Apparatuses and methods for thermodynamic energy transfer, storage and retrieval

A system, comprising:

• a) a heat engine including a first isothermal heat exchange mechanism and a first gradient heat exchange mechanism;
• b) a Brayton thermodynamic device including second and third gradient heat exchange mechanisms;
• c) a heat pump including a second isothermal heat exchange mechanism and a fourth gradient heat exchange mechanism;
• wherein:
• the heat engine and the Brayton thermodynamic device transfer heat countercurrent across the first and second gradient heat exchange mechanisms,
• the Brayton thermodynamic device and the heat pump transfer heat countercurrent across the third and fourth gradient heat exchange mechanisms,
• the first isothermal heat exchange mechanism transfers heat to an external heat sink, and
• the second isothermal heat exchange mechanism receives heat from an external heat source.

A system, comprising:

• a) a first thermodynamic device with a first isothermal heat exchange mechanism and a first gradient heat exchange mechanism;
• b) a Brayton thermodynamic device having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, with a second gradient heat exchange mechanism in the high pressure side and a third gradient heat exchange mechanism in the low pressure side;
• and
• c) a gradient heat storage device with a fourth gradient heat exchange mechanism;
• wherein:
• the first thermodynamic device and the Brayton thermodynamic device transfer heat countercurrent across the first and second gradient heat exchange mechanisms, and
• the Brayton thermodynamic device and the gradient heat storage device transfer heat countercurrent across the third and fourth gradient heat exchange mechanisms.

A thermodynamic device, comprising:

• a) a first heat exchanger comprising a first gradient heat exchange mechanism and a second gradient heat exchange mechanism, the first gradient heat exchange mechanism having a first fluid therein, and the second gradient heat exchange mechanism having a second countercurrent fluid therein;
• b) a second heat exchanger comprising a third gradient heat exchange mechanism and a fourth gradient heat exchange mechanism, the third gradient heat exchange mechanism having the first fluid therein, and the fourth gradient heat exchange mechanism having the second countercurrent fluid therein, wherein the second fluid in the second gradient heat exchange mechanism has a direct fluid connection with the second fluid in the fourth gradient heat exchange mechanism;
• and
• c) an adiabatic temperature-changing mechanism in between and in fluid connection with the first gradient heat exchange mechanism and the third gradient heat exchange mechanism, wherein heat is exchanged between the first and the second fluids in the first and the second heat exchangers.