Forming liquid sprays in compressed-gas energy storage systems for effective heat exchange

• US 8,474,255 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2011
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• 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., Bell, Alexander, Bollinger, Benjamin R., Shang, Andrew, Chmiel, David, Richter, Horst, Magari, Patrick, Cameron, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): JETTON, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US13/105,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20110314803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 604/07, 604/10, 604/12, 604/13, 604/15, 604/16, 605/08, 605/11, 605/12, 605/14, 606/59, 239461-524, 91/34, 911/60, 911/66, 912/74, 912/85, 914/62, 417/403, 417/404
• US Class Current: 60/511
• 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 15/00 Fluid-actuated devices for displacing a member from one position to another; Gearing associated therewith
• 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
• 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

Abstract

In various embodiments, efficiency of energy storage and recovery systems compressing and expanding gas is improved via heat exchange between the gas and a heat-transfer fluid.

Claims

1. A compressed-gas energy storage and recovery system comprising:

a cylinder assembly comprising a first pneumatic chamber for compressing gas to store energy and expanding gas to recover energy and a second pneumatic chamber, separated from the first pneumatic chamber;

selectively fluidly connected to the first chamber, (i) a compressed-gas reservoir for storage of gas after compression and supply of compressed gas for expansion thereof, and (ii) a vent for exhausting expanded gas to atmosphere and supply of gas for compression thereof;

a spray mechanism for introducing heat-transfer fluid within the first chamber of the cylinder assembly to exchange heat with gas therein, thereby increasing efficiency of the energy storage and recovery, the spray mechanism comprising a plurality of nozzles for collectively producing an aggregate spray filling substantially an entire volume of the first chamber; and

a circulation apparatus for circulating the heat-transfer fluid to the spray mechanism,

wherein the aggregate spray comprises a plurality of overlapping individual sprays each produced by one of the plurality of nozzles.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each individual spray is an atomized spray of individual droplets.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the individual droplets have an average diameter ranging from approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 1 mm.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles maintains a Weber value of gas within the chamber of at least 40.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each nozzle maintains a pressure drop thereacross of less than approximately 50 psi.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one nozzle has a divergent cross-sectional profile.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one nozzle comprises a mechanism for breaking up a flow of heat-transfer fluid therethrough.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the mechanism comprises at least one of a plurality of vanes or a corkscrew.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the spray mechanism comprises an interior channel for transmitting heat-transfer fluid from a source external to the cylinder assembly to the plurality of nozzles.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising, connected to the cylinder assembly, an intermittent renewable energy source of wind or solar energy, wherein (i) energy stored during compression of gas originates from the intermittent renewable energy source, and (ii) energy is recovered via expansion of gas when the intermittent renewable energy source is nonfunctional.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the spray mechanism comprises at least one of a spray head or a spray rod.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger for maintaining the heat-transfer fluid at a substantially constant temperature, wherein the circulation apparatus circulates heat-transfer fluid from the cylinder assembly through the heat exchanger and back to the cylinder assembly.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles is organized into at least two nozzle groups, at least one nozzle group not being active during a portion of a single cycle of compression or expansion.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a movable piston separating the first chamber from the second chamber within the cylinder assembly; and

a piston rod connected to the movable piston,

wherein the piston and piston rod define a fluid passageway selectively fluidly connected to the circulation apparatus.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir of heat-transfer fluid fluidly connected to the circulation apparatus, the reservoir of heat-transfer fluid containing an additive reducing surface tension of the heat-transfer fluid.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control system for controlling the introduction of heat-transfer fluid into the first chamber such that the compression and expansion of gas is substantially isothermal.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the spray mechanism occupies approximately an entire top surface of the first chamber.

13. A compressed-gas energy storage and recovery system comprising:

a cylinder assembly comprising a chamber for compressing gas to store energy and expanding gas to recover energy;

selectively fluidly connected to the chamber, (i) a compressed-gas reservoir for storage of gas after compression and supply of compressed gas for expansion thereof, and (ii) a vent for exhausting expanded gas to atmosphere and supply of gas for compression thereof;

a spray mechanism for introducing heat-transfer fluid within the chamber of the cylinder assembly to exchange heat with gas therein, thereby increasing efficiency of the energy storage and recovery, the spray mechanism comprising a plurality of nozzles for collectively producing an aggregate spray filling substantially an entire volume of the chamber;

a control system for controlling the introduction of heat-transfer fluid into the chamber such that the compression and expansion of gas is substantially isothermal; and

a circulation apparatus for circulating the heat-transfer fluid to the spray mechanism,

wherein the aggregate spray comprises a plurality of overlapping individual sprays each produced by one of the plurality of nozzles.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the chamber is a pneumatic chamber separated from a hydraulic chamber in the cylinder assembly.

20. A compressed-gas energy storage and recovery system comprising:

a cylinder assembly comprising a first chamber for compressing gas to store energy and expanding gas to recover energy and a second chamber;

selectively fluidly connected to the first chamber, (i) a compressed-gas reservoir for storage of gas after compression and supply of compressed gas for expansion thereof, and (ii) a vent for exhausting expanded gas to atmosphere and supply of gas for compression thereof;

a spray mechanism for introducing heat-transfer fluid within the first chamber and second chamber of the cylinder assembly to exchange heat with gas therein, thereby increasing efficiency of the energy storage and recovery, the spray mechanism comprising a plurality of nozzles disposed in the first chamber and second chamber for collectively producing an aggregate spray filling substantially an entire volume of the chambers; and

a circulation apparatus for circulating the heat-transfer fluid to the spray mechanism,

wherein the aggregate spray comprises a plurality of overlapping individual sprays each produced by one of the plurality of nozzles.