Fluid power accumulator using adsorption

• Main Authors: LYMAN, JR. RICHARD RANDEL, KUZNICKI STEVEN M, HUMMELT EDWARD JOHN, KABOORD WAYNE SCOTT, BRIGGS ROGER JAMES, TALU ORHAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.12.2006
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; BLASTING; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TOTRANSPORTATION; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVO-MOTORS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OFVEHICLES; REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGYGENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION; SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

The invention relates to a fluid power accumulator in which the fluid undergoes a state change as the system is pressurized to store energy. A state change can be a phase change, a chemical reaction, or a combination of these. Generally the state change results from the interaction of a compressible fluid contained in the accumulator with another substance, which can be a fluid or a solid. Preferably, the state change includes the physical adsorption of a fluid by a solid adsorbant. The invention can improve the energy storage density of a fluid power accumulator, allow a given energy storage density to be achieved at a lower maximum pressure, facilitate heat transfer and storage within an accumulator, and/or improve accumulator efficiency by storing energy in a form other than thermal energy, such as in the form of chemical energy.