COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM UTILIZING TWO-PHASE FLOW TO FACILITATE HEAT EXCHANGE

• Main Authors: POURMOUSA ABKENAR AmirHossein, STAHLKOPF Karl E, BERLIN, JR. Edwin P, CRANE Stephen E, FONG Danielle A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.09.2016
• Subjects: BLASTING; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MACHINES OR ENGINES, IN GENERAL OR OF POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENTTYPE, e.g. STEAM ENGINES; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS; REGULATING; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ENGINES; WEAPONS

A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the "pressure cell") partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control.