Mechanical-chemical energy storage
AssigneeEos Energy Storage, LLC
InventorsSteven Amendola, Tibor Kalnoki-Kis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention generally relates to mechanical-chemical energy storage. In particular, the invention relates to a mechanical-chemical energy storage system that stores energy by simultaneously compressing a gas to a higher enthalpy state and recovering the heat of compression by driving a somewhat reversible chemical reaction. The heat energy in the chemical reaction is then recovered while the gas is expanding to a lower enthalpy state.
Claims44
A method for storing energy comprising:
- providing an absorbent reservoir containing a working fluid that is chemically absorbed by an absorbent;
- desorbing the working fluid from the absorbent in an endothermic process;
- and
- condensing the working fluid in an exothermic process and transferring the condensed working fluid to a working fluid reservoir under pressure;
- wherein at least some of the heat generated during the condensing step is recycled to drive the desorbing step.
A method of charging and discharging an energy storage system comprising:
- charging the system comprising:
- providing an absorbent storage tank containing a working fluid that is chemically absorbed by an absorbent;
- desorbing the working fluid from the absorbent in an endothermic process;
- condensing the working fluid in an exothermic process and transferring the condensed working fluid to a working fluid reservoir under pressure;
- and
- recycling heat generated during the condensing step to drive the desorbing step;
- and
- storing the working fluid in a working fluid reservoir under pressure;
- and
- discharging the system comprising:
- expanding the working fluid;
- chemically absorbing the working fluid with the absorbent in the absorbent storage tank in an exothermic process;
- recycling heat generated during the absorption reaction to drive the expanding step;
- and
- storing the absorbent and the absorbed working fluid in the absorbent storage tank.
19-35. (canceled)
An energy storage system comprising:
- a working fluid reservoir containing compressed working fluid;
- an expander that fluidly communicates with the working fluid reservoir and is configured to expand the working fluid;
- an absorbent reservoir containing an absorbent, wherein the absorbent reservoir fluidly communicates with the expander and is configured to receive and absorb the expanded working fluid;
- a first heat exchanger that thermally communicates with the absorbent reservoir and is configured to transfer heat generated by the absorption of the working fluid by the absorbent to the working fluid during the discharge of the system;
- a pressure release mechanism configured to reduce pressure in the absorbent reservoir;
- and
- a compressor that fluidly communicates with the absorbent reservoir and fluidly communicates with the working fluid reservoir and is configured to compress the working fluid that desorbs from the absorbent;
- and
- a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the working fluid in the compressor, in thermal communication with the absorbent and working fluid in the absorbent storage tank, and configured to transfer heat that is generated by the compression of the working fluid, to the absorbent and working fluid in the absorbent reservoir.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.