Compressed air energy storage and recovery
First Claim
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1. A compressed air energy storage and recovery system comprising:
- a compressed air tank structured to store compressed air above 225 bars;
a heat storage unit containing a heat transfer fluid; and
a heat exchanger structured to withstand pressures of compressed air above 225 bars and to receive a low flow and high density of said compressed air above 225 bars, wherein said heat exchanger is connected on one side to the compressed air tank and connectable to an air compressor and an air motor, and on another side receiving said heat transfer fluid from a cold conduit of the heat storage unit and from a hot conduit of the heat storage unit, the heat exchanger configured to extract heat from said compressed air for storage and to heat said compressed air from said tank prior to expansion and use to recover energy in the air motor,wherein said heat exchanger comprises a number of tubes arranged to conduct said compressed air in parallel, wherein said tubes are made of stainless steel and have an inner diameter from 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm, and a thickness from 0.7 mm to 2 mm.
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Abstract
A compressed air system energy storage and recovery system has a compressed air tank structured to store compressed air above 200 bars, a heat storage unit containing a heat transfer fluid and having a latent heat storage material, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger extracts heat from compressed ambient air above 200 bars for storage and to heat compressed air from the tank above 200 bars prior to expansion and use to recover energy in the air motor. Efficiency of energy storage and heat exchange is improved using pressures above 200 bars.
63 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A compressed air energy storage and recovery system comprising:
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a compressed air tank structured to store compressed air above 225 bars; a heat storage unit containing a heat transfer fluid; and a heat exchanger structured to withstand pressures of compressed air above 225 bars and to receive a low flow and high density of said compressed air above 225 bars, wherein said heat exchanger is connected on one side to the compressed air tank and connectable to an air compressor and an air motor, and on another side receiving said heat transfer fluid from a cold conduit of the heat storage unit and from a hot conduit of the heat storage unit, the heat exchanger configured to extract heat from said compressed air for storage and to heat said compressed air from said tank prior to expansion and use to recover energy in the air motor, wherein said heat exchanger comprises a number of tubes arranged to conduct said compressed air in parallel, wherein said tubes are made of stainless steel and have an inner diameter from 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm, and a thickness from 0.7 mm to 2 mm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of compressed air energy storage and regeneration comprising:
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using a first energy source to compress air to a pressure above 225 bar; using a heat exchanger comprising a number of tubes arranged to conduct said compressed air in parallel, wherein said tubes are made of stainless steel and have an inner diameter from 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm, and a thickness from 0.7 mm to 2 mm, to absorb heat from said air above 225 bar; storing said absorbed heat in a latent heat storage medium; storing said compressed air in at least one storage vessel; using said heat exchanger to provide heat to said compressed air, compressed to over 225 bar, for regeneration of energy; expanding said compressed air from said storage vessel to provide expanded air for regeneration of energy; and generating power from said expanded and heated air. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification