Increased power in compressed-gas energy storage and recovery

1. A compressed-gas energy storage and recovery system comprising:

a cylinder assembly for at least one of compressing gas to store energy or expanding gas to recover energy;

a heat-transfer subsystem for thermally conditioning gas in the cylinder assembly, thereby increasing efficiency of the energy storage and recovery;

selectively fluidly connected to the cylinder assembly, a mechanism for at least one of (i) substantially adiabatically compressing gas prior to its entry into the cylinder assembly, or (ii) substantially adiabatically expanding gas after its exit from the cylinder assembly;

selectively fluidly connected to the cylinder assembly, a compressed-gas reservoir for at least one of storage of gas after compression or supply of compressed gas for expansion thereof; and

selectively fluidly connected to the mechanism, a vent for at least one of exhausting expanded gas to atmosphere or supply of gas for compression thereof.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal conditioning renders the at least one of compression or expansion in the cylinder assembly substantially isothermal.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of compression or expansion in the cylinder assembly is performed over a pressure range extending from a first super-atmospheric pressure to a second super-atmospheric pressure larger than the first super-atmospheric pressure.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the mechanism compresses gas from approximately atmospheric pressure to approximately the first super-atmospheric pressure.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the mechanism expands gas from approximately the first super-atmospheric pressure to approximately atmospheric pressure.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first super-atmospheric pressure is approximately 5 psig.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat-transfer subsystem comprises a circulation apparatus for circulating heat-transfer fluid through (i) into the cylinder assembly, thereby introducing the heat-transfer fluid into the gas, and (ii) out of the cylinder assembly.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising, connected to the cylinder assembly, an intermittent renewable energy source of wind or solar energy, wherein (i) energy stored during compression of gas originates from the intermittent renewable energy source, and (ii) energy is recovered via expansion of gas when the intermittent renewable energy source is nonfunctional.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a movable boundary mechanism separating the cylinder assembly into two chambers.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a crankshaft (i) mechanically coupled to the boundary mechanism, and (ii) for converting reciprocal motion of the boundary mechanism into rotary motion.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises a bidirectional blower/expander.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises at least one of a discrete blower or a discrete expander.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the mechanism comprises a blower of a type selected from the group consisting of lobe-type, centrifugal, and axial-turbine-type.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the mechanism comprises an expander of a type selected from the group consisting of centrifugal and axial-turbine-type.

15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system for directing flow of gas between the cylinder assembly and the mechanism.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a pressure within at least one of the cylinder assembly or the mechanism, wherein the control system is responsive to the sensor.

17. A compressed-gas energy storage and recovery system comprising:

a cylinder assembly for at least one of compressing gas to store energy or expanding gas to recover energy;

a heat-transfer subsystem for thermally conditioning gas in the cylinder assembly, thereby increasing efficiency of the energy storage and recovery;

selectively fluidly connected to the cylinder assembly, a mechanism for at least one of (i) substantially adiabatically compressing gas prior to its entry into the cylinder assembly, or (ii) substantially adiabatically expanding gas after its exit from the cylinder assembly; and

fluidly coupled to the mechanism, a pressure vessel for supplying gas at approximately the first super-atmospheric pressure, thereby enabling the mechanism to operate continuously at approximately constant power.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a second heat-transfer subsystem for thermally conditioning gas within the pressure vessel.

19. A compressed-gas energy storage and recovery system comprising:

a cylinder assembly for at least one of compressing gas to store energy or expanding gas to recover energy;

a heat-transfer subsystem for thermally conditioning gas in the cylinder assembly, thereby increasing efficiency of the energy storage and recovery; and

selectively fluidly connected to the cylinder assembly, a mechanism for at least one of (i) substantially adiabatically compressing gas prior to its entry into the cylinder assembly, or (ii) substantially adiabatically expanding gas after its exit from the cylinder assembly,

wherein the heat-transfer subsystem comprises (i) a circulation apparatus for circulating heat-transfer fluid through the cylinder assembly, and (ii) a mechanism disposed within the cylinder assembly for introducing the heat-transfer fluid into the gas.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the mechanism for introducing the heat-transfer fluid comprises at least one of a spray head or a spray rod.