Systems and methods for energy storage and recovery using rapid isothermal gas expansion and compression

• US 8,627,658 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2011
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• 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., Bollinger, Benjamin R., Izenson, Michael, Chen, Weibo, Magari, Patrick, Cameron, Benjamin, Cook, Robert, Richter, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): JETTON, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US13/012,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 60413-418, 605/08, 605/12, 605/15, 606/59, 91/4.R, 91/4.A, 417/254, 417266-268
• US Class Current: 60/511
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 23/04 the combustion space being subdivided into two or more chambers with pre-combustion chambers F02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/032 by means of fluid-pressure converters
• 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 2211/20569 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 : Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/50 : Energy storage in industry with an added climate change mitigation effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

The invention relates to systems and methods for rapidly and isothermally expanding and compressing gas in energy storage and recovery systems that use open-air hydraulic-pneumatic cylinder assemblies, such as an accumulator and an intensifier in communication with a high-pressure gas storage reservoir on a gas-side of the circuits and a combination fluid motor/pump, coupled to a combination electric generator/motor on the fluid side of the circuits. The systems use heat transfer subsystems in communication with at least one of the cylinder assemblies or reservoir to thermally condition the gas being expanded or compressed.

Claims

1. An energy storage and recovery system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a first cylinder for compressing gas to store energy and expanding gas to impart energy over a first pressure range;

a spray mechanism operable to spray discrete droplets of heat-transfer liquid into gas during at least one of compression or expansion in the first cylinder;

connected pneumatically in series with the first cylinder, a second cylinder for compressing gas to store energy and expanding gas to impart energy over a second pressure range higher than the first pressure range;

a first piston disposed within the first cylinder;

a first piston rod mechanically coupled to the first piston and extending from an end of the first cylinder;

a second piston disposed within the second cylinder;

a second piston rod mechanically coupled to the second piston and extending from an end of the second cylinder, the ends of the first and second piston rods extending from the first and second cylinders being mechanically coupled; and

a control system for controlling operation of at least one of the first or second cylinder to enforce substantially isothermal expansion and compression of the gas therein to thereby increase efficiency of the expansion and compression, the control system (i) being responsive to at least one system parameter associated with operation of at least one of the first or second cylinder, (ii) comprising a computer configured to execute a stored control application, (iii) controlling at least one of compression or expansion of gas within the first cylinder and, thereduring, introduction of a spray of discrete droplets of heat-transfer liquid from the spray mechanism, and (iv) controlling at least one of compression or expansion of gas within the second cylinder without introduction of a spray of discrete droplets of heat-transfer liquid thereduring.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one system parameter comprises at least one of a fluid state, a fluid flow, a temperature, and a pressure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one system parameter comprises a position, within the first cylinder, of the first piston.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pneumatic circuit including a first portion of the first cylinder, the control system controlling a first control valve within the pneumatic circuit.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising (i) a storage vessel for storage of the gas after compression or before expansion, and (ii) a conduit and at least one valve selectively fluidly connecting the storage vessel to the second cylinder.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vent, selectively fluidly connected the first cylinder, for venting the gas to atmosphere after expansion thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system operates the first cylinder and the second cylinder in a staged manner to provide a predetermined pressure profile at at least one outlet.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein (i) the first cylinder transfers mechanical energy at a first pressure ratio, and (ii) the second cylinder transfers mechanical energy at a second pressure ratio greater than the first pressure ratio.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second piston rods are configured to move the first and second pistons simultaneously during compression or expansion of gas within the first or second cylinder.

10. An energy storage and recovery system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:

a first double-acting cylinder for compressing gas to store energy and expanding gas to impart energy over a first pressure range;

connected pneumatically in series with the first cylinder, a second double-acting cylinder for compressing gas to store energy and expanding gas to impart energy over a second pressure range different from the first pressure range;

a first piston disposed within the first cylinder and defining first and second chambers therein;

a first piston rod mechanically coupled to the first piston and extending from an end of the first cylinder;

a second piston disposed within the second cylinder and defining first and second chambers therein, wherein (i) the first chamber of the second cylinder is selectively fluidly connected to the first chamber of the first cylinder, and (ii) the second chamber of the second cylinder is selectively fluidly connected to the second chamber of the first cylinder;

a second piston rod mechanically coupled to the second piston and extending from an end of the second cylinder, the ends of the first and second piston rods extending from the first and second cylinders being mechanically coupled;

a mechanism for introducing heat transfer liquid into at least one of the first or second cylinders; and

a control system for controlling operation of at least one of the first or second cylinder to enforce substantially isothermal expansion and compression of the gas therein to thereby increase efficiency of the expansion and compression, the control system (i) being responsive to at least one system parameter associated with operation of at least one of the first or second cylinder, (ii) controlling a rate of heat flow into and out of at least one of the first or second cylinder via heat exchange between the gas and heat-transfer liquid therewithin, and (iii) comprising a computer configured to execute a stored control application.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one system parameter comprises at least one of a fluid state, a fluid flow, a temperature, and a pressure.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one system parameter comprises a position, within the first cylinder, of the first piston.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a pneumatic circuit including a first portion of the first cylinder, the control system controlling a first control valve within the pneumatic circuit.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising (i) a storage vessel for storage of the gas after compression or before expansion, and (ii) a conduit and at least one valve selectively fluidly connecting the storage vessel to the second cylinder.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising a vent, selectively fluidly connected the first cylinder, for venting the gas to atmosphere after expansion thereof.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the control system operates the first cylinder and the second cylinder in a staged manner to provide a predetermined pressure profile at at least one outlet.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein (i) the first cylinder transfers mechanical energy at a first pressure ratio, and (ii) the second cylinder transfers mechanical energy at a second pressure ratio greater than the first pressure ratio.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second piston rods are configured to move the first and second pistons simultaneously during compression or expansion of gas within the first or second cylinder.