US 12,276,462 B2
Three section configuration for compressed air energy storage systems
Davin Young, Toronto (CA); Lucas Thexton, Toronto (CA); and Cameron Lewis, Toronto (CA)
Assigned to Hydrostor Inc., Toronto (CA)
Appl. No. 17/429,155
Filed by Hydrostor Inc., Toronto (CA)
PCT Filed Feb. 7, 2020, PCT No. PCT/CA2020/050169
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 6, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/160681, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/802,746, filed on Feb. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0196341 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. F28D 20/00 (2006.01); B65G 5/00 (2006.01); F02C 6/00 (2006.01); F02C 6/16 (2006.01); F04B 41/02 (2006.01); F17C 1/00 (2006.01); F17C 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC F28D 20/0034 (2013.01) [B65G 5/00 (2013.01); F02C 6/003 (2013.01); F02C 6/16 (2013.01); F04B 41/02 (2013.01); F17C 1/007 (2013.01); F17C 5/06 (2013.01); F05D 2260/213 (2013.01); F05D 2260/42 (2013.01); F17C 2221/031 (2013.01); F17C 2223/0123 (2013.01); F17C 2270/0581 (2013.01); F28D 2020/0078 (2013.01); Y02E 60/14 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of temporarily storing thermal energy via a thermal storage subsystem in a compressed air energy storage system comprising an accumulator disposed at least 300 m underground and having an interior configured to contain compressed air at an accumulator pressure that is at least 20 bar and a gas compressor/expander subsystem in communication with the accumulator via an air flow path for conveying compressed air to the accumulator when in a charging mode and from the accumulator when in a discharging mode, the method comprising, when in the charging mode:
a) providing each of a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a third heat exchanger with a thermal storage liquid from a common liquid reservoir;
b) introducing air into an inlet of the air flow path and compressing the air to a first pressure using a first compressor in the air flow path;
c) transferring a first amount of thermal energy from the air to a first flow of thermal storage liquid via the first heat exchanger whereby the thermal storage liquid is heated to a first liquid temperature when exiting the first heat exchanger;
d) compressing the air to a second pressure and a second temperature using a second compressor downstream from the first compressor in the air flow path;
e) transferring a second amount of thermal energy from the air to a second flow of thermal storage liquid via the second heat exchanger whereby the second flow of thermal storage liquid is heated to a second liquid temperature when exiting the second heat exchanger;
f) compressing the air to substantially the accumulator pressure and a third temperature using a third compressor downstream from the second compressor in the air flow path;
g) transferring a third amount of thermal energy from the air to a third flow of thermal storage liquid via the third heat exchanger whereby the third flow of thermal storage liquid is heated to a third liquid temperature when exiting the third heat exchanger;
h) collecting the first flow of thermal storage liquid, the second flow of thermal storage liquid, and the third flow of thermal storage liquid via a common piping network and storing the first flow of thermal storage liquid, the second flow of thermal storage liquid, and the third flow of thermal storage liquid in a thermal storage reservoir at a storage temperature that is substantially equal to or less than a highest of the first, second, and third liquid temperatures and at a storage pressure that is greater or substantially similar to a boiling pressure of the thermal storage liquid at the storage temperature; and
i) conveying air exiting the third heat exchanger into the accumulator.