Systems and methods for efficient two-phase heat transfer in compressed-air energy storage systems
First Claim
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1. A method of storing energy, the method comprising:
- dispersing a heat-transfer liquid within gas to form a first foam having a first foam expansion ratio;
compressing the first foam within a first cylinder assembly;
thereafter, transferring a second foam to a second cylinder assembly different from the first cylinder assembly, the second foam having a second foam expansion ratio smaller than the first foam expansion ratio;
compressing the second foam within the second cylinder assembly;
exhausting the compressed second foam from the second cylinder assembly; and
storing at least a gaseous component of the compressed second foam.
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Abstract
In various embodiments, foam is compressed to store energy and/or expanded to recover energy.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of storing energy, the method comprising:
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dispersing a heat-transfer liquid within gas to form a first foam having a first foam expansion ratio; compressing the first foam within a first cylinder assembly; thereafter, transferring a second foam to a second cylinder assembly different from the first cylinder assembly, the second foam having a second foam expansion ratio smaller than the first foam expansion ratio; compressing the second foam within the second cylinder assembly; exhausting the compressed second foam from the second cylinder assembly; and storing at least a gaseous component of the compressed second foam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification