Energy Storage Using Spherical Pressure Vessel Assembly
AssigneeAmerican Exchanger Services, Inc.
InventorsThomas J. Muldoon, Kellen J. Muldoon
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Abstract
Systems and methods for improving the efficacy of a wind turbine farm by providing a mechanical compressed air energy storage solution to provide power to the grid when electricity demand requires it. Specifically, a system for storing compressed air energy recovered from a wind turbine driven compressor. The system can include a primary spherical pressure vessel configured for fluid communication with a compressed air source and a secondary spherical pressure vessel in fluid communication with the primary spherical pressure vessel. Air stored in the pressure vessels can then be discharged to a combustion power generator to generate supplemental electrical energy or through a turbo expander to directly generate electricity.
Claims20
A system for storing compressed air energy recovered from a wind turbine driven compressor, the system comprising:
- a primary spherical pressure vessel configured for fluid communication with a compressed air source;
- and
- one or more secondary spherical pressure vessels in fluid communication with the primary spherical pressure vessel;
- wherein the primary spherical pressure vessel and the one or more secondary spherical pressure vessels are configured to store compressed air up to 15,000 psi.
A compressed air energy storage tank comprising:
- a primary pressure vessel;
- and
- a plurality of secondary pressure vessels in fluid communication with the primary pressure vessel and arranged in a pattern around the primary pressure vessel;
- wherein a first pressure vessel and a second pressure vessel among the plurality of secondary pressure vessels are circumferentially spaced apart from each other by about 30 degrees;
- and
- wherein the primary pressure vessel and the plurality of secondary pressure vessels are spherical tanks.
A power generation system for use with a wind turbine, the power generation system comprising:
- a compressor operably coupled to a shaft driven by the wind turbine;
- a compressed air energy storage (“CAES”) tank in fluid communication with the compressor for receiving pressurized air provided by the compressor;
- and
- a combustion power generator including a combustion chamber in fluid communication with a fuel source and the CAES tank to receive and combust a mixture of a fuel and the pressurized air from the CAES tank;
- the CAES tank including:
- a primary pressure vessel;
- and
- a plurality of secondary pressure vessels in fluid communication with the primary pressure vessel and arranged in a pattern around the primary pressure vessel;
- wherein a first pressure vessel and a second pressure vessel among the plurality of secondary pressure vessels are circumferentially spaced apart from each other by about 30 degrees;
- and
- wherein the primary pressure vessel and the plurality of secondary pressure vessels are spherical tanks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.