generator into reciprocal motion of the piston;
a heat-transfer subsystem for expediting heat transfer in at least one of the first and second compartments of the first pneumatic cylinder assembly;
a control system for controlling operation of the first pneumatic cylinder assembly to enforce substantially isothermal expansion and compression of gas therein to thereby increase efficiency of the expansion and compression, the control system being responsive to at least one system parameter associated with operation of the first pneumatic cylinder assembly; and
in selective fluid communication with at least one of the first compartment or the second compartment, a vent for at least one of supplying gas for compression or exhausting gas after expansion.
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Abstract
In various embodiments, energy-storage systems are based upon an open-air arrangement in which pressurized gas is expanded in small batches from a high pressure of, e.g., several hundred atmospheres to atmospheric pressure. The systems may be sized and operated at a rate that allows for near isothermal expansion and compression of the gas.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An energy storage and generation system comprising:
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a first pneumatic cylinder assembly for at least one of compressing gas to store energy or expanding gas to recover energy, the first pneumatic cylinder assembly comprising a first compartment, a second compartment, and a piston separating the compartments; a motor/generator outside the first cylinder assembly; a transmission mechanism, coupled to the piston and to the motor/generator, for at least one of (i) converting reciprocal motion of the piston into rotary motion of the motor/generator, or (ii) converting rotary motion of the motor/generator into reciprocal motion of the piston; a heat-transfer subsystem for expediting heat transfer in at least one of the first and second compartments of the first pneumatic cylinder assembly; a control system for controlling operation of the first pneumatic cylinder assembly to enforce substantially isothermal expansion and compression of gas therein to thereby increase efficiency of the expansion and compression, the control system being responsive to at least one system parameter associated with operation of the first pneumatic cylinder assembly; and in selective fluid communication with at least one of the first compartment or the second compartment, a vent for at least one of supplying gas for compression or exhausting gas after expansion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification