Energy storage and generation systems and methods using coupled cylinder assemblies
View Patent ↗In various embodiments, pneumatic cylinder assemblies are coupled in series pneumatically, thereby reducing a range of force produced by or acting on the pneumatic cylinder assemblies during expansion or compression of a gas.
1. A method for efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the method comprising:
compressing a gas within a plurality of pneumatic cylinders, the pneumatic cylinder assemblies being coupled in series pneumatically, thereby reducing a range of force acting on the pneumatic cylinder assemblies during compression of the gas;
storing the compressed gas in a storage vessel after compression; and
generating electricity with the stored compressed gas.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the force between the pneumatic cylinder assemblies and at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly fluidly connected to a hydraulic motor/pump.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly comprises a plurality of hydraulic cylinder assemblies.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising disabling one of the hydraulic cylinder assemblies to decrease a range of hydraulic pressure produced by or acting on the hydraulic cylinder assemblies.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of hydraulic cylinder assemblies comprises a first hydraulic cylinder assembly telescoped inside a second hydraulic cylinder assembly.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of hydraulic cylinder assemblies are coupled in parallel mechanically.
7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising disabling a compartment of at least one said hydraulic cylinder assembly to decrease a range of hydraulic pressure produced by or acting on the hydraulic cylinder assembly.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pneumatic cylinder assemblies comprises a first pneumatic cylinder assembly telescoped inside a second pneumatic cylinder assembly.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the gas at a substantially constant temperature during the compression by exchanging heat with the gas being compressed.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disabling one of the pneumatic cylinder assemblies during the compressing the gas.
11. A method for efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the method comprising:
at least one of (i) expanding a gas within a plurality of pneumatic cylinder assemblies, the pneumatic cylinder assemblies being coupled in series pneumatically, thereby reducing a range of force produced by the pneumatic cylinder assemblies during expansion of the gas, or (ii) compressing a gas within a plurality of pneumatic cylinder assemblies, the pneumatic cylinder assemblies being coupled in series pneumatically, thereby reducing a range of force acting on the pneumatic cylinder assemblies during compression of the gas; and
transmitting force between the pneumatic cylinder assemblies and a crankshaft coupled to a rotary motor/generator.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disabling one of the pneumatic cylinder assemblies during the at least one of expanding or compressing the gas.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of pneumatic cylinder assemblies are coupled in parallel mechanically.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising maintaining the gas at a substantially constant temperature during the at least one of expansion or compression by exchanging heat with the gas being expanded or compressed.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein exchanging heat comprises circulating a heat-transfer fluid through at least one compartment of at least one of the pneumatic cylinder assemblies.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein exchanging heat comprises circulating the gas from at least one compartment of at least one of the pneumatic cylinder assemblies through an external heat exchanger.
17. A method for efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the method comprising:
at least one of (i) expanding a gas within a plurality of pneumatic cylinder assemblies, the pneumatic cylinder assemblies being coupled in series pneumatically, thereby reducing a range of force produced by the pneumatic cylinder assemblies during expansion of the gas, or (ii) compressing a gas within a plurality of pneumatic cylinder assemblies, the pneumatic cylinder assemblies being coupled in series pneumatically, thereby reducing a range of force acting on the pneumatic cylinder assemblies during compression of the gas; and
maintaining the gas at a substantially constant temperature during the at least one of expansion or compression.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein maintaining the gas at a substantially constant temperature comprises exchanging heat with the gas being expanded or compressed.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein exchanging heat comprises circulating a heat-transfer fluid through at least one compartment of at least one of the pneumatic cylinder assemblies.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein exchanging heat comprises circulating the gas from at least one compartment of at least one of the pneumatic cylinder assemblies through an external heat exchanger.