Thermal and compressed air storage system
AssigneeActive Power, Inc.
InventorJoseph F. Pinkerton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Combined thermal and compressed air storage systems are provided that utilize an exhaustless heater, such as a thermal storage unit, to provide power with enhanced efficiency. Compressed air is heated by the thermal storage unit prior to entering a turbine, which powers an electrical generator. In various embodiments, ambient air temperature, turbine exhaust or other types of waste heat are used to preheat the compressed air prior to the compressed air entering the thermal storage unit, thereby further increasing system efficiency.
Claims30
A thermal and compressed air storage system comprising:
- at least one pressurized tank that stores a predetermined quantity of compressed air;
- at least one exhaustless heater that stores thermal energy coupled to said at least one pressurized tank and operative to heat said compressed air received from said at least one pressurized tank, wherein at least one of the exhaustless heaters is heated to at least 150° centigrade prior to a compressed air discharge event;
- a turbine coupled to said exhaustless heater to receive said heated compressed air, said received heated compressed air driving a turbine rotor in said turbine;
- and
- an electrical generator that is powered by said turbine when said turbine is driven by said heated compressed air.
A method of using compressed air to provide electrical power comprising:
- providing at least one pressurized tank that stores a predetermined quantity of compressed air;
- heating said compressed air received from said at least one pressurized tank with an exhaustless heater that stores thermal energy, wherein said exhaustless heater is heated to at least 150° centigrade prior to a compressed air discharge event;
- driving a turbine using said heated compressed air;
- and
- powering an electrical generator with said driven turbine to provide said electrical power.
A thermal and compressed air storage system comprising:
- at least one pressurized tank that stores a predetermined quantity of compressed air;
- a thermal storage unit coupled to said at least one pressurized tank, said thermal storage unit is preheated to at least 150° centigrade to store thermal energy prior to a discharge of compressed air from the at least one pressurized tank, such that during discharge of the compressed air, the stored thermal energy is used to heat said compressed air received from said at least one pressurized tank;
- a turbine coupled to said thermal storage unit to receive said heated compressed air, said received heated compressed air driving a turbine rotor in said turbine, said thermal storage unit being an exhaustless heater;
- and
- an electrical generator that is powered by said turbine when said turbine is driven by said heated compressed air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.