Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100281864 | ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An ORC system configured to limit temperature of a working fluid below a threshold temperature is provided. The ORC system includes a heat source configured to provide waste heat fluid. The ORC system also includes a heat exchanger coupled to the heat source, wherein the heat exchanger includes multiple external or internal enhancement features. The external enhancement features are configured to reduce a first heat transfer coefficient between the working fluid and the waste heat fluid from the heat source, external to the heat exchanger. The internal enhancement features are configured to increase a second heat transfer coefficient between the working fluid and the waste heat fluid from a heat source, internal to the heat exchanger. | 11-11-2010 |
20100281865 | ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An ORC system configured to limit temperature of a working fluid below a threshold temperature is provided. The ORC system includes a heat source configured to convey a waste heat fluid. The ORC system also includes a heat exchanger coupled to the heat source. The heat exchanger includes an evaporator configured to receive the waste heat fluid from the heat source and vaporize the working fluid, wherein the evaporator is further configured to allow heat exchange between the waste heat fluid and the vaporized working fluid at an elevated temperature and further produce an evaporator outlet flow including a lower temperature waste heat fluid. The heat exchanger also includes a superheater configured to receive the lower temperature waste heat fluid from the evaporator, wherein the superheater is further configured to allow heat exchange between the lower temperature waste heat fluid and a relatively higher temperature working fluid contained in the superheater and further produce a superheater outlet flow comprising an elevated temperature waste heat fluid. The heat exchanger further includes a preheater configured to receive the elevated temperature waste heat fluid from the superheater and allow heat exchange with a relatively lower temperature working fluid in a liquid state contained in the preheater. | 11-11-2010 |
20110094229 | ADIABATIC COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM WITH COMBUSTOR - A system includes a drive shaft, a motor-generator coupled to the drive shaft, a compressor coupled to the drive shaft and configured to output compressed air to a cavern, and a turbine coupled to the drive shaft and configured to receive air from the cavern. The system includes a first thermal energy storage (TES) device, a combustor configured to combust a flammable substance and generate an exhaust stream to the turbine, and controller. The controller is configured to control flow of the air to heat the air as it passes through the first TES, cause the flammable substance to flow to the combustor, operate the combustor to combust the air with the flammable substance to generate an exhaust stream into the turbine, and control the motor-generator to generate electrical energy from energy imparted thereto from the turbine via the drive shaft. | 04-28-2011 |
20110094231 | ADIABATIC COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM WITH MULTI-STAGE THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE - An ACAES system operable in a compression mode and an expansion mode of operation is disclosed and includes a compressor system configured to compress air supplied thereto and a turbine system configured to expand compressed air supplied thereto, with the compressor system including a compressor conduit and the turbine system including a turbine conduit. The ACAES system also includes a plurality of thermal energy storage (TES) units positioned on the compressor and turbine conduits and configured to remove thermal energy from compressed air passing through the compressor conduit and return thermal energy to air passing through the turbine conduit. The compressor conduit and the turbine conduit are arranged such that at least a portion of the plurality of TES units operate at a first pressure state during the compression mode of operation and at a second pressure state different from the first pressure state during the expansion mode of operation. | 04-28-2011 |
20110094236 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING A COMPRESSED AIR STORAGE SYSTEM WITH A GAS TURBINE - A power generation system includes a first compressor, a second compressor, a combustor configured to receive compressed air from the second compressor to produce an exhaust stream, a first turbine, and a power turbine. The first turbine is configured to receive the exhaust stream, generate a rotational power from the exhaust stream, output the rotational power to a second compressor, and output the exhaust stream. The system includes a coupling device configured to couple and decouple the first compressor to/from a second turbine, an electrical generator coupled to an output of the power turbine and configured to output electrical power, and a controller configured to cause the coupling device to mechanically decouple the second turbine from the first compressor, and cause the coupling device to direct compressed air from an air storage cavern to an inlet of the second compressor. | 04-28-2011 |
20110097225 | AIR COMPRESSION AND EXPANSION SYSTEM WITH SINGLE SHAFT COMPRESSOR AND TURBINE ARRANGEMENT - An air compression and expansion system having a combined motor-generator unit and a single drive shaft coupled to compressors and expanders is disclosed. The system includes a motor-generator unit, a drive shaft connected to the motor-generator unit configured to transmit rotational power to and from the motor-generator unit, a compressor system selectively coupleable to the drive shaft and positioned thereabout, and a turbine system selectively coupleable to the drive shaft and positioned thereabout, the turbine system positioned with the compressor system on a common side of the motor-generator unit. The air compression and expansion system also includes a compressor clutch attached to the compressor system and a turbine clutch attached to the turbine system. The compressor clutch and the turbine clutch are arranged coaxially about the drive shaft and configured to selectively couple and decouple the compressor system and the turbine system, respectively, to the drive shaft. | 04-28-2011 |
20110100010 | ADIABATIC COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM WITH LIQUID THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE - An adiabatic compressed air energy storage (ACAES) system includes a compressor system, an air storage unit, and a turbine system. The ACAES system further includes a thermal energy storage (TES) system that includes a container, a plurality of heat exchangers, a liquid TES medium conduit system fluidly coupling the container to the plurality of heat exchangers, and a liquid TES medium stored within the container. The TES system also includes a plurality of pumps coupled to the liquid TES medium conduit system and configured to transport the liquid TES medium between the plurality of heat exchangers and the container, and a thermal separation system positioned within the container configured to thermally isolate a first portion of the liquid TES medium at a lower temperature from a second portion of the liquid TES medium at a higher temperature. | 05-05-2011 |
20110100213 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING MOISTURE IN A COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - A method, system, and apparatus including a compressed air energy storage system that includes an ambient air intake configured to intake a quantity of ambient air for storage in a compressed air storage volume, a compression system having a compression path that is configured to convey air compressed by the compression system through the compression system, a first path configured to convey ambient air to the compression system, a second path proceeding from the compression system to the compressed air storage volume and configured to convey compressed air to the compressed air storage volume, and a dehumidifying system. The dehumidifying system is coupleable to at least one of the first path that proceeds from the ambient air intake to the compression system, the compression path, and the second path. The dehumidifying system includes a dehumidifying component configured to remove moisture from the ambient air and/or the compressed air. | 05-05-2011 |
20110100583 | REINFORCED THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE PRESSURE VESSEL FOR AN ADIABATIC COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - A thermal energy storage system comprises a pressure vessel configured to withstand a first pressure, wherein the pressure vessel has a wall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface surrounding an interior volume of the pressure vessel. The interior volume of the pressure vessel has a first end in fluid communication with one or more compressors and one or more turbines, and a second end in fluid communication with at least one compressed air storage component. A thermal storage medium is positioned in the interior volume, and at least one reinforcement structure is affixed to the outer surface of the wall, wherein the at least one reinforcement structure configured to reinforce the wall to withstand a second pressure greater than the first pressure. | 05-05-2011 |
20110127004 | REGENERATIVE THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE APPARATUS FOR AN ADIABATIC COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - A system and method for a thermal energy storage system is disclosed, the thermal energy storage system comprising a plurality of pressure vessels arranged in close proximity to one another, each of the pressure vessels having a wall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface spaced from the outer surface by a respective wall thickness and surrounding an interior volume of the pressure vessel. The interior volume has a first end in fluid communication with one or more compressors and one or more turbines and a second end in fluid communication with at least one of one or more additional compressors, one or more additional turbines, and at least one compressed air storage component. The thermal energy storage system further comprises a thermal storage medium positioned in the interior volume of each of the plurality of pressure vessels. | 06-02-2011 |
20120000200 | INERT GAS PURGING SYSTEM FOR AN ORC HEAT RECOVERY BOILER - In one embodiment, a system includes a valve system switchable between a waste heat recovery position configured to direct incoming exhaust gas through an interior volume of an exhaust section of an engine and a bypass position configured to direct the incoming exhaust gas through a bypass duct to bypass a heat recovery boiler disposed within the interior volume. The system also includes an inert gas purging system configured to inject an inert gas into the interior volume to displace residual exhaust gas from the interior volume. | 01-05-2012 |