CPC H01M 8/04208 (2013.01) [F17C 7/04 (2013.01); H01M 8/04014 (2013.01); H01M 8/04074 (2013.01); H01M 8/04723 (2013.01); F17C 2221/012 (2013.01); F17C 2223/0161 (2013.01); F17C 2227/0337 (2013.01); F17C 2250/032 (2013.01); F17C 2260/031 (2013.01); F17C 2270/0581 (2013.01); H01M 2250/10 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |
1. An energy storage system comprising:
at least one cryogen storage device, wherein the at least one cryogen storage device comprises a subcooling loop, and wherein the at least one cryogen storage device is configurable to store a cryogen;
a cryoplant configured to interact with the subcooling loop, wherein the cryoplant is also configured to interact with a power source, wherein the cryoplant and the subcooling loop comprise separate fluid circuits; and
a control system configured to control the cryoplant and the at least one cryogen storage device according to a plurality of operational modes, the plurality of operational modes comprising: a cooling mode, a passive storage mode, a fuel cell backup mode, and a liquefaction mode, wherein the fuel cell backup mode comprises an interaction of the at least one cryogen storage device, the cryoplant, and one or more fuel cells, wherein the interaction of the at least one cryogen storage device, the cryoplant, and the one or more fuel cells comprises:
drawing the cryogen from a cryogen withdrawal port of the at least one cryogen storage device; and
delivering the withdrawn cryogen to the one or more fuel cells along a fuel delivery path that extends from the cryogen withdrawal port toward the one or more fuel cells, wherein gasification of the withdrawn cryogen occurs along the fuel delivery path, and wherein at least some waste cold thermal energy associated with the gasification is recovered by the cryoplant.
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