Back to results
US 11,738,781 B2Granted
Gravitational potential energy storage systems and methods
AssigneeAdvanced Rail Energy Storage, LLC
InventorHoward Trott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gravitational energy storage system is provided that includes one or more tracks extending from a lower storage yard to an upper storage yard, a plurality of mass cars moveable along the track, a conveyance system comprising at least a first tether, and a first power module associated with the first tether to drive a respective one of the first tethers to move the plurality of mass cars from the lower storage yard to the upper storage yard, and to dispatch energy when the plurality of mass cars are moved from the upper storage yard to the lower storage yard.
Claims22
An energy storage system comprising:
- a track extending from a lower storage yard to an upper storage yard, the track having an inclined area between the lower storage yard and the upper storage yard;
- a plurality of mass cars moveable along the track, each of the plurality of mass cars comprising at least one coupling member, the plurality of mass cars each comprising a first side, a second side, and an upper surface;
- a conveyance system comprising at least one tether comprising a plurality of fixtures configured to engage with the at least one coupling member of a respective mass car;
- and
- a power module associated with the at least one tether comprising at least one motor-generator configured to drive respective ones of the at least one tether to move the plurality of mass cars from the lower storage yard to the upper storage yard along the track, and to dispatch energy when the plurality of mass cars are moved from the upper storage yard to the lower storage yard along the track,
- wherein the at least one coupling member of respective ones of the plurality of mass cars comprises a rigid structure on or adjacent to the upper surface and between the first side and the second side of the mass car.
3 more elements
An energy storage system comprising:
- a track extending from a lower storage yard to an upper storage yard, the track having an inclined area between the lower storage yard and the upper storage yard;
- a plurality of mass cars moveable along the track, each of the plurality of mass cars comprising at least one coupling member;
- a conveyance system comprising at least one tether comprising a plurality of fixtures configured to engage with the at least one coupling member of a respective mass car;
- and
- a power module associated with the at least one tether comprising at least one motor-generator configured to drive a respective ones of the at least one tether to move the plurality of mass cars from the lower storage yard to the upper storage yard along the track, and to dispatch energy when the plurality of mass cars are moved from the upper storage yard to the lower storage yard along the track,
- wherein the power module is elevated above the track by one or more support structures.
3 more elements
An energy storage system comprising:
- a plurality of tracks extending from a lower storage yard to an upper storage yard, the plurality of tracks having an inclined area between the lower storage yard and the upper storage yard;
- a plurality of mass cars moveable along respective ones of the plurality of tracks, each of the plurality of mass cars comprising at least one coupling member;
- a conveyance system comprising a plurality of tethers, each tether comprising a plurality of fixtures configured to engage with the at least one coupling member of a respective mass car;
- and
- a plurality of power modules associated with respective ones of plurality of tethers, each power module comprising at least one motor-generator configured to drive respective tethers to move respective mass cars from the lower storage yard to the upper storage yard along respective tracks, and to dispatch energy when the respective mass cars are moved from the upper storage yard to the lower storage yard along the respective track,
- wherein the power modules are elevated above the plurality of tracks by one or more support structures.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.