System for energy storage and electrical power generation
A system for energy storage and electricity generation is described. The system includes an energy storage subsystem and an electricity generation subsystem coupled to the energy storage subsystem. The energy storage subsystem is configured to store energy in the form of compressed air at a temperature greater than a temperature of ambient air in the atmosphere. The electricity generation subsystem includes an airlift pumping system and a hydro-electric power system driven by the airlift pumping system, and is configured to produce electricity by utilizing the compressed air stored in the energy storage subsystem at the temperature greater than the temperature of ambient air in the atmosphere.
1. A system for energy storage and electricity generation, comprising:
an energy storage subsystem including at least one air storage vessel arranged in a borehole made in the ground, and configured to store energy in the form of compressed air, said at least one air storage vessel being surrounded by a compacted and thermally isolated filling material filling a space between walls of storage vessel and walls of the borehole to maintain the compressed air during storage at a temperature greater than a temperature of ambient air in the atmosphere; and
an electricity generation subsystem including:
an airlift pumping system pneumatically coupled to said at least one air storage vessel of the energy storage subsystem, and
a hydro-electric power system driven by the airlift pumping system, and configured to produce electricity by utilizing the compressed air stored in the energy storage subsystem at the temperature greater than the temperature of ambient air in the atmosphere.
2. The system of claim 1 , comprising an air pipeline coupled to the energy storage subsystem via an air control valve, the air control valve being configured to regulate the flow of the compressed air released from the energy storage subsystem such that a desired flow rate of egress of the compressed air is maintained over specified periods of time through the air pipeline.
3. The system of claim 2 , further including a control system coupled to the air control valve arranged in the air pipeline to regulate the flow of the compressed air through the air pipeline.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the control system includes:
an electronic controller coupled to the air control valve, and
a pneumatic flow meter arranged within the air pipeline and operatively coupled to the electronic controller, the pneumatic flow meter is configured to produce air flow sensor signals representative of the air flow within the air pipeline;
the electronic controller is responsive to said air flow sensor signals and configured to control operation of the air control valve to regulate the flow of the compressed air released from the energy storage subsystem.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the airlift pumping system is pneumatically coupled to the air control valve arranged in the air pipeline.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the airlift pumping system includes:
a water collecting tank containing collecting water;
a riser tube having a base immersed in the collecting water and configured for injection of the compressed air into the riser tube through the air pipeline to provide air bubbles within the riser tube that produce an upward flow of the collecting water together with the air bubbles to drive the hydro-electric power system.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the air pipeline includes an air injector coupled to the base of the riser tube through a plurality of jacket holes uniformly distributed around a perimeter of the riser tube in a plurality of rows and/or columns to ensure uniform feed of the air into the riser tube.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the airlift pumping system includes a returning tube hydraulically coupled to the hydro-electric power system and configured for returning a flow containing returning water into the water collecting tank after passing through the hydro-electric power system.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the water collecting tank includes a circulation opening coupled to the returning tube for receiving the flow of the collecting water together with the air bubbles after passing through the hydro-electric power system.
10. The system of claim 2 , wherein the airlift pumping system includes:
a water collecting tank containing collecting water;
a riser tube having a base immersed in the collecting water and configured for injection of the compressed air into the riser tube through the air pipeline to provide air bubbles within the riser tube that produce an upward flow of the collecting water together with the air bubbles to drive the hydro-electric power system.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the air pipeline includes an air injector coupled to the base of the riser tube through a plurality of jacket holes uniformly distributed around a perimeter of the riser tube in a plurality of rows and/or columns to ensure uniform feed of the air into the riser tube.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the airlift pumping system includes a returning tube hydraulically coupled to the hydro-electric power system and configured for returning a flow containing returning water into the water collecting tank after passing through the hydro-electric power system.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the water collecting tank includes a circulation opening coupled to the returning tube for receiving the flow of the collecting water together with the air bubbles after passing through the hydro-electric power system.