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

• US 8,733,094 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• 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:
  US13/532,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 603/71, 60407-418, 605/08, 605/11, 605/15, 606/59
• US Class Current: 60/508
• 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-conversion system that stores and recovers electrical energy using compressed gas, the system comprising:

a cylinder assembly including a cylinder having a first chamber and a second chamber, the chambers being separated by a piston slideably disposed within the cylinder;

a drive system coupled to the cylinder assembly, wherein the drive system is configured to convert potential energy to electrical energy during an expansion phase and convert electrical energy to potential energy during a compression phase, movement of the piston in the cylinder assembly compressing gas in one of the first or second chambers during the compression phase, and expanding gas in one of the first or second chambers moving the piston in the cylinder assembly during the expansion phase;

a heat-transfer subsystem in fluid communication with at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber of the cylinder assembly;

for sensing at least one of a fluid state, a fluid flow, a temperature, a pressure, or a position of the piston, at least one sensor in communication with at least one of the first chamber of the cylinder assembly, the second chamber of the cylinder assembly, or fluid exiting the heat-transfer subsystem; and

a control system for receiving telemetry from the at least one sensor to control operation of the heat-transfer subsystem based at least in part on the received telemetry.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cylinder assembly comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat-transfer subsystem further comprises:

a fluid circulation apparatus; and

a heat transfer fluid reservoir, wherein the fluid circulation apparatus is arranged to pump a heat transfer fluid from the reservoir into the gas.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the heat-transfer subsystem further comprises a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising:

a first side in fluid communication with the fluid circulation apparatus and the heat transfer fluid reservoir; and

a second side in fluid communication with a source of heat transfer fluid, wherein the fluid circulation apparatus circulates fluid from heat transfer fluid reservoir, through the heat exchanger and to the cylinder assembly.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat-transfer subsystem comprises a spray mechanism for introducing heat transfer fluid into the gas.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the spray mechanism comprises at least one of a spray head or a spray rod.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises a hydraulic power unit fluidly coupled to the cylinder assembly and configured to drive an electric motor/generator to recover electrical energy and be driven by the electric motor/generator to store potential energy.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises a hydraulic motor/pump in fluid communication with the cylinder assembly for causing compression of gas or receiving energy from expansion of gas, the control system controlling the hydraulic motor/pump based at least in part on the received telemetry.

9. The system of claim 8, 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 received telemetry.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising, selectively fluidly connected to the cylinder assembly, a storage vessel for storage of the gas after compression or before expansion.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a valve for venting the gas to atmosphere after expansion thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second cylinder assembly fluidly connectable to the cylinder assembly, the control system operating the cylinder assembly and the second cylinder assembly in a staged manner to provide a predetermined pressure profile at least at one outlet.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein (i) the cylinder assembly transfers mechanical energy at a first pressure ratio, and (ii) the second cylinder assembly transfers mechanical energy at a second pressure ratio greater than the first pressure ratio.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the cylinder assembly and the second cylinder assembly are connected in parallel.