Compressed gas system and method

A compressed gas storage system comprising:

• a gas storage circuit having means to store compressed gas in said circuit and having an inlet through which said circuit is filled with gas;
• and
• a first compressor located along said circuit and adapted and arranged to circulate compressed gas around said circuit, wherein said gas storage means includes at least one storage tank;
• a second gas compressor operably coupled to said inlet and adapted and arranged to compress gas into said circuit;
• a heat exchanger located along said circuit and adapted and arranged to cool the compressed gas circulating in said circuit, wherein said first compressor has a first mass flow rate and said second compressor has a second mass flow rate wherein said first mass flow rate is greater than said second mass flow rate.

A compressed gas storage system comprising:

• a gas storage means having an inlet and an outlet which is located apart from said inlet;
• a multi-staged gas compressor train including a first stage, a second stage, a first stage gas intake, and a second stage gas discharge, wherein said first stage and said second stage are connected in series by an interstage connector and wherein said first stage compresses gas from a first pressure to a second pressure and said second stage compresses the gas from said second pressure to a third pressure;
• an injection line connected to said gas storage means at said inlet, said injection line communicating said gas storage means with said second stage gas discharge;
• and
• a circulation line which is distinct from said injection line and which is connected to said gas storage means at said outlet, said circulation line communicating said gas storage means with said interstage connector.

A compressed gas storage system comprising:

• a gas storage means having an inlet and an outlet;
• a multi-staged gas compressor train including a first stage, a second stage, a first stage gas intake, and a second stage gas discharge, wherein said first stage and said second stage are connected in series by an interstage connector and wherein said first stage compresses gas from a first pressure to a second pressure and said second stage compresses the gas from said second pressure to a third pressure;
• an injection line connected to said gas storage means at said inlet, said injection line communicating said gas storage means with said second stage gas discharge;
• and
• a circulation line connected to said gas storage means at said outlet, said circulation line communicating said gas storage means with said interstage connector, wherein said storage means includes a plurality of storage tanks connected in series by tank connection means, said storage tanks including an intake tank having an inlet and a discharge tank having an outlet, and wherein said tank connection means includes an expansion valve means.

A compressed gas storage system comprising:

• a plurality of gas storage tanks, each of said tanks having an intake end and a discharge end, said tanks being connected in series between their respective intake and discharge ends, one of said tanks being an intake tank and another of said tanks being a discharge tank;
• a compressed gas supply means including a compressed gas discharge;
• an injection line connected to said intake tank at said intake end, said injection line communicating said intake tank with said compressed gas discharge;
• and
• a circulation line which is distinct from said injection line and which is connected to said discharge tank at said discharge end;
• a compressed gas consumption means, said circulation line communicating said discharge tank with said compressed gas consumption means.

The method of storing compressed gas using turbulent gas flow comprising the steps of:

• (a) compressing a gas in a first stage gas compressor;
• (b) further compressing the gas in a second stage gas compressor;
• (c) filling a gas storage means with the further compressed gas;
• and
• (d) simultaneously with said filling step, circulating a portion of the further compressed gas in said gas storage means back to said second stage gas compressor for further compression.

An improved system for transmitting and distributing electrical power from a baseload electrical power generation facility to electricity consumers comprising:

• an electrical grid network connected to the baseload electrical generation facility at a baseload-grid interface, said electrical grid network carrying primary electrical energy and having means for electricity consumers to connect to said electrical grid network;
• a satellite power facility connected to said electrical grid network at a satellite-grid interface and being a geographically distinct facility from the baseload electrical power generation facility, wherein said satellite facility includes means to convert said primary electrical energy from said electrical grid network into mechanical energy in the form of compressed air, said satellite facility further including geologically independent compressed air storage means including a plurality of gas storage tanks, each of said tanks having an intake end and a discharge end, said tanks being connected in series between their respective intake and discharge ends, one of said tanks being an intake tank coupled to said means to convert to mechanical energy and another of said tanks being a discharge tank, and means for converting said mechanical energy into secondary electrical energy, whereby said secondary electrical energy is transmitted across said electrical grid network to provide secondary electrical energy to electricity consumers.

An improved system for transmitting and distributing electrical power from a baseload electrical power generation facility to electricity consumers comprising:

• an electrical grid network connected to the baseload electrical generation facility at a baseload-grid interface, said electrical grid network carrying primary electrical energy and having means for electricity consumers to connect to said electrical grid network;
• a satellite power facility connected to said electrical grid network at a satellite-grid interface and being a geographically distinct facility from the baseload electrical power generation facility, wherein said satellite facility includes means to convert said primary electrical energy from said electrical grid network into mechanical energy in the form of compressed air, said satellite facility further including geologically independent compressed air storage means and means for converting said mechanical energy into secondary electrical energy, whereby said secondary electrical energy is transmitted across said electrical grid network to provide secondary electrical energy to electricity consumers, wherein said storage means includes a plurality of elongated needle tanks, and wherein electricity consumers have peak electricity demand periods and wherein said secondary electrical energy is transmitted from said satellite power facility across said grid network during said peak electricity demand periods, wherein electricity consumers have non-peak electricity demand periods and wherein said primary electrical energy is converted to said mechanical energy in said satellite facility during said non-peak electricity demand periods, wherein said means for converting primary electrical energy into mechanical energy includes an air compressor driven by an electric motor, said air compressor providing compressed air for storage in said needle tanks, said needle tanks being connected in series, wherein said means for converting mechanical energy into secondary electrical energy includes an electromagnetic generator driven by a turbine engine, said turbine engine having a combustion chamber. wherein said compressed air is combined with a fuel to provide combustion to drive said turbine engine, and wherein said satellite power facility includes means for scheduling the transmission of said secondary electrical energy from said satellite power facility across said grid network to correspond with said peak electricity demand periods of the electricity consumers connected to said grid network;
• a high electricity demand area serviced by said grid network said satellite power facility located geographically proximate to said high electricity demand areas, wherein said elongated needle tanks are martinsite wrapped.

A compressed air energy storage system for use in generating, transmitting and distributing electrical power to consumers coupled to a primary electrical energy generating baseload power facility by an electrical grid, the consumers having peak and non-peak electricity demand periods comprising;

• a satellite power facility including first means for converting the primary electrical energy from the electrical grid network into mechanical energy in the form of compressed air, said first means including a gas storage circulating circuit having tank means for storing compressed gas in said circuit and having an inlet through which said circuit is filled with air, said circulating circuit including a tank inlet line coupled to said tank means for supplying compressed gas thereto, and further including a tank outlet line coupled to said tank means for removing compressed gas therefrom, said tank inlet line being distinct from said gas outlet line, said satellite power facility further including a first compressor located along said circuit and adapted and arranged to circulate said compressed air around said circuit, said first compressor having a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, wherein said tank inlet line is coupled to said compressor outlet, and wherein said tank outlet line is coupled to said compressor inlet, said satellite facility further including second means for converting said mechanical energy into secondary electrical energy, whereby said secondary electrical energy is transmitted across the electrical grid network to provide secondary electricity energy to electricity consumers;
• and
• means for electrically connecting said satellite power facility to said grid network.

A compressed air energy storage system for use in generating, transmitting and distributing electrical power to consumers coupled to a primary electrical energy generating baseload power facility by an electrical grid, the consumers having peak and non-peak electricity demand periods comprising:

• a satellite power facility including first means for converting the primary electrical energy from the electrical grid network into mechanical energy in the form of compressed air, said first means including a gas storage circuit having means for storing compressed gas in said circuit and having an inlet through which said circuit is filled with air and further including a first compressor located along said circuit and adapted and arranged to circulate said compressed air around said circuit, said satellite facility further including second means for converting said mechanical energy into secondary electrical energy, whereby said secondary electrical energy is transmitted across the electrical grid network to provide secondary electrical energy to electricity consumers;
• and
• means for electrically connecting said satellite power facility to said grid network;
• air storage tanks, said storage tanks being geologically independent, wherein said first means for converting primary electrical energy into mechanical energy includes an air compressor driven by an electric motor, said air compressor providing compressed air for storage in said air tanks, and wherein said air tanks are elongated needle tanks connected in series, wherein said means for converting mechanical energy into secondary electrical energy includes an electromagnetic generator driven by a turbine engine, said turbine engine having a combustion chamber wherein said compressed air is combined with a fuel to provide combustion to drive said turbine engine, and wherein said elongated needle tanks are martinsite wrapped.

An improved method for generation and distribution of electrical power across a grid network to electricity consumers comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating primary electrical power at a baseload electrical power generation facility;
• (b) transmitting said primary electrical power across an electrical grid network;
• (c) powering an electric motor at a satellite power facility with a portion of said primary electrical power, said satellite facility being a geographically distinct facility from said baseload electrical generation facility;
• (d) driving an air compressor with said electric motor;
• (e) compressing air with said air compressor;
• (f) circulating a portion of said air back to said air compressor during said compressing step;
• (g) storing said compressed air in a storage means;
• (h) retrieving said compressed air from said storage means;
• (i) expanding said compressed air in a turbine engine;
• (j) driving an electromagnetic generator with said turbine engine;
• (j) generating secondary electrical power by said electromagnetic generator;
• and
• (k) transmitting said secondary electrical power across said electrical grid network.

An improved compresed air energy storage system for stepping up voltage of electricity transmitted to electricity consumers comprising:

• electrical energy including primary electrical energy and secondary electrical energy;
• a baseload electrical generation facility generating said primary electrical energy;
• means for transmitting electricity being connected to said baseload electrical generation facility at a baseload-transmission interface;
• means for distributing electrical energy to electricity consumers, said distributing means connected to said means for transmitting;
• a satellite power facility connected to said means for transmitting at a satellite-transmission interface, said satellite-transmission interface located between said baseload-transmission interface and said distribution means, wherein said primary electrical energy has a transmission voltage and a dropped voltage, said transmission voltage occurring at said baseload-transmission interface, said satellite facility including first means for storing mechanical energy in the form of compressed air, said satellite facility further including second means for converting said mechanical energy into said secondary electrical energy, whereby said secondary electrical energy is added to said primary electrical energy at said satellite-transmission interface to step up said dropped voltage of said primary electrical energy.

An improved method for stepping up dropped voltage of electrical energy generated for and transmitted to an electricity consumer comprising the steps of:

• (a) generating primary electrical energy at a baseload electrical generation facility during a non-peak electricity demand period, said baseload electrical generation facility connected to a transmission means at a baseload-transmission interface and said transmission means connected to the electricity consumer by a distribution means:
• (b) transmitting said primary electrical energy across said transmission means to a satellite power facility connected to said transmission means at a satellite-transmission interface, said satellite-transmission interface located along said transmission means and between said baseload electrical generation facility and the electricity consumer, said transmitting step occurring during said non-peak electricity demand period:
• (c) powering an electric motor with a portion of said primary electrical power at said satellite power facility;
• (d) driving an air compressor with said electric motor;
• (e) compressing air with said air compressor;
• (f) storing said compressed air in storage means;
• (g) retrieving said compressed air from said storage means;
• (h) expanding said compressed air in a turbine engine;
• (i) driving an electromagnetic generator with said turbine engine;
• (j) generating secondary electrical energy by said electromagnetic generator;
• and
• (k) further generating primary electrical energy at said baseload electrical generation facility during a peak demand period, said further generated primary electrical energy having an initial transmission voltage at said baseload-transmission interface;
• (l) transmitting said further generated primary electrical energy across said transmission means to the electricity consumer;
• (m) dropping said initial transmission voltage across said transmission means to a dropped voltage, said dropped voltage occurring at said satellite-transmission interface;
• and
• (n) stepping up said dropped voltage to a stepped up voltage at said satellite-transmission interface with said secondary electrical energy.