Systems, methods and devices for the management of heat removal within a compression and/or expansion device or system

A method of compressing gas in a compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system using a pressure vessel, the pressure vessel defining an interior region in which at least one of a liquid or a gas can be contained, the pressure vessel having a piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement in the pressure vessel and dividing the interior region of the pressure vessel into, and defining therewith, a first working chamber and a second working chamber, the method comprising:

• moving a volume of liquid into the first working chamber of the pressure vessel such that a portion of the volume of liquid in the first working chamber contacts a portion of a quantity of gas disposed within the first working chamber of the pressure vessel;
• moving the piston within the pressure vessel from a first position in which a volume of the first working chamber is greater than a volume of the second working chamber to a second position in which the volume of the first working chamber is less than the volume of the second working chamber, the piston and the volume of liquid collectively configured to compress the quantity of gas within the first working chamber when the piston is moved from its first position to its second position;
• substantially simultaneously with the moving the piston, moving the compressed gas from the first working chamber;
• removing from the first working chamber of the pressure vessel a portion of the volume of liquid, the removed portion of the volume of liquid being a first portion of the volume of liquid in the first working chamber and having a first temperature, the volume of liquid within the first working chamber having a second portion having a second temperature, the first temperature being greater than the second temperature;
• moving a volume of liquid into the second working chamber of the pressure vessel such that a portion of the volume of liquid in the second working chamber contacts a portion of a quantity of gas disposed within the second working chamber of the pressure vessel;
• moving the piston within the pressure vessel from its second position to its first position such that the quantity of gas within the second working chamber is compressed by the piston;
• substantially simultaneously with the moving the piston from its second position to its first position, moving the compressed gas from the second working chamber;
• and
• removing from the second working chamber a portion of the volume of liquid, the removed portion of the volume of liquid being a first portion of the volume of liquid in the second working chamber and having a third temperature, the volume of liquid within the second working chamber having a second portion having a fourth temperature, the third temperature being greater than the fourth temperature.