Systems and methods for energy storage and recovery using compressed gas

• US 8,713,929 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazo, Thomas E
• Application Number:
  US13/488,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20120279209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 603/98, 604/08, 604/10, 604/15, 604/16, 606/52
• US Class Current: 60/410
• 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 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
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and systems for the storage and recovery of energy using open-air hydraulic-pneumatic accumulator and intensifier arrangements that combine at least one accumulator and at least one 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.

Claims

1. A method of energy storage and recovery utilizing a cylinder comprising two separated chambers, the method comprising:

at least one of;

(i) transferring gas into a chamber of the cylinder,

compressing the gas within the chamber while, to enforce substantially isothermal compression of the gas, controlling operation of the cylinder in response to at least one system parameter associated with operation of the cylinder, and

exhausting the compressed gas from the chamber of the cylinder;

or

(ii) transferring compressed gas into a chamber of the cylinder,

expanding the compressed gas within the chamber while, to enforce substantially isothermal expansion of the compressed gas, controlling operation of the cylinder in response to at least one system parameter associated with operation of the cylinder, and

exhausting the expanded gas from the chamber of the cylinder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas is transferred into the chamber from atmosphere prior to compression.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, after compression, the compressed gas is exhausted into a gas storage reservoir.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, after compression, the compressed gas is exhausted into a chamber of a second cylinder.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising compressing the compressed gas within the chamber of the second cylinder.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the cylinder and the second cylinder are operated in a staged manner to provide a predetermined pressure profile at least at one outlet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressed gas is transferred into the chamber from a gas storage reservoir prior to expansion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, after expansion, the gas is exhausted to atmosphere.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, after expansion, the gas is exhausted into a chamber of a second cylinder.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising expanding the gas within the chamber of the second cylinder.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the cylinder and the second cylinder are operated in a staged manner to provide a predetermined pressure profile at least at one outlet.

12. The method 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.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the cylinder comprises a movable boundary therein separating the two chambers, the at least one system parameter comprising a position, within the cylinder, of the boundary.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein one chamber is pneumatic and the other chamber is hydraulic.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a motor/pump based on the at least one system parameter.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the motor/pump comprises a hydraulic motor/pump in fluid communication with the cylinder for at least one of causing compression of gas or receiving energy from expansion of gas.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the hydraulic motor/pump comprises a shaft, the control system controlling at least one of a speed or a torque of the rotating shaft based on the at least one system parameter.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a temperature of the gas during at least one of compression or expansion.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a pressure of the gas during at least one of compression or expansion.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring, during at least one of compression or expansion, at least one of a position or a rate of movement of a movable boundary separating the chambers.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising circulating water for thermally conditioning the gas during at least one of compression or expansion.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein gas is compressed within the chamber, and transferring gas into the chamber comprises opening a valve to fluidly connect the chamber with a source of gas.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a control system controls operation of the cylinder in response to at least one system parameter associated with operation of the cylinder, and the control system opens the valve.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising, prior to transferring gas into the chamber of the cylinder, expanding remnant gas within the chamber to a first pressure, wherein the valve is only opened when a pressure of the source of gas is approximately equal to the first pressure.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the source of gas comprises a vent to atmosphere.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the source of gas comprises a chamber of a second cylinder.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising thermally conditioning the gas during at least one of compression or expansion via heat transfer between the gas and a liquid.