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AssigneeHighview Enterprises Limited
InventorsHaisheng Chen, Yulong Ding, Toby Peters, Ferdinand Berger
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The present invention concerns systems for storing energy and using the stored energy to generate electrical energy or drive a propeller (505). In particular, the present invention provides a method of storing energy comprising: providing a gaseous input, producing a cryogen from the gaseous input; storing the cryogen; expanding the cryogen; using the expanded cryogen to drive a turbine (320) and recovering cold energy from the expansion of the cryogen. The present invention also provides a cryogenic energy storage system comprising: a source of cryogen; a cryogen storage facility (370); means for expanding the cryogen; a turbine (320) capable of being driven by the expanding cryogen; and means (340, 350) for recovering cold energy released during expansion of the cryogen.
A method of storing energy comprising:
The method of any preceding claim wherein the cryogen is liquid air.
The method of any preceding claim wherein the step of expanding the cryogen comprises heating the cryogen.
The method of any preceding claim wherein the step of producing the cryogen comprises compressing the gaseous input.
The method of any preceding claim wherein the pressure of the cryogen is increased prior to expansion.
The method of any preceding claim wherein the cryogen is stored at an increased temperature prior to expansion.
The method of any preceding claim further comprising using the recovered cold energy.
The method of any preceding claim further comprising using the recovered cold energy to enhance the production of more cryogen.
The method of any preceding claim further comprising using the recovered cold energy for refrigeration.
The method of any preceding claim further comprising using the recovered cold energy for air conditioning.
The method of any preceding claim further comprising using waste heat generated during the step of producing the cryogen to provide hot air for heating.
The method of any preceding claim further comprising using waste heat generated during the step of producing the cryogen to provide hot water.
The method of any preceding claim wherein a non-polluting source of energy is used to power the method.
The method of any preceding claim further comprising the step of separating contaminants from the gaseous input.
The method of any preceding claim wherein the turbine comprises a multi-stage quasi-isothermal turbine.
A cryogenic energy storage system comprising:
A cryogenic energy storage system as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
A cryogenic propulsion system as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
A cryogenic energy generation system as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.