Flexible operation and reciprocating near-isothermal gas compressor/expander for wind energy storage

Abstract

A system for flexible operation for wind energy storage, and a related method, the system including a wind turbine having a rotor disposed thereon, a rotor shaft extending from the rotor and rotatable therewith, an electrical generator disposed in communication with the rotor shaft, a power generation/regeneration system, which may include a fluid power system, is disposed in communication with the rotor shaft, where rotation of the rotor shaft rotates the electrical generator to produce generator power (Pg), where, when the fluid power system is in a power generation mode, aerodynamic rotation of the rotor shaft produces fluid power (Pf) at the fluid power system, at least a position of which is stored as energy in an energy storage, and where, when the fluid power system is in a power regeneration mode, energy is released from the energy storage and converted by the fluid power system to fluid power (Pf) that can be combined with aerodynamic rotor power to drive the electrical generator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.