# US 10,122,242 B2 · Compressed air energy storage unit with induction pump and method for the production of such a compressed air energy storage unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,242 B2 - Document ID: US10122242B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/785,415 - Filed: 2014-04-17 - Published: 2016-03-17 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-19 - Applicants: Alexander Schneider - Inventors: Alexander Schneider - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122242B2 ## CPC - H02K 7/1876: {with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts} - B33Y 70/00: Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing - F04B 35/045: {using solenoids} - F04B 39/0011: {liquid pistons} - F04B 39/121: {Casings} - F04B 41/02: having reservoirs - H02K 44/06: Induction pumps - H02K 44/085: {with conducting liquids} - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - F28D 2020/0004: {Particular heat storage apparatus} - Y02E 60/16: Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids - Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A compressed air energy storage unit includes an electrical input and output circuit, a compressor and expansion device and an artificially created compressed air reservoir. The compressor and expansion device includes a piston pump having pistons formed of an electrically and thermally conductive liquid, e.g. galinstan, and is switchable between pumping operation and generator operation. A method for the production of a compressed air energy storage unit of this type includes manufacturing at least some components by 3D printing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compressed air energy storage unit, comprising: an electrical input and output circuit; an artificially created compressed air reservoir; a compressor and expansion device including a piston pump having pistons formed of an electrically and thermally conductive liquid, said piston pump being switchable between a pumping operation and a generator operation; and electromagnets including a core and coils to inductively drive said conductive liquid, said core forming a closed loop including two parallel straight cylinder parts, and said coils being wound around said parallel straight cylinder parts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said core and said coils define a gap remaining free therebetween, and said conductive liquid moves up and down in said gap to form a communicating vessel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 2, which further comprises: a partition wall dividing said gap between said core and said coils into an internal gap located closer to said core and an external gap located closer to said coils; said two parallel straight cylinder parts having upper ends; and said partition wall terminating at said two upper ends of said parallel straight cylinder parts, permitting said conductive liquid to flow from one of said gaps into the other of said gaps, forming a piston displacement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said piston pump has a cylinder chamber forming a piston displacement, said conductive liquid has a volume being controllable in said cylinder chamber, and a power input being constant during a compressed-air storage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 4, which further comprises: a reservoir being in communication with said conductive liquid and having a volume; a reduction pressure transducer and a hydraulic liquid varying said volume of said reservoir in communication with said conductive liquid in dependence on an air pressure in said compressed air reservoir; and at least one resilient boundary surface or a membrane having one side against which said hydraulic liquid presses and another side at which said reservoir in communication with said conductive liquid is located. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said piston pump is completely immersed in a liquid or water acting as a heat accumulator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 6, which further comprises at least one circulating pump for constantly circulating said conductive liquid in a closed circulation during operation, causing a heat exchange to take place between said conductive liquid and said heat accumulator, wherein said circulating pump is one of two induction circulating pumps each disposed below a respective one of said two parallel straight cylinder parts and carrying out half-strokes each periodically and synchronously sucking off said conductive liquid from said external gap and inductively driving said conductive liquid through said heat exchanger and finally pushing said conductive liquid back into said internal gap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 7, wherein: said reservoir controlling said volume of said conductive liquid simultaneously acts as a heat exchanger; said at least one resilient boundary surface or membrane includes two resilient boundary surfaces or membranes; three mutually adjacent disk-shaped arched chambers include a middle chamber to which said hydraulic liquid is supplied and two reservoir chambers disposed on respective sides of said middle chamber and each being delimited from said middle chamber by a respective one said resilient boundary surfaces or membranes; and said two reservoir chambers each being formed of an outwardly arched wall made of a material or borosilicate glass having a good thermal conductivity and a high-temperature resistance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 8, wherein said heat exchanger has a lower end and an upper end, said circulating pumps pump-in said conductive liquid at said lower end of said heat exchanger, and a pipeline feeds said cooled conductive liquid or said conductive liquid heated in generator operation back again from said upper end of said heat exchanger to said piston pumps. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 1, which further comprises a heat accumulator or liquid heat accumulator and a helical heat exchanger pipeline disposed within said heat accumulator or liquid heat accumulator, said conductive liquid being directed through said helical heat exchanger pipeline, and said helical heat exchanger pipeline being formed of a thermally conductive and high-temperature resistant material or borosilicate glass. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 1, which further comprises a heat accumulator and a pressure pipeline extending or meandering through said heat accumulator between said compressed air reservoir and said piston pump, for transferring thermal energy between compressed air and a heat accumulating medium. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 11, which further comprises a thermally insulating layer surrounding said compressed air reservoir. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 1, which further comprises a pressure valve and a suction valve formed as concentric rings enclosing said core. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 1, which further comprises an electric capacitor being connected to said electrical input and output circuit and having a 220 kV electric strength. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The compressed air energy storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said electrically and thermally conductive liquid is galinstan.