Valve activation in compressed-gas energy storage and recovery systems
OwnerJeffrey Modderno, Samar Shah +6inventors
InventorsJeffrey Modderno, Samar Shah, Randall Strauss, Joel Berg, Troy O. McBride, Benjamin R. Bollinger, David Perkins, Arne LaVen
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Abstract
In various embodiments, valve efficiency and reliability are enhanced via use of hydraulic or magnetic valve actuation, valves configured for increased actuation speed, and/or valves controlled to reduce collision forces during actuation.
Claims16
A method for at least one of storing energy in or recovering energy with an energy-storage system comprising (i) a cylinder assembly having a valve for controlling fluid flow into and out of the cylinder assembly through a gated port, the valve comprising a valve member for occluding the gated port, and (ii) an actuation system for actuating the valve, the actuation system comprising (a) an actuation cylinder and (b) a piston disposed within and dividing the actuation cylinder into first and second chambers, the method comprising:
- within the cylinder assembly, at least one of (i) compressing gas to store energy or (ii) expanding gas to recover energy;
- and
- at least one of prior to, during, or after the at least one of compression or expansion, at least one of admitting fluid into or exhausting fluid from the cylinder assembly at least in part by actuating the valve from a closed state to an open state by admitting fluid into the first chamber of the actuation cylinder to increase fluid pressure therein, thereby moving the piston toward the second chamber,
- wherein, during the actuation, (i) fluid exits the second chamber of the actuation cylinder at a first rate to maximize speed of the piston motion, and (ii) thereafter, fluid exits the second chamber at a second rate slower than the first rate to decelerate the piston before the piston reaches an end surface of the actuation cylinder.
A method for at least one of storing energy in or recovering energy with an energy-storage system comprising (i) a cylinder assembly having a valve for controlling fluid flow into and out of the cylinder assembly through a gated port, the valve comprising a valve member for occluding the gated port, and (ii) an actuation system for actuating the valve, the actuation system comprising (a) an actuation cylinder, (b) a piston disposed within and dividing the actuation cylinder into first and second chambers, and (c) an occludable orifice configured to be at least partially occluded by the piston during movement of the piston within the actuation cylinder, the method comprising:
- within the cylinder assembly, at least one of (i) compressing gas to store energy or (ii) expanding gas to recover energy;
- and
- at least one of prior to, during, or after the at least one of compression or expansion, at least one of admitting fluid into or exhausting fluid from the cylinder assembly at least in part by actuating the valve from a closed state to an open state by admitting fluid into the first chamber of the actuation cylinder to increase fluid pressure therein, thereby moving the piston toward the second chamber,
- wherein, during the actuation, (i) fluid flows out of the second chamber through the occludable orifice unoccluded by the piston, thereby maximizing speed of the piston motion, and (ii) thereafter, the piston occludes at least a portion of the occludable orifice, whereby fluid flow from the second chamber is decreased to decelerate the piston before the piston reaches an end surface of the actuation cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.