US 12,030,732 B2
Subterranean energy storage system
Matthew Colin Forrest, Adelaide (AU)
Assigned to ECONOMICAL ENERGY PTY LTD, Adelaide (AU)
Appl. No. 17/755,777
Filed by ECONOMICAL ENERGY PTY LTD, Adelaide (AU)
PCT Filed Nov. 6, 2020, PCT No. PCT/AU2020/000129
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 6, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/087546, PCT Pub. Date May 14, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2019904201 (AU), filed on Nov. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0402700 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 5/00 (2006.01); F03B 7/00 (2006.01); F03B 9/00 (2006.01); F03B 13/06 (2006.01); F03D 9/16 (2016.01); F03G 3/04 (2006.01); H02J 15/00 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 5/00 (2013.01) [F03B 7/006 (2013.01); F03B 9/005 (2013.01); F03B 13/06 (2013.01); F03D 9/16 (2016.05); F03G 3/04 (2013.01); H02J 15/003 (2013.01); H02K 7/18 (2013.01); F05B 2240/40 (2013.01); F05B 2250/315 (2013.01); F05B 2260/422 (2020.08)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A subterranean energy storage system comprising:
at least one continuous conveyor mechanism extending through at least one transport shaft, wherein the at least one continuous conveyor mechanism comprises a plurality of vessels arranged along a length of the at least one continuous conveyor mechanism, wherein the plurality of vessels are configured to transfer a pseudo fluid through the transport shaft from a first storage tank to a second storage tank located above the first storage tank to store potential energy, and the transfer of the pseudo fluid from the second storage tank to the first storage tank to release the stored potential energy, and wherein the first and second storage tanks each comprise at least one loading mechanism to load the pseudo fluid into each of the vessels, whereby each successive vessel for loading is loaded above another vessel, and at least one unloading mechanism to unload the pseudo fluid from each of the vessels; and
an energy transfer means, wherein the energy transfer means is operably connected to the at least one continuous conveyor mechanism to transfer power to and from the subterranean energy storage system.