Method of and apparatus for producing power using compressed air

A method for producing power comprising the steps of:

• compressing gas from an ambient source during a first period of time;
• storing the compressed gas in a storage reservoir;
• supplying said compressed gas from the storage reservoir to a gas turbine coupled to a generator during a second period of time to produce electric power;
• and cooling the compressed gas prior to storing it by transferring heat present in the compressed gas to another fluid in a heat exchanger;
• and further comprising producing electric power using heat transferred to the other fluid in said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger being part of a waste heat converter separate from said generator.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine comprising:

• compressor means for compressing said gas;
• a storage reservoir for storing gas compressed by said compressor means;
• means for supplying compressed gas from said reservoir to the gas turbine;
• and a solar collector interposed between said reservoir and said turbine for heating the gas supplied to said turbine through said solar collector.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• compressor means for compressing said gas during a first period of time;
• a storage reservoir for storing air compressed by said compressor means;
• means for supplying compressed gas to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power;
• means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine;
• and further comprising a heat exchanger for cooling the gas compressed by said compressor means before the gas is stored in said storage reservoir, wherein said heat exchanger is part of a waste heat converter separate from said generator for producing electrical power.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• compressor means for compressing said gas during a first period of time;
• a storage reservoir for storing gas compressed by said compressor means;
• means for supplying compressed gas from said reservoir to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power;
• means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine;
• and further comprising a heat exchanger for cooling gases exiting said gas turbine;
• wherein said heat exchanger is part of a waste heat converter separate from said generator for producing electrical power, and wherein said waste heat converter is an organic fluid Rankine cycle power plant and said heat exchanger is a vaporizer for vaporizing the organic working fluid of the Rankine cycle power plant.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• compressor means for compressing gas during a first period of time;
• a storage reservoir for storing gas compressed by said compressor means;
• means for supplying compressed gas to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power;
• and means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine, said means for heating the gas including a solar collector, and further comprising a heat exchanger for cooling the compressed gas.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• compressor means for compressing said gas during a first period of time;
• a storage reservoir for storing gas compressed by said compressor means;
• means for supplying compressed gas to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power;
• and means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine, said means for heating the gas including a solar collector, and wherein said solar collector comprises a rotatable ceramic member for transferring heat from solar radiation to the gas.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• compressor means for compressing said gas during a first period of time;
• a storage reservoir for storing gas compressed by said compressor means;
• means for supplying compressed gas to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power;
• and means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine, said means for heating the gas including a solar collector, and wherein said storage reservoir is an abandoned oil reservoir and said means for supplying compressed gas to said gas turbine include an abandoned oil well for supplying gas from the storage reservoir to the turbine through the solar collector.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• compressor means for compressing said gas;
• a storage reservoir for storing gas compressed by said compressor means;
• means for supplying compressed gas from said reservoir to the gas turbine to produce power;
• means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine;
• a heat exchanger for extracting heat from gases exiting said gas turbine;
• and means for converting heat extracted by the heat exchanger to work by transferring the extracted heat to an organic fluid.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• compressor means for compressing said gas;
• a storage reservoir for storing air compressed by said compressor means;
• means for supplying compressed gas to the gas turbine to produce power;
• means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine;
• a heat exchanger for extracting heat from the gas compressed by said compressor means before the gas is stored in said storage reservoir, and means for converting heat extracted by the heat exchanger to work.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• compressor means for compressing said gas during a first period of time;
• a storage reservoir for storing gas compressed by said compressor means;
• means for supplying compressed gas from said reservoir to the gas turbine during a second period of time to produce power;
• means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine, said means including a solar collector;
• a heat exchanger for extracting heat from gases exiting said gas turbine and transferring heat extracted from the gases to an organic fluid, and means for converting heat transferred to the organic fluid to work.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed gas and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• compressor means for compressing said gas;
• a storage reservoir for storing gas compressed by said compressor means;
• means for supplying compressed gas from said reservoir to the gas turbine to produce power;
• means for heating the gas supplied to said turbine, said means including a solar collector;
• a heat exchanger for extracting heat from gases exiting said gas turbine and transferring heat extracted form the gases to an organic fluid;
• and means for converting heat transferred to the organic fluid to work.

A method for producing power comprising the steps of:

• a) compressing gas from an ambient source;
• b) supplying said compressed gas to a gas turbine to produce electric power;
• c) passing the compressed gas through a solar collector located upstream of the gas turbine for heating the gas;
• d) sensing the temperature of the gas exiting the collector;
• e) selectively heating the compressed gas downstream of the collector before the heated gas is supplied to the gas turbine in accordance with the sensed temperature.

Apparatus for producing power using compressed air and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• a) a compressor for compressing air;
• b) a storage reservoir for storing air compressed by said compressor;
• c) means for supplying compressed air from the reservoir to a solar heater for heating said gas;
• d) a conduit connecting the solar heater to the gas turbine;
• e) a sensing/control unit for sensing the temperature of the air that exits the solar heater and maintaining air flow through said conduit only when the temperature of the air that exits the solar heater is above a predetermined value;
• and
• f) a combustion chamber for receiving and heating air from the solar heater before the air is supplied to the gas turbine, said sensing/control unit being effective to switch air flow from said conduit to said combustion chamber and to supply fuel to the combustion chamber only when the temperature of the air that exits the solar heater falls below said predetermined value.

A method for producing power using compressed air and a gas turbine for driving an electric generator comprising:

• a) compressing air;
• b) storing the compressed air in a reservoir;
• c) heating compressed air from the reservoir in a solar heater;
• d) supplying air heated by the solar heater to the gas turbine;
• e) sensing the temperature of the air after it is heated in the solar heater;
• f) effecting the flow of air from the solar heater directly to the gas turbine only when the temperature of the air heated by the solar heater is above a predetermined value;
• and
• g) selectively switching the air flow into a combustion chamber where the air from the solar heater is heated by burning fuel before being supplied to the gas turbine, said switching occuring only when the temperature of the air heated by the solar heater falls below said predetermined value.