SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMBINED THERMAL AND COMPRESSED GAS ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS
The invention relates to systems and methods including an energy conversion system for storage and recovery of energy using compressed gas, a source of recovered thermal energy, and a heat-exchange subsystem in fluid communication with the energy conversion system and the source of recovered thermal energy.
1 - 21 . (canceled)
22 . An energy storage and recovery system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising:
a pressure vessel for storage of compressed gas;
selectively fluidly coupled to the pressure vessel, at least one cylinder assembly for expansion or compression of the gas; and
a heat-exchange subsystem in fluid communication with the pressure vessel.
23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the heat-exchange subsystem comprises:
a circulation apparatus in fluid communication with the pressure vessel for circulating a fluid through the heat-exchange subsystem; and
a heat exchanger comprising:
a first side in fluid communication with the circulation apparatus and the pressure vessel, the circulation apparatus circulating the fluid between the pressure vessel and the heat exchanger, and
a second side in fluid communication with an external heating or cooling source.
24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the external heating or cooling source comprises at least one of a fossil fuel power plant, a heat engine power plant, a solar thermal source, a geothermal source, an industrial process with waste heat, a heat pump, a heat source, a heat sink, or a source of environmentally chilled water.
25 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the external heating or cooling source comprises a thermal well.
26 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the external heating or cooling source comprises an ambient environment.
27 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the fluid comprises the gas being stored in the pressure vessel.
28 . The system of claim 23 , further comprising a spray mechanism disposed in the pressure vessel, wherein the fluid comprises a heat-exchange fluid introduced into the pressure vessel through the spray mechanism.
29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the spray mechanism comprises a spray rod.
30 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the circulation apparatus comprises an air pump.
31 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the circulation apparatus comprises a water pump.
32 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one cylinder assembly comprises a staged pneumatic side and a hydraulic side.
33 . The system of claim 22 , further comprising an installation utilizing heat recovered from or generated by the heat-exchange subsystem for at least one of process heat, cooling, or building conditioning.
34 . The system of claim 22 , further comprising, in fluid communication with the at least one cylinder assembly, a second heat-exchange subsystem for at least one of cooling the gas during compression and heating the gas during expansion.
35 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the at least one cylinder assembly comprises a pneumatic side, and further comprising a spray mechanism disposed within the pneumatic side for introducing a heat-exchange fluid conditioned by the second heat-exchange subsystem.
36 . The system of claim 35 , wherein the spray mechanism comprises at least one of a spray head or a spray rod.