US 12,292,037 B2
Compressed gas energy storage system
Cameron Lewis, Toronto (CA); and Andrew McGillis, Toronto (CA)
Assigned to Hydrostor Inc., Toronto (CA)
Filed by Hydrostor Inc., Toronto (CA)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/974,363.
Application 17/974,363 is a continuation of application No. 17/422,302, granted, now 11,519,393, previously published as PCT/CA2020/050032, filed on Jan. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/792,708, filed on Jan. 15, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0332843 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F03G 7/06 (2006.01); B65G 5/00 (2006.01); F02C 6/16 (2006.01); F02C 7/143 (2006.01); F03D 9/18 (2016.01); F15B 1/04 (2006.01); F17C 1/00 (2006.01); F17C 5/06 (2006.01); F17C 13/02 (2006.01); F28D 20/00 (2006.01); H01L 21/768 (2006.01)
CPC F03G 7/06 (2013.01) [B65G 5/00 (2013.01); F02C 6/16 (2013.01); F02C 7/143 (2013.01); F03D 9/18 (2016.05); F15B 1/04 (2013.01); F17C 1/007 (2013.01); F17C 5/06 (2013.01); F17C 13/02 (2013.01); F28D 20/0034 (2013.01); F28D 20/0043 (2013.01); F28D 20/0052 (2013.01); H01L 21/76895 (2013.01); F05D 2260/211 (2013.01); F05D 2260/232 (2013.01); F05D 2260/42 (2013.01); Y02E 60/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A compressed air energy storage system comprising:
a) a container configured to contain compressed gas at a storage pressure;
b) a gas compressor/expander subsystem comprising at least a first compression stage having a first gas inlet and a gas outlet in fluid communication with the container via a gas flow path for conveying compressed gas at the storage pressure to the container when in a charging mode and from the container when in a discharging mode;
c) a thermal storage subsystem comprising:
i) a cold storage chamber for containing a supply of granular heat transfer particles at a cold temperature and cold storage pressure;
ii) a hot storage chamber for containing the supply of granular heat transfer particles at a hot temperature and hot storage pressure;
iii) at least a first mixing chamber in the gas flow path and having an interior in which the compressed gas contacts the granular heat transfer particles at a mixing pressure that is greater than the cold storage pressure and the hot storage pressure;
iv) a conveying system operable to selectably move the granular heat transfer particles from the cold storage chamber, through the first mixing chamber and into the hot storage chamber, and vice versa;
wherein:
when the compressed air energy storage system is in the charging mode i) granular heat transfer particles are conveyed from the cold storage chamber into the first mixing chamber, ii) thermal energy is transferred to the granular heat transfer particles within the first mixing chamber from the compressed gas stream being conveyed into the container via the first mixing chamber thereby heating the granular heat transfer particles and cooling the compressed gas, and iii) the heated granular heat transfer particles are conveyed from the first mixing chamber toward the hot storage chamber for storage and the cooled compressed stream is conveyed from the first mixing chamber toward the container for storage; and
when the compressed gas energy storage system is in the discharging mode i) granular heat transfer particles are conveyed from the hot storage chamber into the first mixing chamber, ii) thermal energy is transferred from the granular heat transfer particles within the first mixing chamber to the compressed gas stream being conveyed out of the container via the first mixing chamber thereby cooling the granular heat transfer particles and heating the compressed gas and iii) the cooled granular heat transfer particles are conveyed from the first mixing chamber toward the cold storage chamber for storage and the heated compressed stream is conveyed from the first mixing chamber toward the compressor/expander subsystem for expansion.