US 12,270,369 B2
Energy storage system
Karel De Raeve, Winterthur (CH); Thomas Welschinger, Radolfzell (DE); and Lorenz Schneider, Schaffhausen (CH)
Assigned to Sulzer Management AG, Winterthur (CH)
Filed by Sulzer Management AG, Winterthur (CH)
Filed on May 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/199,098.
Claims priority of application No. 22176562 (EP), filed on May 31, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0383718 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. F03B 13/10 (2006.01); F03B 13/06 (2006.01); F03B 15/04 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 13/10 (2013.01) [F03B 13/06 (2013.01); F03B 15/04 (2013.01); F05B 2240/97 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An energy storage system configured for installation at an underwater location, comprising:
a vessel configured to store water at a low pressure;
an energy conversion device configured to selectively convert between potential energy and electric energy; and
a connection line connecting the vessel with the energy conversion device,
the energy conversion device comprising a housing, a pump turbine unit arranged in the housing, and a motor generator unit,
the housing comprising a low pressure opening configured to receive water at the low pressure, and a high pressure opening configured to discharge water at a high pressure,
the pump turbine unit comprising a first shaft configured to rotate about an axial direction, and at least one impeller mounted on the first shaft configured to interact with the water,
the motor generator unit comprising a second shaft configured to rotate about the axial direction, and a rotor disposed at the second shaft and configured to rotate relative to a stator,
the second shaft coupled to the first shaft to transmit a torque between the first shaft and the second shaft, and
the connection line configured to connect the low pressure opening with an opening disposed at the vessel to receive water from the vessel or discharge water into the vessel,
the connection line comprising a switching unit with a shut-off device and a non-return device connected in parallel, and the non-return device configured to enable a flow of the water only in a first direction from the vessel to the low pressure opening.