Thermal energy storage, system and method

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy storage system comprising: at least one fluid input element for inputting at least one fluid; at least two heat storage components configured to control a temperature of the at least one fluid; at least two pressure control components configured to perform at least one pressure change; and at least one liquefaction module configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid. The invention also relates to a method for storing energy carried out in a system, the method includes inputting at least one of the at least one fluid to the energy storage system, controlling a temperature of the at least one fluid, performing at least one pressure change, at least partially generating a liquid phase from the at least one of the at least one fluid, and storing thermal energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of energy storage and in particular to the field of thermal storage. The object of the invention is to provide a thermal energy storage system, a method implemented in such a system and a corresponding use of the system. Background Art

[0002] Electrical energy storage systems store baseload energy during off-peak hours and use the stored energy to provide electricity during peak hours. Such systems are critical to the power generation industry. In conventional power generation systems, energy storage systems can provide a number of benefits, including load following, peak power, and standby reserves. By providing spinning reserves and dispatching loads, electrical energy storage systems can increase the net efficiency of thermal power sources while reducing harmful emissions.

[0003] Electrical energy storage systems are essential for intermittent renewable energy supply systems, such as solar photovoltaic and wind turbine supply systems. This is due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy; the source is not always available for a long period of time. This disadvantage has become an obstacle to the green power industry. Therefore, a suitable energy storage system is needed. In addition, the power storage system needs to be green.

[0004] Furthermore, electrical energy storage systems are considered to be a key technology in energy distribution networks with distributed generators in order to compensate for any power fluctuations and to provide an uninterrupted power supply during periods of voltage drops due to, for example, line faults.

[0005] Several types of electrical energy storage systems have been developed in the past. These include pumped hydro systems, compressed air energy storage systems (CAES), secondary batteries, superconducting magnetic energy storage systems (SMES), flywheels, and capacitors.

[0006] Pumped storage is the most widely used form of energy storage system. It stores hydraulic potential energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir. The amount of energy stored is proportional to the height difference between the two reservoirs and the volume of water stored. During periods of high electricity demand, water falls from the higher reservoir to the lower reservoir through turbine generators in a manner similar to traditional hydroelectric facilities. Pumped storage is a mature technology with high efficiency, large capacity, long storage period and relatively low capital cost per unit of energy. However, the scarcity of available sites for two large reservoirs and one or more dams is the main disadvantage of pumped storage. Long construction period (usually 10 years) and environmental issues (for example, clearing trees and vegetation on the land before the reservoir is flooded) are two other major disadvantages of pumped storage systems.

[0007] Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is based on conventional gas turbine technology. It uses the elastic potential energy of compressed air. Energy is stored by compressing air in airtight spaces such as underground storage caves. In order to extract the stored energy, compressed air is extracted from the storage container, heated and then expanded by a high-pressure turbine, which captures some of the energy in the compressed air. The air is then mixed with fuel and burned, with the exhaust gas expanding through a low-pressure turbine. Both the high-pressure turbine and the low-pressure turbine are connected to a generator to generate electricity. CAES has a relatively high energy density, a long storage period, a low capital cost and a high efficiency. Compared with pumped storage and other currently available energy storage systems. It needs to be burned in a gas turbine. It cannot be used in other types of power plants, such as coal-fired, nuclear power, wind turbines or solar photovoltaic power plants. In addition, the combustion of fossil fuels leads to the emission of pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and carbon oxides, which makes CAES less attractive. In addition, similar to pumped storage systems, CAES is also subject to dependence on favorable geographical conditions, such as caves. CAES is economically feasible only for power plants located near rock mines, salt caverns, aquifers, or depleted gas fields.

[0008] EP 1 989 400 B1 relates to a system for storing energy and using the stored energy to generate electrical energy or drive a propeller. In particular, the invention provides a method for storing energy, the method comprising: providing a gaseous input, producing a refrigerant from the gaseous input; storing the refrigerant; expanding the refrigerant; using the expanded refrigerant to drive a turbine and recovering cold energy from the expansion of the refrigerant.

[0009] EP 2 603 761 B1 relates to a method for combining one or more heat treatments with one another, wherein the heat treatments to be combined have different thermal energy supply and demand criteria. The method comprises the use of one or more heat storage devices.

[0010] EP 2 753 808 A1 relates to a system for storing energy with the aid of compressed air, wherein: a storage volume draws in air at a high pressure pH, ambient air is compressed to store energy and brought into the storage volume, compressed air is taken out of the storage volume for removal from the storage and discharged into the environment, thereby outputting work, a turbine for alternating compression and expansion (low-pressure turbine) - or a plurality of such machines compress the ambient air to a mean pressure pM or expand it from this mean pressure, a machine for alternating compression and expansion (high-pressure machine) compresses the ambient air from a mean pressure pM to a storage pressure pH or expands it from the storage pressure pH, or a plurality of such machines connected in parallel fluidly perform this task, these machines (low-pressure turbine machine and high-pressure turbine machine) are connected in series fluidly and mechanically coupled to a respective or common generator / motor (i.e. an electric machine selectively operated as a motor or generator)

[0011] CN 102 758 689B relates to an ultra-supercritical air energy storage / release system, which is a new type of large-scale energy storage system and an energy storage technology, namely, compressing air into an ultra-supercritical state by utilizing off-peak electricity of a power station and storing compression heat at the same time, cooling the air by utilizing an expander and recovering expansion work at the same time to improve efficiency, and cooling and liquefying the ultra-supercritical air by utilizing the stored cold energy and storing it; and the liquid air is pressurized and absorbs heat to reach an ultra-supercritical state during peak electricity consumption, and further absorbs compression heat for turbine generators to generate electricity.

[0012] EP 2 753 861 B1 relates to a cryogenic energy storage system, and in particular to a method for capturing cold energy and reusing the captured cold energy. The system allows the cold and heat energy from the energy recovery process of the cryogenic energy storage system to be efficiently captured, stored and efficiently utilized. The captured cold energy can be reused in any co-located process, for example to improve the production efficiency of refrigerants, to improve the production efficiency of liquid natural gas and / or to provide refrigeration. The system enables cold energy to be stored at very low pressures, cold energy can be recovered from at least one of the various components of the system, and / or cold energy can be stored in more than one thermal storage. Summary of the invention

[0013] In view of the above, it is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome or at least reduce the deficiencies and disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and a corresponding system for a system with improved thermal efficiency.

[0014] These objects are achieved by the present invention.

[0015] In a first aspect, the invention relates to an energy storage system comprising: at least one fluid input element, at least one fluid input element for inputting at least one fluid; at least two thermal storage components, at least two thermal storage components are configured to control the temperature of at least one fluid; at least two pressure control components, at least two pressure control components are configured to perform at least one pressure change; and at least one liquefaction module, at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0016] It should be understood that the term energy storage system refers to a system that is adapted for a cyclic process consisting of charging, storage and discharge. Therefore, the thermal energy potential generated during this process should be preserved. The use of thermal energy storage within the system significantly reduces energy losses to the environment (i.e., by not discharging compression heat to the environment), and thereby improves the round-trip efficiency of the system. Liquid production and therefore cycle efficiency are improved by using thermal storage components that allow heat to be stored at cryogenic levels in order to assist the liquefaction process during charging. This is particularly advantageous because it reduces the need for additional "cold" production by means of extracting energy from the system (i.e., by expansion) or inefficient cooling methods such as throttling.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system comprising relatively few components, which makes the system of the present invention less complex (compared to similar systems commonly used in the art), easier to produce, more reliable, requires less maintenance, requires less raw materials and is less prone to errors. More simply, the method of the present invention provides a lean process for implementing liquefaction as energy storage. Furthermore, the method of the present invention is particularly advantageous because it allows this to be achieved, for example, by means of the use of pressure control components to cover the expansion steps and compression steps required for the entire process. Additionally or alternatively, the method of the present invention is particularly beneficial because the use of the heat exchanger component as part of the liquefaction module and the thermal storage component is sized and designed to perform well enough in different operating modes (pre-filling phase, normal filling phase, discharge for pre-filling the cold storage and normal discharge phase), rather than having a separate heat exchanger for each operating mode.

[0018] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to vaporize at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0019] Additionally, the system can be configured to condense at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0020] In another embodiment, the system may include at least one flow direction, wherein the system may be configured to reverse at least one of the at least one flow direction.

[0021] The system may include at least one fluid output element. At least one of the at least one fluid output element may be configured to discharge at least one of the at least one fluid. Additionally or alternatively, at least one fluid output element may be configured to feed at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid back to the system.

[0022] This is particularly advantageous because feeding back the fluid firstly allows to circulate part of the liquefied gas stream back to the liquefaction module in order to extract the heat at the cryogenic level required for liquefaction. Secondly, after utilizing the maximum possible cooling capacity of the stream fed back, it can also be used to partially feed the system, which allows lower energy consumption during the drying process, since the stream is already dry. Thirdly, this is also advantageous because feeding the fluid to a possible secondary circulation allows to use the dry stream and adjust the pressure level without the need for an additional feed.

[0023] In one embodiment, one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of at least one fluid, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0024] This approach is beneficial because using the thermal energy storage component immediately after increasing the pressure significantly reduces energy losses to the environment, ie, by not rejecting the heat of compression to the environment, and thereby improves the round-trip efficiency of the system.

[0025] Furthermore, one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid before the first pressure control component.

[0026] Furthermore, one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid prior to the second pressure control component.

[0027] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the first pressure control component. Additionally or alternatively, one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the second pressure control component.

[0028] This approach is particularly beneficial because removing excess heat after compressing the fluid and before entering the cold storage or liquefaction module prevents unnecessary "cold" consumption of these parts of the system. It should be understood that in this context, the term cold is intended to refer to lower energy level heat, or heat storage below ambient temperature.

[0029] In one embodiment, a system may include at least one flow splitting element configured to split a flow of at least one fluid.

[0030] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control a temperature of at least one fluid, wherein the one of the at least two thermal storage components may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0031] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control a temperature of the at least one fluid prior to one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0032] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control a temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0033] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control a temperature of at least one fluid in parallel with at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0034] In another embodiment, the system may include at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid.

[0035] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control a temperature and a pressure of at least one fluid in at least one of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid.

[0036] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control a temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one flow diverting element.

[0037] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of at least one fluid at at least two locations in the system.

[0038] This is advantageous, since a heat storage component with several heat exchangers or storages can be implemented at several locations simultaneously. This can reduce the complexity and losses of the system, since only one heat storage component can be used, for example, to store the compression heat of several compression stages. Furthermore, this allows to optimize the use of heat, and therefore the efficiency of the system, between different operating modes, such as to store heat at a higher temperature level while charging the system after two consecutive compression stages, and to increase the temperature of the fluid (and therefore higher enthalpy) at discharge before each expansion stage.

[0039] Furthermore, the system may include at least three thermal storage components. In another embodiment, the system may include at least four thermal storage components.

[0040] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least four thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after a first pressure control component, at least one of the at least four thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after a second pressure control component, and two of the at least four thermal storage components are arranged in series and configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid in parallel with at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0041] This is advantageous because removing the heat of compression after each compression step allows the temperature limits of the next compression stage not to be exceeded. For example, but not limited to, the present invention achieves this by two thermal storage components, one thermal storage component after each compression step. The method of the present invention is to enter the "cold section" of the system with ambient temperature to prevent unnecessary cold losses from these parts of the system. Since liquefaction requires a large temperature change, the thermodynamic properties of the fluid and the storage medium will change quite drastically. In order to ensure that the expected heat transfer and the desired temperature level are achieved, it may be necessary to arrange two additional storages for temperatures below ambient temperature in series with each other (based on the type of storage used). This is particularly applicable where the fluid is air, and the thermal storage component is achieved by a secondary circulation with air at a lower pressure as the heat carrier medium. This arrangement improves the overall performance because it is able to achieve the lower temperatures required for higher liquid production.

[0042] Furthermore, the two thermal storage components are arranged in parallel with the components of the liquefaction module. This makes it possible to increase the liquid production, exploit and optimize the use of the cold from previous operation and the independent use of the liquefaction module.

[0043] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may include at least one of: a pump, a compression component, an expansion component, a heater, a heat exchanger component, a fan, and a blower.

[0044] In another embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may include at least one forward displacement turbine.

[0045] One of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to compress at least one fluid.

[0046] One of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to control a flow of at least one fluid.

[0047] One of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to generate and / or consume mechanical energy.

[0048] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to expand and / or compress at least one fluid.

[0049] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to operate reversibly.At least one of the at least two pressure control components may include a compressor configured to operate reversibly.

[0050] The present invention is intended for systems that are to be filled and drained. In order to keep the process as lean as possible, it is reasonable to reuse the relevant equipment in both operating modes. This means that in cases where one component can be used for multiple purposes or one component can be used in multiple steps of the process, the present invention takes advantage of these situations as much as possible. Less complex systems / systems with fewer parts are more reliable, easier to produce, and have fewer parts that require maintenance and require less raw materials. In addition, the physical compactness of the aforementioned system is significantly increased compared to similar systems.

[0051] The use of reversible compressors is particularly advantageous because they are also suitable for working as expanders by means of flow reversal, which results in a significant reduction in the complexity of the system. This is due to the fact that no additional equipment for the expansion process, i.e., additional expanders / turbines and generators, is used during the discharge of the system. For example, the method of the present invention allows the use of a positive displacement compressor as an expander when discharging the system to recover energy. Additionally or alternatively, the present invention also allows the use of a heat exchanger in the system when both filling and discharging the system, rather than one heat exchanger for filling and another for discharging. Therefore, the present invention provides a system with reduced complexity, which results in less maintenance and service. This is evident in the small number of components and their consistent reuse in the multiple steps of the process required by the method of the present invention.

[0052] In one embodiment, the system may include at least three pressure control components. Additionally or alternatively, the system may include at least four pressure control components.

[0053] One of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least one fluid input element.

[0054] One of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0055] One of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least one fluid output element.

[0056] One of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0057] One of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0058] One of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0059] In one embodiment, the at least two pressure control components may include at least one heater configured to heat the at least one fluid. Additionally or alternatively, the at least two pressure control components may include at least one heat exchanger component configured to change the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0060] In addition, the system may include at least one phase separator component configured to separate a liquid phase and / or a gas phase from at least one fluid. At least one of the at least one phase separator components may be configured to supply a gas phase from at least one fluid to at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0061] One of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least one phase separator component.

[0062] In one embodiment, at least one fluid may include at least one of the following: air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, at least one fluid may include at least one cryogenic liquid, the at least one cryogenic liquid including at least one of the following: air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0063] Additionally, at least one of the first pressure control component and the second pressure control component may be configured to be compressed to a pressure above a critical pressure of the at least one fluid.

[0064] In one embodiment, a system may include at least one impurity removal component configured to remove impurities from at least one fluid.

[0065] One of the at least one impurity removal component may comprise at least one of: a filter, an adsorption station, a phase separator, a cold trap, a fluid removal component.

[0066] The at least one impurity removal component may be configured to remove at least one of: water, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, suspended particulates, or any combination thereof.

[0067] In one embodiment, the impurity removal component removes moisture to achieve a dew point of at least 263K, more preferably 243K, and most preferably 223K. Additionally or alternatively, at least one impurity removal component may be arranged in series with at least one of the following: at least two pressure control components, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module, one of the at least one phase separator, at least one of the at least one pump, and at least one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid. In another embodiment, at least one of the at least one impurity removal component may be configured to remove impurities immediately after one of the at least one fluid input elements. Furthermore, at least one of the at least one impurity removal component may be configured to remove impurities before the first pressure control component and / or before the second pressure control component.

[0068] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to actuate at least one impurity removal component after the first pressure control component and / or the second pressure control component.

[0069] The system may also be configured to actuate at least one impurity removal component after and / or before at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0070] Freezing of impurities such as moisture content in the atmosphere and their accumulation in low temperature sections of the system such as heat exchangers / heat exchanger components may cause problems in the operation of the system. To avoid this, a low dew point is necessary, which can be achieved, for example, by exposing the adsorbent to the fluid. However, the cyclic process of the present invention is particularly beneficial because the reversal of the flow can be used for regeneration of the adsorbent and removal of impurities therefrom. Therefore, compared to conventional liquefaction processes, the present invention requires less effort for regenerating the adsorbent due to its cyclic nature. In addition, the adsorbent stage used for impurity removal can be changed in size throughout the process time and less complex impurity removal components are required (no intermediate cleaning process).

[0071] The present invention allows the removal of impurities at different locations in the system. For example, at the beginning of the process of aspirating the fluid. Removing impurities at high pressure increases the adsorption rate (lower dew point) and also enables the use of pressure swings to regenerate the adsorbent. In addition, the present invention allows the energy consumption of desiccant regeneration to be reduced because the excess heat present in the system can be utilized. An advantageous implementation is to position the impurity removal component at the beginning of the process or after the heat removal for filling and after heating the fluid with a heat reservoir during discharge. The heated fluid during discharge heats the desiccant, thereby changing the equilibrium and causing desorption. The impurities transported with the fluid also slightly increase the flow rate, and this positively affects the power output of the discharge.

[0072] The invention allows to optimize these effects and minimize the additional energy consumption, and thus the overall efficiency, by combining several impurity removal components at different locations. Thus, the invention allows to have a stage before the first compression stage at room temperature (the impurity removal components are regenerated without any additional energy consumption during the discharge process after the last expansion by means of the excess heat present in the fluid before being discharged), and another stage after the first compression stage or the second compression stage at higher pressure (the impurity removal components can be regenerated without additional energy consumption by utilizing the heat from the thermal energy storage in combination with the pressure change). This positioning of the impurity removal components enables the invention to carry out impurity removal without additional energy consumption.

[0073] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components may include at least one reservoir configured to store thermal energy.

[0074] Furthermore, the system may be configured to store heat in at least one of the at least two heat storage components by direct heat exchange.

[0075] This is particularly advantageous because implementing a direct heat exchange reservoir, such as a packed bed, reduces the complexity of the system.

[0076] Furthermore, the use of a direct contact gravel packed bed as a heat storage material can keep the system less complex, as opposed to other systems that use phase change materials, chemical reactions, or exotic materials as energy storage, for example. Rather than adding complexity by implementing a cycle like an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) to utilize the excess heat available after each charge-discharge, the excess heat is removed or used for regeneration of the desiccant. These points make the implementation of the present invention suitable for the needs of energy storage systems.

[0077] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least one reservoir may be at least one of: a packed bed thermal reservoir, a structured solid thermal reservoir, a latent heat reservoir.

[0078] Compared to other storage technologies, such as liquid tank storage using phase change materials as storage or applied in similar systems, the use of fixed bed thermal storage components (e.g., packed bed thermal storage, structured solid thermal storage) enables flexible thermal energy management through its ability to store heat over a wide range of temperature levels. In addition, these storages provide the option of discharging the storage at an almost constant fluid outlet temperature, and can compensate for differences in different flow rates in filling and discharging or due to different power requirements of the application. Fixed bed thermal storage components also require very little external control, which reduces complexity and uses very few key resources, which makes them superior to other thermal storage systems and methods known in the art. In addition, they are easy to implement and have the advantage of being stable at high temperatures, which is beneficial to the process because higher temperature levels can be stored to improve efficiency. This type of thermal storage can also use the same thermal storage material at low temperatures. The above advantages greatly increase the flexibility of process design and minimize the required components because the process naturally requires a wider temperature range. In addition, local resources can be used as storage materials, which makes construction much easier because heavy low-value bulk materials do not need to be transported from a central plant, but can be filled at the location where the system is installed, such as the user's location.

[0079] Furthermore, the at least one fluid may include at least one first fluid and at least one second fluid. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one first fluid may not be in direct contact with the at least one second fluid.

[0080] In one embodiment, the system can be configured to store thermal energy in at least one of the at least two thermal storage components, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components can be configured to utilize at least one second fluid. At least one of the at least one first fluid and at least one of the at least one second fluid are the same.

[0081] This is particularly advantageous because indirect heat transfer using a second fluid can achieve a fixed bed storage without direct contact with the first fluid, thereby maintaining the above benefits. For this reason, only the heat exchanger may need to withstand high pressure, and the rest of the storage can be less complicated. In addition, this is also beneficial because the same heat storage can easily function at different locations in the system, which requires fewer components. In addition, the second fluid can be selected based on its characteristics, for example, to prevent phase changes caused by low temperatures. Preventing phase changes is beneficial because phase changes can have adverse effects if they occur in fixed bed storage. Using the same fluid as a heat transfer medium in the second cycle reduces the need for additional equipment because the fluid can simply be diverted and used to refill and adapt to the pressure level of the second cycle. In addition, since air exists in large quantities around the world, this also helps to store without location restrictions. In order to restore the phase change enthalpy of the main fluid by storing heat at low temperatures when discharging (evaporating the liquid phase), heat from the heat storage component must be used. Direct contact heat exchange in which phase changes occur inside a fixed bed has several technical practical difficulties, which are overcome by embodiments of the present invention. To name a few, the coldest part should be placed at the bottom of the reservoir to prevent convection, yet the two-phase mixture is difficult to transport upward against gravity inside the reservoir; the change in density of the phase change makes it difficult or impossible to maintain flow and contact time between the two media; and it is impossible to evenly distribute the liquid and prevent droplet formation. The present invention overcomes this problem by using a heat transfer medium that does not change phase in the relevant temperature range. When the second fluid is the same as the first fluid, the present invention provides the most efficient implementation by reducing the fluid pressure and shifting its transition temperature to a lower temperature outside the desired range.

[0082] Furthermore, at least one of the at least one first fluid may be different from at least one of the at least one second fluid. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components may include one of the at least two pressure control components configured to control the flow of the at least one second fluid.

[0083] Furthermore, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components may include at least one heat exchanger component configured to control the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0084] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to operate at least one direct heat exchange and / or at least one indirect heat exchange.

[0085] The at least one second fluid may be at least one of: a gas, a liquid, a suspension, a suspension comprising a phase change material, or any combination. Additionally or alternatively, the system may be configured to store thermal energy by means of the at least one second fluid.

[0086] The at least one second fluid may be configured to transfer thermal energy to / from the at least one reservoir by direct heat exchange.

[0087] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to store heat of compression in at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0088] Furthermore, at least one of the at least two heat storage members may include at least one element configured to withstand high pressure.

[0089] Furthermore, at least a portion of the system may be configured to withstand a pressure greater than 1 bar, preferably greater than 10 bar, more preferably greater than 40 bar, most preferably greater than 50 bar.

[0090] At least a part of the system may be configured to withstand a pressure below 300 bar, preferably below 250 bar, more preferably below 200 bar.

[0091] At least one of the at least two heat storage parts may include at least one cold storage part.

[0092] At least one heat storage member of the at least two heat storage members may include at least one heat storage member.

[0093] Furthermore, at least one of the at least two heat storage components may be configured to store heat at a temperature above the ambient temperature.

[0094] At least one of the at least two heat storage components may be configured to store heat at a temperature below ambient temperature.

[0095] At least one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid to a temperature greater than the ambient temperature.

[0096] At least one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid to a temperature below the ambient temperature.

[0097] At least one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid within or close to at least one temperature constraint.

[0098] In addition, at least one temperature constraint may include at least one of the following: a maximum temperature, wherein the maximum temperature may be determined by the temperature of the at least one fluid after compression; a minimum temperature of one of the at least one fluid interacting with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components; a minimum temperature of the liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid; a temperature requirement of another component of the system located downstream of a component of the system; a phase transition temperature of at least one fluid relative to its pressure level; a phase transition temperature of at least one second fluid relative to its pressure level; a common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluid between two consecutive thermal storage components, wherein the shared intermediate temperature may be determined to ensure that the two consecutive thermal storage components reach the same internal temperature distribution before and after each consecutive charging and discharging of the system for the same period of time; a temperature constraint determined to ensure continuous heat flow between the at least two heat exchanging media, wherein the continuous heat flow occurs along the length of the component of the system by direct heat exchange or indirect heat exchange; or any combination thereof.

[0099] As the fluid expands, the lower the temperature of the fluid, the higher the liquid production. However, process components have temperature requirements and limitations. As an example, expanders are generally not able to expand liquids; therefore, the input temperature should be as close as possible to the liquid phase transition of the fluid at a given pressure to maximize liquid production. For example, a throttling action can handle liquid in the input section, and therefore the temperature can be lower than this point. However, the minimum temperature level that can be obtained is limited by the temperature that can be recovered from the thermal storage component (primarily determined by the storage temperature of the liquid evaporated during the discharge mode), or simply by the minimum temperature that can be obtained from another stream (for example, after expansion). Another example is the limitation of the thermal storage component due to the thermophysical properties of the storage material. In order to optimize the process and therefore optimize efficiency, the present invention utilizes the lowest achievable temperature to increase liquid production, that is, it operates close to these temperature constraints.

[0100] One of the at least two heat storage components may comprise a temperature below 273K, preferably below 223K, preferably below 183K.

[0101] At least one of the at least two heat storage parts may comprise a temperature below 150K, preferably below 140K, more preferably below 120K.

[0102] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to operate two consecutive thermal storage components under matched temperature constraints.

[0103] At least one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to extract stored thermal energy. Additionally or alternatively, the system may be configured to balance extracted thermal energy and stored thermal energy within one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0104] At least one of the at least two heat storage components may be configured to at least partially change the phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0105] One of the at least one heat exchanger components may be configured to at least partially evaporate at least one fluid.

[0106] In order to restore the phase change enthalpy to thermal potential, the heat for evaporation needs to be supplied by one of the heat storage components. Since the phase change greatly changes the thermophysical properties of the fluid, this is best achieved via a heat exchanger optimized for this purpose. As part of the heat storage component, the heat exchanger can transfer heat from the reservoir to the fluid by means of a second fluid, thereby causing the temperature of the second fluid to drop, which is then stored back in the heat storage. In order to minimize the available temperature level, the liquid can be pumped to its specified pressure before evaporating in the heat exchanger component. The recovery of this temperature level improves the efficiency of the system.

[0107] At least one heater may be used to at least partially change the phase of the fluid.

[0108] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one electric drive component. Additionally or alternatively, the system may include at least one motor. In one embodiment, the system may include at least one generator. In another embodiment, the system may include at least one control component.

[0109] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one control loop. In another embodiment, the system may include at least one control system.

[0110] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one of the following: a sensor, an insulation component, a piping element, a heat exchanger, a heater, and a filter. The at least one insulation component may include at least one of the following: glass wool, stone wool, rock wool, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, cellulose, perlite, polystyrene foam, polyurethane, aerogel, sound insulation, and vacuum.

[0111] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one auxiliary component.

[0112] At least one of the at least two thermal storage components may include at least one auxiliary blower.

[0113] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to operate in a charging mode.

[0114] In another embodiment, the system may be configured to operate in a drain mode.

[0115] In another embodiment, the system may be configured to actuate one of the at least one impurity removal component in the charging mode.

[0116] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to regenerate one of the at least one impurity removal component in the drain mode.

[0117] Freezing of impurities can lead to accumulation in low temperature sections of the system, for example in heat exchangers, which can cause problems in the operation of the system. In order to avoid this, the impurities need to be removed to a sufficient level. However, removing impurities can be an energy intensive process and therefore reduces the efficiency of the process. When desiccants are used as adsorbents, they should be regenerated, which is usually done by temperature and / or pressure fluctuations. The present invention achieves a reduction in energy consumption by at least partially using the process fluid and the available excess heat at the time of discharge. The fluid still has a temperature above the ambient temperature after the last expansion stage, which the present invention can use to heat the desiccant, thereby changing the equilibrium of the desiccant and causing the desorption of impurities.

[0118] In another embodiment, the system may be configured to restore one of the at least one impurity removal component with the aid of a pressure fluctuation and / or a temperature fluctuation.

[0119] At least one of the at least one second fluid may be used at the at least one heat exchanger component at a pressure lower than the fluid stream whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0120] To maximize production and efficiency, one of the thermal storage components can be operated below or close to the condensation temperature of the fluid. A second fluid that is identical to the first fluid is particularly advantageous because it allows the phase change to be prevented by reducing the pressure of the second fluid and shifting the dew point of the second fluid to a lower temperature outside the operating range. In addition, this approach reduces the complexity of the storage because many of its components do not need to be subjected to high pressures.

[0121] At least one of the at least one second fluid may be used at the at least one heat exchanger component at a pressure higher than the fluid stream whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0122] At least one of the at least one blower may be configured to help remove thermal energy content from a fluid flow whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two thermal storage components and deliver the removed energy to the at least one thermal storage component.

[0123] At least one of the at least one blower may be configured to assist in removing thermal energy content from the at least one storage component and to deliver the removed energy to a fluid flow having a temperature controlled by one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0124] The at least one blower may be configured to control a flow of at least one of the at least one second fluid separate from the at least one fluid.

[0125] The at least one auxiliary component may include one of: an evaporator, a motor generator, an electric drive component, a control circuit component, a sensor, a piping element, an insulation component, a valve element, a blower, a fan, a muffler, a filter, a heat recovery component, and a power supply component.

[0126] In one embodiment, the at least two pressure control components may include at least one non-isothermal compressor.

[0127] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one of: an electrical inverter, a wire, a transformer, an electrical converter.

[0128] The expansion component may include one of: an expander and a throttling valve.

[0129] The expander extracts energy from the fluid during the process, and in addition to the temperature drop caused by the expansion, it also allows the extracted work to reduce the enthalpy content of the fluid, resulting in a lower temperature. This is particularly advantageous for obtaining a higher liquefaction yield. Throttling is an isenthalpic process in which no work is done. Therefore, the same expansion ratio will result in a higher outlet temperature as in the expander. However, throttling is a much simpler process. As depicted in the accompanying drawings, the present invention exploits these two basic characteristics in different arrangements.

[0130] In one embodiment, the at least one expander may include one of the following: a turboexpander, a volumetric expander, a piston, a screw, a scroll.

[0131] In another embodiment, at least one of the fluids may include a liquid phase.

[0132] One of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid may be configured to confine a liquid phase of one of the at least one fluid.

[0133] One of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid may be arranged in series with at least one of the following: at least one of the at least two pressure control components, at least one of the at least two heat storage components, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module, and one of the at least one phase separator. Additionally or alternatively, one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid may include at least one insulation component.

[0134] For discharge, the liquid fluid needs to be pressurized to a specified operating pressure. Using a pressure changing component such as a pump in series with a storage tank for cryogenic liquid to pressurize the liquid to a subcooled state while discharging produces the lowest temperature for optimizing cold recovery to facilitate liquefaction in the next charge.

[0135] One of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquids may comprise a pressure vessel. Additionally or alternatively, the pressure vessel may comprise a pressure between 1 bar and 37 bar, preferably between 5 bar and 30 bar, more preferably between 10 bar and 20 bar.

[0136] Storing at high pressure reduces evaporation losses, while storing liquid fluids (the densities of the gas and liquid phases in equilibrium are closer to each other at high pressures, and limiting the upper pressure limit reduces storage complexity.

[0137] The pressure vessel may comprise a pressure above 37 bar, preferably above 40 bar, more preferably above 55 bar.

[0138] One of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid may include a pressure control component.

[0139] Pressurization of the liquid fluid for discharge can take place inside the cryogenic tank, for example by evaporating a very small portion of the liquid using ambient heat. This is particularly advantageous because it reduces the energy consumption of the system.

[0140] The at least one heat exchanger component may be configured to perform evaporation of a fluid within at least one of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid.

[0141] Instead of using ambient heat, the liquid reservoir can be pressurized to exchange with the thermal reservoir. This prevents loss of potential cold and increases the recovered cold and therefore has a positive impact on the next charge.

[0142] One of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid may comprise at least one phase separator.

[0143] Combining the phase separator and cryogenic storage tank into a single unit reduces complexity as it allows the same vessel to be used. In addition, this frees up some piping as the two-phase mixture can be transported in a single pipeline.

[0144] One of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid may be configured to receive a liquid.

[0145] One of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid may be configured to supply a liquid.

[0146] One of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid may be configured to increase the pressure of the contained liquid.

[0147] For example, the simplest implementation of pressurizing a liquid fluid is to automatically pressurize a reservoir with or without additional equipment.

[0148] One of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid may be configured to maintain the temperature and pressure of the contained liquid.

[0149] One of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series with one of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid.

[0150] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to vary the pressure in at least one stage.

[0151] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to vary the pressure in at least two stages.

[0152] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to vary the pressure in at least one stage.

[0153] At least one of the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure rise of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 30 bar, more preferably at least 40 bar, most preferably at least 55 bar.

[0154] At least one of the at least one fluid may experience a total pressure rise of less than 300 bar, preferably less than 150 bar, most preferably less than 100 bar, most preferably less than 70 bar.

[0155] In one embodiment, at least one fluid experiences a total pressure drop of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 30 bar, more preferably at least 40 bar, most preferably at least 60 bar. Additionally or alternatively, at least one fluid may experience a total pressure drop of less than 300 bar, preferably less than 150 bar, most preferably less than 100 bar, most preferably less than 70 bar.

[0156] One way to produce the liquid utilized by the liquefaction module is to reduce the pressure of the fluid by expansion. Expansion from a higher pressure results in a lower temperature, thereby contributing to a higher liquid yield. However, the heat capacity of the fluid also increases with increasing pressure, which adversely affects the liquid yield. The present invention takes into account the increased technical complexity of higher pressures and overall efficiency, which results in an optimum pressure of approximately 60 bar for the operating pressure. This is used for the flow entering the liquefaction module.

[0157] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to generate an outlet temperature T o , where the outlet temperature T o Can be different from the inlet temperature T i Additionally or alternatively, the outlet temperature T o Can be compared with the inlet temperature T i At least 100K higher, preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i At least 150K higher, more preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i At least 200K high.

[0158] The compression stage outlet temperature is mainly determined by the efficiency of the compressor and the internal cooling level in the compressor. Maximizing the round-trip efficiency depends on the maximum possible energy consumed in the compression stage to exist in the fluid at an elevated pressure and temperature. Therefore, it is beneficial to be as close to the higher temperature of adiabatic compression as possible. For easily available compressors, a temperature rise of about 200K can be achieved. The most ideal solution for efficiency is to reach the maximum desired operating pressure in a single compression stage. Since the outlet temperature generated in this case will be very high (>1000K), and the technical implementation of the compressor with a compression ratio of more than 15 is at least challenging, this option is difficult to achieve. However, the present invention overcomes these technical problems by considering that the energy storage system should be constructed by reliable available components, and the temperature level still needs to be manageable and the loss should be kept to a minimum. The present invention provides solutions to these technical problems by implementing two or more compression stages, such as three compression stages, which is particularly beneficial for reaching about 60bar.

[0159] Outlet temperature T o Can be compared with the inlet temperature T iUp to 1500K, preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i Up to 900K, more preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i Up to 500K.

[0160] Additionally or alternatively, the outlet temperature T o Can be compared with the inlet temperature T i At least 20K lower than the inlet temperature T i At least 50K lower, more preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i At least 80K low.

[0161] In addition, the outlet temperature T o Can be compared with the inlet temperature T i Lowest at most 800K, preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i At most 500K lower, more preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i As low as 300K.

[0162] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to operate with a polytropic efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, more preferably greater than 80%.

[0163] The high polynomial efficiency ensures low internal losses in the compression stage and contributes significantly to the overall efficiency.

[0164] In another embodiment, the system can be configured to expand at least one fluid.

[0165] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be connected to one of the at least one electric drive component.

[0166] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to generate and / or consume mechanical energy.

[0167] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to generate and / or consume electrical energy.

[0168] Furthermore, the system may be configured to operate at least one of the at least two pressure control components by means of the generated and / or consumed energy.

[0169] Additionally, the system may be configured to operate in a drain mode to generate energy.

[0170] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to operate in a charging mode by consuming energy.

[0171] In another embodiment, the charging mode can be configured to consume energy to store heat and at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0172] In another embodiment, the charging mode may be configured to consume energy to at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid by changing a pressure and an enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0173] Furthermore, the discharge mode may be configured to consume heat and liquid to generate energy.Additionally or alternatively, the discharge mode may be configured to change the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid to generate energy.

[0174] The system may be configured to exchange thermal energy between at least one of the at least one fluid and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components while evaporating a liquid phase of the at least one fluid.

[0175] Evaporating a liquid requires heat to overcome the enthalpy of evaporation. If the heat is provided by a medium, this medium will become cold. The present invention uses this fact to store "cold" during liquid evaporation. The evaporating liquid absorbs heat from the second fluid via a heat exchanger, and the now colder second fluid is then connected to the heat storage component. Through this connection, the heat storage component reheats the second fluid while it itself becomes cold. With this arrangement, the heat of evaporation required for the phase change of the liquid is basically provided by the heat storage component, and therefore, the heat storage component becomes colder, in other words, it can be said that "cold is stored". The temperature of storing cold can be controlled by system variables. Ideally, the temperature should be as low as possible, which enables maximum cooling capacity to be obtained when needed. The most important case of using this cooling capacity is when the first fluid or a portion of the first fluid is connected to the heat storage component to be pre-cooled before being sent to the liquefaction module. This arrangement is particularly advantageous in the thermal energy management between the filling mode and the discharge mode of the system.

[0176] In one embodiment, the system can be configured to maintain the system state by maintaining thermal and mechanical potential. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the at least two pressure control components can be configured to reversibly operate with a polytropic efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, more preferably greater than 80%. Additionally or alternatively, the system can include a connection type comprising at least one of the following: a belt, a gearbox, and a direct connection of a shaft.

[0177] The efficiency of the expander at discharge contributes significantly to the round trip efficiency of the system and therefore losses are minimized.

[0178] At least one of the at least one electric drive component may include at least one of the following types: induction, permanent magnet, reluctance, synchronous and asynchronous.

[0179] In one embodiment, at least one motor may be configured to operate at a variable rotational speed.

[0180] In one embodiment, at least one motor may be configured to operate at a variable frequency.

[0181] At least one of the at least one electric drive component may be connected to at least one of at least one of the following: an electric inverter, a wire, a transformer, an electric converter.

[0182] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one valve. The at least one valve may be composed of at least one of the following: a pressure changing component, a heat storage component, a liquefaction module, a pump, a phase separator, a tank for a cryogenic liquid, an impurity removal component. One of the at least one valve may be configured to operate bidirectionally.

[0183] The at least one valve may include at least one of: a check valve, a flow control valve, a stop valve, a throttling valve, a safety valve such as a pressure reducing valve, and a sampling valve.

[0184] At least one valve may include at least one actuation mechanism.

[0185] At least one of the at least one actuation mechanisms may be configured to automatically actuate at least one valve. The at least one valve may include at least one of the following that may be connected to the at least one valve: a pressure changing component, a thermal storage component, a liquefaction module, a pump, a phase separator, a storage tank for a cryogenic liquid, an impurity removal component.

[0186] The at least one control circuit may be configured to control at least one of the at least one actuation mechanism.

[0187] The at least one control circuit may be configured to control one of the at least one electric drive component.

[0188] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least one pressure relief valve may be connected to at least one of: a storage tank, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0189] In another embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may include at least one of the following: a positive displacement compressor, a dynamic compressor.

[0190] Furthermore, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may include at least one of the following: a piston compressor, a scroll compressor, a screw compressor, a vane compressor, a Roots compressor.

[0191] At least one of the at least one liquefaction module may be configured to be in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0192] In another embodiment, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module may be configured to be in fluid communication with at least one of the at least one phase separator.

[0193] Furthermore, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module may include at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0194] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may include at least one heat exchanger component.

[0195] Furthermore, the at least one heat exchanger component may include at least one of: a plate-fin heat exchanger, a plate heat exchanger, a shell and tube heat exchanger, and a regenerative heat exchanger.

[0196] In one embodiment, the flow diverter element may be configured to divert the fluid flow with a variable diverter ratio. One of the at least one flow diverter element may be configured to change the diverter ratio between one of the at least two thermal storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction module. One of the at least one flow diverter element may be configured to adjust the diverter ratio so that the thermal energy content transferred to one of the at least two thermal storage components is balanced with the amount of thermal energy content available from the generated liquid phase.

[0197] The flow dividing element can change the ratio of all fluids delivered to the liquefaction module and the thermal storage component operated at a temperature below the ambient temperature, which is advantageous because it makes the use of the liquefaction module independent of the thermal storage component. In addition, the portion of the first fluid entering the thermal storage section and the cold consumption thereof can be optimized and adapted to the needs of the liquefaction module. This is particularly advantageous because the cooling capacity of the thermal storage component and the temperature level that can be reached can vary, for example, according to but not limited to how they are used and how much loss is involved. Therefore, only a portion of the fluid is precooled in the liquefaction module, and the cold from the expansion can be used more effectively to increase production. All of this leads to a higher overall efficiency of the system of the present invention.

[0198] In one embodiment, a system may include at least one merging element configured to merge at least two fluid streams.

[0199] Merging elements are particularly advantageous because they allow for the joining of portions of a fluid that may have been split and then conveyed to downstream components of the system for further processing. For example, the streams after the merging element naturally have a single set of thermodynamic properties and can share the same, for example, but not limited to, expansion components, heat exchangers. This is further depicted in the following figure.

[0200] At least one of the at least one liquefaction module may include at least one of the at least one flow diverter element configured to divert the fluid flow at a variable diverter ratio.

[0201] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may include at least one of the at least one merging element.

[0202] Furthermore, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module may include at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0203] This is particularly advantageous because it enables the liquefaction module to further increase the pressure of a portion of the fluid stream and then first cool that portion back down to ambient temperature and then cool it down further using the remaining cooling capacity from the expansion occurring downstream (this is described below). Figure 6 ). It will be appreciated that this can be achieved, for example, by combining the liquefaction module with a pressure changing component. This increased cooling potential achieved by the subsequent expansion can generate sufficient cooling capacity (in combination with the heat exchanger for pre-cooling) to liquefy another part of the fluid that has been cooled and expanded by the thermal storage. When a part of the fluid is overpressurized to about 200 Bar, the split can be adjusted to liquefy another part. Therefore, no gas enters the storage for the cryogenic liquid, thereby simplifying the subsequent components.

[0204] Furthermore, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module can comprise at least one of the at least one fluid discharge element.

[0205] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may include at least one of the fluid input elements.

[0206] Furthermore, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module may include at least one thermal insulation component.

[0207] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may include at least one auxiliary component.

[0208] Furthermore, at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component may be configured to receive at least one fluid flow from at least one of the at least one flow dividing element.

[0209] This is particularly advantageous as it enables the heat exchanger component to pre-cool only a portion of the fluid and thus achieve a lower temperature assuming the cooling capacity of the other side of the heat exchanger is sufficient for this operation.

[0210] One of the at least one liquefaction modules may be configured to reduce a thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0211] One of the at least one liquefaction modules may be configured to exhaust at least a portion of the at least one fluid that is close to thermal and mechanical equilibrium with ambient air.

[0212] This is particularly advantageous because it ensures that both the full cooling capacity and the work potential (due to the pressure being above atmospheric pressure) are utilized before the gas stream is discharged or fed back. Each recirculated gas stream is first expanded to the minimum pressure (ensuring that the minimum temperature is obtained). The gas stream is then used as a cooling stream in the heat exchanger component. To achieve this, the heat exchanger and its arrangement are optimized, as illustrated by the configuration depicted in the figure below. This reduces cold losses and increases liquid production and efficiency.

[0213] One of the at least one liquefaction modules may be configured to reduce the thermal energy content of different portions of the at least one fluid by means of at least some portions of the at least one fluid being at a lower temperature level.

[0214] In one embodiment, at least one liquefaction module is supplied with at least one of the at least one fluid at ambient temperature and high pressure, and with at least one of the at least one fluid at reduced thermal energy content and intermediate pressure, wherein the thermal energy content of the at least one of the at least one fluid portion is first reduced only by means of the liquefaction module, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from one of the at least one fluid.

[0215] This is particularly advantageous because the liquid module is used independently of the cold storage, which may not have cooling capacity. This arrangement can be used as the only liquefaction path if necessary. In addition, this is particularly advantageous because this allows the generation and accumulation of sufficient liquid that can be used to initially charge the cold storage in a process similar to normal discharge operation, which makes the system self-sufficient and does not require any external devices to inject / charge the cold storage with the cooling capacity required for the predetermined duration of normal charging mode operation. In addition, this makes the system location independent (because it is self-sufficient). This also reduces the complexity of the implementation process and can refill lost cold if necessary.

[0216] The at least one liquefaction module may be configured to reduce the pressure of the at least one fluid to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0217] One of the at least one liquefaction modules can be configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one fluid, wherein the one of the at least one liquefaction modules can be arranged in series with at least one of the following: at least two pressure control components, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components, one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid, and at least one of the at least one phase separator.

[0218] Furthermore, at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may be configured to at least partially generate a liquid phase from at least one fluid in parallel with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0219] At least one of the at least one heat exchanger section and at least one of the at least two thermal storage sections receive a fluid flow from at least one of the at least one flow diverter elements connected in series.

[0220] At least one fluid flow of at least one heat exchanger component is combined with another fluid flow connected in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0221] This merging enables the system to use one pressure changing component regardless of whether the flows have been previously split. In other words, different portions of the initial fluid flow are redirected to different sections of the system to take advantage of different existing cooling capacities for pre-cooling. When these are merged together, a single flow with a set of thermodynamic properties can be used to feed one pressure changing component (this is depicted below). Figure 2 ). The temperature of the combined stream depends on the ratio or flow rate of the streams in each stream before mixing. However, the temperature can be controlled by the split ratio occurring upstream and the level of cooling to which these splits are subjected. This enables the liquid production downstream of the pressure changing component to be controlled. Figure 3In another configuration depicted, a portion of the fluid that has been pre-cooled using the cooling capacity of the thermal storage component is combined with another portion of the fluid at ambient temperature. By changing these portions, several kinds of flexibility in thermal energy management are possible. For example, the temperature of the stream pre-cooled by the thermal storage component can be controlled, taking into account the cooling capacity (or load) available in the corresponding thermal storage component. Mixing this stream with another stream at ambient temperature provides another flexibility for the system, through which the temperature of the merged stream is adjusted to the level required by the downstream pressure control component. In addition, the cooling load on each thermal storage component can be adjusted by this method. In other words, based on the cooling capacity available in each of these reservoirs (the cooling capacity is determined by the amount of reservoir regeneration during the discharge mode), the system can readjust itself to use this cooling capacity. Readjustment based on available cooling capacity and upstream split ratio is also used to ensure the continuous heat flow required by the downstream heat exchanger, thereby avoiding narrow points in the exchanger.

[0222] At least one liquefaction module may include at least two of the at least two pressure control components arranged in series.

[0223] At least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0224] Furthermore, at least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0225] The first expansion operation results in a partial liquefaction in the liquefaction module. The gas phase of the resulting stream in equilibrium with the liquid phase is still at high pressure. Therefore, expanding it again to the lowest possible pressure produces a stream with maximum cooling capacity. In order to utilize this cooling capacity to increase the liquid production, a heat exchanger can be added before or after the first expansion. Since there will usually be no liquid phase at the inlet of the expander, the fluid temperature is limited to the dew point of the fluid at a given pressure. Adding a heat exchanger after the expander where partial liquefaction has occurred increases the liquid production by utilizing the minimum temperature obtainable in the liquefaction module. If throttling is used instead of an expander, the heat exchanger can be added before the component. This is beneficial because expansion at a lower temperature increases the production.

[0226] At least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least two heat exchanger components. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series between two of the at least two heat exchanger components.

[0227] Furthermore, at least one of the at least two pressure control components can be configured to receive at least one fluid flow from at least one of the at least one flow diverter element. The at least one fluid flow can be provided by at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one fluid flow can be supplied by another of the at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0228] At least one of the at least two pressure changing components may be connected in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0229] Furthermore, one of the at least two heat storage members may be disposed between one of the at least two pressure control members and one of the at least one heat exchanger.

[0230] In one embodiment, at least one liquefaction module may be configured to produce at least 20 mass percent, more preferably at least 30 mass percent, most preferably at least 40 mass percent liquid phase.

[0231] In another embodiment, at least one liquefaction module may be configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one fluid at a pressure below 25 bar, more preferably below 20 bar, most preferably below 18 bar.

[0232] In another embodiment, at least one liquefaction module may be configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one fluid at a pressure above 3 bar, more preferably above 5 bar, most preferably above 10 bar.

[0233] One of the core advantages of the present invention is to increase production by using high pressure. There are some benefits to liquefaction occurring at high pressure. For example, if liquefaction occurs at higher pressure, the liquid production can be higher because as the fluid approaches the critical pressure, the phase change requires a lower enthalpy change (less liquefaction energy consumption). For example, in the case of air, there is no phase change to liquid at pressures above about 37.8 bar (critical pressure). On the other hand, the densities of the gas phase and the liquid phase in equilibrium at higher pressures are closer to each other. This means that adding a given volume of liquid to a storage tank already filled with gas at the same pressure will result in more mass loss (the mass of gas replaced by the incoming liquid) at higher pressures. Therefore, intermediate pressures are beneficial to both benefit from the lower enthalpy change required for liquefaction at higher pressures and avoid the large amount of loss of cold gas already present in the tank during refilling.

[0234] In one embodiment, at least one liquefaction module may be configured to reduce the pressure to near atmospheric pressure to reduce the thermal energy content of at least one fluid.

[0235] In another embodiment, at least one liquefaction module may be configured to increase liquid production via thermal energy management.

[0236] In another embodiment, at least one liquefaction module can be configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid by means of at least one primary expansion. At least one liquefaction module can be configured to increase liquid production from at least one of the at least one fluid by means of a secondary expansion and at least one heat exchanger component that assists in thermal energy management.

[0237] As described above, re-expanding at least one fluid to the lowest possible pressure produces a flow with the greatest cooling capacity.

[0238] Furthermore, at least one of the liquefaction modules may be configured to increase liquid production by means of a secondary expansion.

[0239] The gas phase of at least one of the at least one fluid may be used for the second expansion.

[0240] In one embodiment, at least one liquefaction module achieves a temperature below the dew point of at least one fluid at a given pressure.

[0241] In another embodiment, at least one liquefaction module can be configured to receive a fluid flow from at least one of the at least one diverter elements, which is proportional to the amount of fluid entering the diverter element, with a ratio of less than 80 mass percent, more preferably less than 65 mass percent, and most preferably less than 55 mass percent.

[0242] Additionally, the system can be configured to reduce thermal energy content of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0243] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to reduce the temperature of at least one component of the system with the aid of at least one fluid.

[0244] Furthermore, the system may be configured to achieve a target operating temperature of the components with the aid of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0245] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to reduce the temperature of at least one of the at least one fluid to a temperature level sufficient to cool at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0246] In another embodiment, the system may include at least two of the at least two pressure control components and at least one heat exchanger component and at least one flow diverter element. At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be connected in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger.

[0247] Furthermore, at least one of the at least two pressure control components and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger receive at least one fluid flow in parallel from at least one of the at least one flow dividing element.

[0248] In one embodiment, the system can be configured to actuate at least two of the at least two pressure control components and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger to control the temperature of at least one fluid within / near at least one temperature constraint.

[0249] In another embodiment, the system can be configured to actuate at least two of the at least two pressure control components and at least one heat exchanger component to control the temperature of at least one fluid to a temperature above a phase change temperature of the at least one fluid at a given pressure.

[0250] By using some in the system, for example, later in Figure 7 The additional components depicted in the figure realize the potential of regenerating the required cooling capacity in the relevant heat storage components. This means that instead of regenerating the heat storage components only by evaporation of the liquid in the discharge mode, regeneration is possible at any time and to any extent required by this arrangement. This arrangement does not require liquefaction. A part of the high-pressure flow is expanded to a lower pressure, resulting in a cooler flow, which is used to pre-cool the remaining part of the flow. The remaining part is then expanded to a level that ensures that the desired temperature is achieved in the outlet. The temperature is determined by the minimum temperature required for the heat storage component to be regenerated and / or recharged. The advantage of this arrangement is that there is no need to change the operating mode of the system. In other words, the regeneration of the heat storage component and the filling of the heat storage component with the cooling capacity required for the next charging mode can occur as a continuation of the current charging phase. This is particularly advantageous because it allows the heat storage component to be regenerated, and the heat storage component has the required cooling capacity in a shorter operating time compared to the method in which liquefaction is necessary and then followed by the discharge mode. Other advantages are lower complexity and more control over the regeneration of the heat storage, system location agnosticity, and making the system more suitable for use as a backup energy storage.

[0251] The demand for energy storage systems is growing, and based on different use cases, different sizes and capacities are required. Storage based on the principles of thermodynamic processes is usually designed according to the mindset of conventional large plants. This can be seen, for example, in some prior art, where the principle of air separation plants is adapted as storage based on air liquefaction. However, the present invention focuses on lean design, where the units are designed and sized with easy transportation and portability in mind. The present invention is based on the use of thermodynamic principles combined with abundant available resources as thermal energy storage media. The present system is basically designed to use only air as a working fluid and gravel as a thermal energy storage medium. However, the present system can adapt to other working fluids and materials if necessary. In addition, the present invention is designed to be modular. In other words, multiple thermal storage components, pressure change components and liquefaction modules can be combined with different arrangements so that power intake and storage capacity can be independently expanded based on the requirements of the use case. Another beneficial feature of the present invention is the ability to use some components of the system in different operating modes; for example, the compressor is intended to be reversibly used as an expander during the charging mode, while the heat exchanger is designed to function in several situations. This is beneficial to reduce the complexity of the system and increase the flexibility of the system.

[0252] In a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for storing energy, the method comprising: inputting at least one of at least one fluid into an energy storage system, controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid, performing at least one pressure change, at least partially generating a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid, and storing thermal energy. An energy storage system may be described herein.

[0253] In one embodiment, the method may include vaporizing at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0254] Furthermore, the method may include condensing at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0255] In another embodiment, the method may include controlling at least one flow direction of at least one fluid, wherein the method may include reversing at least one of the at least one flow direction.

[0256] The method may include discharging at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0257] In addition, the method may include feeding at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluids back into the system. Feeding the fluid back has several advantages to the process. The method must be used to recycle the gas stream after partial liquefaction back into the liquefaction module to extract the heat at the cryogenic level required for liquefaction. After utilizing the maximum possible cooling capacity of the stream fed back, the method may also be used to partially feed the system. This makes the energy consumption in the drying process lower because the stream may already be dry. Another use may be to feed the fluid into a possible secondary cycle to utilize the dry stream and adjust the pressure level without the need for additional supply.

[0258] The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one of the at least one fluid in the energy storage system as described herein. In another embodiment, the method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid before the first pressure control component. Additionally or alternatively, the method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid before the second pressure control component.

[0259] The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid after a first pressure control component. In one embodiment, the method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid after a second pressure control component. Removing excess heat after compressing the fluid and before entering a cold storage or liquefaction module prevents unnecessary consumption of "cold" (cold is heat at a lower energy level or heat storage below ambient temperature) from these components of the system.

[0260] The method may include splitting the flow of at least one fluid.

[0261] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0262] The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid before one of the at least one liquefaction module. The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid after one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0263] The method may include controlling a temperature of at least one fluid arranged in parallel with at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0264] The method may include storing at least one of the at least one fluid in an energy storage system. The method may include confining at least one of the at least one fluid in at least one of the at least one storage tanks for cryogenic liquids. In addition, the method may include controlling the temperature and pressure of at least one of the at least one fluid in at least one of the at least one storage tanks for cryogenic liquids. The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one of the fluids after the diverting step.

[0265] The method may comprise controlling the temperature of at least one fluid at at least two locations in the energy storage system. A heat storage component with several heat exchangers or storages may be implemented at multiple locations simultaneously. This may reduce the complexity and losses of the system, since only one heat storage component may be used, for example, to store the compression heat of several compression stages. Furthermore, this allows optimizing the use of heat between different operating modes, and therefore the efficiency of the system, for example, to store heat at a higher temperature level while charging the system after two consecutive compression stages, and to increase the temperature (and therefore higher enthalpy) of the fluid upon discharge before each expansion stage.

[0266] The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid after a first pressure control component, controlling the temperature of at least one fluid after a second pressure control component, and controlling the temperature of at least one fluid in parallel with at least one component of at least one liquefaction module in at least one liquefaction module. The method may include compressing at least one of the at least one fluid. In another embodiment, the method may include controlling the flow of at least one fluid.

[0267] The method may include generating and / or consuming mechanical energy.The method may include expanding and / or compressing at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0268] The method may include reversibly operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components. The method may include reversibly operating a compressor. The method may include controlling the pressure, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series with at least one of the following: at least one of the at least one fluid input element, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module, at least one of the at least one fluid output element, at least one of the at least two heat storage components, at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0269] The method may include controlling the pressure, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0270] The method may include heating at least one fluid. The method may include changing the thermal energy content of at least one fluid. The method may include separating a liquid phase and / or a gas phase from at least one fluid.

[0271] The at least one fluid includes at least one of: air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0272] The method may include using a cryogenic liquid comprising at least one of: air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0273] The method may include compressing at least one of the at least one fluid to a pressure above a critical pressure.

[0274] The method may include removing impurities from at least one fluid.

[0275] The method may comprise removing water to reach a dew point of at least 263 K, more preferably 243 K, most preferably 223 K. The method may comprise removing impurities by means of at least one impurity removal component, the at least one impurity removal component being arranged in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components, at least one thermal storage component of the at least two thermal storage components, at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module, one of the at least one phase separator, at least one pump of the at least one pump, and at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid.

[0276] The method may include removing impurities immediately after one of the at least one fluid input element. The method may include removing impurities before the first pressure control component and / or before the second pressure control component.

[0277] The method may include actuating at least one impurity removal component after the first pressure control component and / or the second pressure control component. The method may include actuating at least one impurity removal component after and / or before at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0278] The method may include storing heat in at least one of the at least two heat storage components using direct heat exchange. The at least one fluid may include at least one first fluid and at least one second fluid. The at least one first fluid may not be in direct contact with the at least one second fluid.

[0279] The method may include storing thermal energy in at least one of the at least two thermal storage components, wherein the method may include utilizing at least one second fluid.

[0280] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least one first fluid and at least one of the at least one second fluid may be the same. In another embodiment, at least one of the at least one first fluid may be different from at least one of the at least one second fluid.

[0281] The method may include controlling a flow of at least one of the at least one second fluids.

[0282] The method may include controlling the thermal energy content of at least one fluid.

[0283] When the system is as described herein, the method may include controlling the thermal energy content.

[0284] The method may include operating direct heat exchange and / or indirect heat exchange.

[0285] The method may include storing thermal energy by means of at least one second fluid, wherein the at least one second fluid may include at least one of: a gas, a liquid, a suspension, a suspension including a phase change material, or any combination thereof.

[0286] The method may comprise transferring thermal energy to / from at least one reservoir by direct heat exchange with the aid of at least one second fluid.

[0287] The method may include storing heat of compression in at least one heat storage component of at least two heat storage components.

[0288] The method may include utilizing high pressure.

[0289] The method may comprise operating at least one component of the system at a pressure greater than 1 bar, preferably greater than 10 bar, more preferably greater than 40 bar, most preferably greater than 50 bar.

[0290] The method may comprise operating at least one component of the system at a pressure below 300 bar, preferably below 250 bar, more preferably below 200 bar.

[0291] The method may include storing heat at a temperature above ambient temperature.

[0292] The method may include storing heat at a temperature below ambient temperature.

[0293] The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid to a temperature greater than the ambient temperature.

[0294] The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid to a temperature below the ambient temperature.

[0295] The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid within or near at least one temperature constraint.

[0296] At least one temperature constraint may include at least one of the following: a maximum temperature, wherein the maximum temperature may be determined by the temperature of at least one fluid after compression; a minimum temperature of one of the at least one fluid interacting with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components; a minimum temperature of the liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid; a temperature requirement of another component of the energy storage system located downstream of a component of the energy storage; a phase transition temperature of at least one fluid relative to its pressure level; a phase transition temperature of at least one second fluid relative to its pressure level; a common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluid between two consecutive thermal storage components, wherein the shared intermediate temperature may be determined to ensure that the two consecutive thermal storage components reach the same internal temperature distribution before and after each consecutive charging and discharging of the energy storage system for the same period of time; a temperature constraint, the temperature constraint is determined to ensure a continuous heat flow between the at least two heat exchanging media, wherein the continuous heat flow occurs along the length of the energy storage component by direct heat exchange or indirect heat exchange; or any combination thereof.

[0297] The method may include matching temperature constraints of at least two thermal storage components.

[0298] The method may comprise operating two consecutive thermal storage components of the at least two thermal storage components under matched temperature constraints.

[0299] The method may include extracting stored thermal energy from at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0300] The method may include balancing extracted and stored thermal energy within at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0301] The method may include at least partially changing the phase of at least one of the at least one fluid in at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0302] The method may include at least partially vaporizing at least one fluid in one of at least one heat exchanger components included in the energy storage system.

[0303] The method may include using at least one heater to at least partially change the phase of the fluid.

[0304] The method may include using at least one electrically driven component.

[0305] The method may include controlling the energy storage system by means of at least one of: a control component, a control loop, and a control system.

[0306] The method may include operating the system in a charge mode. The method may include operating the system in a discharge mode.

[0307] The method may include actuating one of the at least one impurity removal component while the system may be in a charging mode.

[0308] The method may include regenerating one of the at least one impurity removal component while the system may be in the drain mode.

[0309] The method may include restoring one of the at least one impurity removal component by means of a pressure fluctuation and / or a temperature fluctuation.

[0310] The method may include using at least one of the at least one second fluid at a pressure below the pressure of the temperature controlled fluid stream at at least one heat exchanger component.

[0311] The method may include using at least one of the at least one second fluid at a pressure higher than the pressure of the temperature controlled fluid stream at at least one heat exchanger component.

[0312] The method may include assisting, with the aid of at least one blower, in removing thermal energy content from the temperature controlled fluid flow and delivering the removed energy to at least one storage component.

[0313] The method may include assisting, with at least one of the at least one blower, in removing thermal energy content from at least one storage component and delivering the removed energy to the temperature controlled fluid flow.

[0314] The method may include controlling a flow of at least one second fluid in at least one second fluid separated from at least one fluid.

[0315] At least one of the fluids may include a liquid phase.

[0316] The method may include confining a liquid phase of one of the at least one fluid in one of at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquids.

[0317] One of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid may be arranged in series with at least one of:

[0318] at least one of the at least two pressure control components,

[0319] at least one heat storage component of the at least two heat storage components,

[0320] at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module, and

[0321] A phase separator in at least one phase separator.

[0322] One of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid may comprise a pressure vessel.

[0323] The pressure vessel may comprise a pressure between 1 bar and 37 bar, preferably between 5 bar and 30 bar, more preferably between 10 bar and 20 bar.

[0324] The pressure vessel may comprise a pressure above 37 bar, preferably above 40 bar, more preferably above 55 bar.

[0325] One of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid may include a pressure control component.

[0326] The method may include vaporizing a fluid within at least one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid.

[0327] The method may include at least partially separating a liquid phase and / or a gas phase of at least one of the at least one fluid within a storage tank for a cryogenic liquid.

[0328] The method may comprise supplying the liquid by means of one of at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid.

[0329] The method may include increasing the pressure of liquid in one of at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid.

[0330] The method may include maintaining a temperature and a pressure of a liquid contained in one of at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid.

[0331] The method may comprise varying the pressure in at least one phase.

[0332] The method may comprise varying the pressure in at least two stages.

[0333] At least one of the fluids may experience a total pressure rise of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 30 bar, more preferably at least 40 bar, most preferably at least 55 bar.

[0334] At least one fluid may experience a total pressure rise of less than 300 bar, preferably less than 150 bar, most preferably less than 100 bar, most preferably less than 70 bar.

[0335] At least one of the fluids may experience a total pressure drop of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 30 bar, more preferably at least 40 bar, most preferably at least 60 bar.

[0336] At least one fluid may experience a total pressure drop of less than 300 bar, preferably less than 150 bar, most preferably less than 100 bar, most preferably less than 70 bar.

[0337] The method may include reducing the temperature of at least one of the at least one fluid from an inlet temperature T i Change to outlet temperature T o , where the outlet temperature T o Can be different from the inlet temperature T i .

[0338] Outlet temperature T o Can be compared with the inlet temperature T i At least 100K higher, preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i At least 150K higher, more preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i At least 200K high.

[0339] Outlet temperature T o Can be compared with the inlet temperature T i Up to 1500K higher, preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i Up to 900K, more preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i Up to 500K.

[0340] Outlet temperature T o Can be compared with the inlet temperature T i At least 20K lower than the inlet temperature T i At least 50K lower, more preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i At least 80K low.

[0341] Outlet temperature T o Can be compared with the inlet temperature T i At most 800K lower, preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i At most 500K lower, more preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i As low as 300K.

[0342] The method may comprise operating at least one component of the system with a polytropic efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, more preferably greater than 80%.

[0343] The method may include expanding at least one fluid.

[0344] The method may include generating and / or consuming mechanical energy in an energy storage system.

[0345] The method may include generating and / or consuming electrical energy.

[0346] The method may comprise operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components by means of generated and / or consumed energy.

[0347] The method may include operating the system in an exhaust mode to generate energy.

[0348] The method may include operating the system in a charging mode by consuming energy.

[0349] The charging mode may include consuming energy to store heat and at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0350] The charging mode may include consuming energy by changing the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid to at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0351] The method may include consuming heat and liquid to generate energy while the system may be in a drain mode.

[0352] The method may include changing a pressure and an enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid to generate energy while the system may be in a discharge mode.

[0353] The method may include exchanging thermal energy between at least one of the at least one fluid and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components while evaporating a liquid phase of the at least one fluid.

[0354] The method may include maintaining the system state by maintaining thermal potential and mechanical potential.

[0355] The method may comprise reversibly operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components with a polytropic efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, more preferably greater than 80%.

[0356] The method may include operating at least one motor at a variable rotational speed.

[0357] The method may include operating at least one motor at a variable frequency.

[0358] The method may include bi-directionally operating at least one valve.

[0359] The method may include automatically actuating at least one valve by means of at least one actuation mechanism.

[0360] At least one valve may include at least one actuation mechanism.

[0361] The method may include automatically actuating at least one valve via at least one of the at least one actuation mechanisms.

[0362] The method may include establishing at least one fluid connection between at least two components of the system.

[0363] The method may include establishing at least one of the at least one fluid connection between at least one of the at least one liquefaction module and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0364] The method may include establishing at least one of the at least one fluid connection between at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules and at least one of the at least one phase separator.

[0365] At least one of the at least one liquefaction module may include at least one pressure control component of the at least two pressure control components of the energy storage system.

[0366] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may include at least one heat exchanger component.

[0367] The method may include splitting at least one fluid flow at least once in a variable split ratio.

[0368] The method may include changing a split ratio of a fluid flow between one of the at least two thermal storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0369] The method may include adjusting the split ratio to balance the thermal energy content delivered to one of the at least two thermal storage components with the thermal energy content available from the produced liquid phase.

[0370] The method may include merging at least two fluid streams. The method may include splitting at least one of at least one of at least one of at least one of at least one of the fluid streams of at least one of the at least one of the fluids in at least one of the liquefaction modules. More simply, the stream split inside the liquefaction module is different from the stream that is sent directly to the liquefaction module after external splitting; but it is first sent to, for example, the thermal storage 2 (see below Figures 1 to 6 ) is then sent to the liquefaction module.

[0371] The method may include combining at least two fluid streams in at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0372] The method may include storing heat within at least one liquefaction module.

[0373] The method may include removing fluid from at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0374] The method may include adding a fluid to at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0375] The method may include delivering at least one fluid flow from at least one of the at least one flow diverter element to at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0376] The method reduces the thermal energy content of at least one fluid.

[0377] The method may include exhausting at least a portion of at least one fluid that is close to thermal and mechanical equilibrium with ambient air.

[0378] The method may comprise reducing the thermal energy content of different portions of at least one fluid by means of at least some portions of the at least one fluid being at a lower temperature level.

[0379] The method may comprise supplying only at least one of the at least one fluid to at least one liquefaction module, wherein one of the at least one fluid is at ambient temperature and high pressure and at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid is at a reduced thermal energy content and an intermediate pressure, wherein the method comprises reducing the thermal energy content of the portion of at least one of the at least one fluid only by means of the liquefaction module, wherein the method comprises at least partially producing a liquid phase from one of the at least one fluid by means of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0380] The method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method may include establishing fluid communication between one of the at least one liquefaction module and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0381] The method may include reducing the pressure of at least one fluid to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0382] The method may include at least partially producing a liquid phase from at least one fluid in one of the at least one liquefaction modules, wherein the one of the at least one liquefaction modules may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components, one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid, and at least one of the at least one phase separator.

[0383] The method may include at least partially generating a liquid phase from at least one fluid in at least one section of at least one of the at least two thermal storage sections in parallel with at least one of the at least two thermal storage sections.

[0384] At least one of the at least one heat exchanger section and at least one of the at least two thermal storage sections receive a serial flow of fluid from at least one of the at least one flow diverter element.

[0385] The method may include combining at least one fluid flow of at least one heat exchanger component with another fluid flow in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0386] At least one liquefaction module may include at least two of the at least two pressure control components arranged in series.

[0387] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0388] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0389] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0390] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be arranged in series between two of the at least two heat exchanger components.

[0391] The method may include receiving a fluid flow from at least one of at least one flow diverter element at at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0392] The method may include supplying at least one fluid stream through at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0393] The method may include supplying at least one fluid flow through another pressure control component of at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0394] At least one of the at least two pressure changing components may be connected in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0395] One of the at least two heat storage members may be disposed between one of the at least two pressure control members and one of the at least one heat exchanger.

[0396] The method may comprise operating at least one liquefaction module to produce at least 20 mass percent, more preferably at least 30 mass percent, most preferably at least 40 mass percent liquid phase.

[0397] The method may comprise operating at least one liquefaction module to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one fluid at a pressure below 25 bar, more preferably below 20 bar, most preferably below 18 bar.

[0398] The method may comprise operating at least one liquefaction module to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one fluid at a pressure above 3 bar, more preferably above 5 bar, most preferably above 10 bar.

[0399] The method may include reducing the pressure in at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules to near atmospheric pressure to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0400] The method may include increasing liquid production of at least one liquefaction module by means of thermal energy management.

[0401] The method may include at least partially producing a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid by means of at least one expansion.

[0402] The method may include increasing liquid production from at least one of the at least one fluid via a secondary expansion and at least one heat exchanger component that facilitates thermal energy management.

[0403] The method may include increasing production by means of a second expansion.

[0404] The method may include using a gas phase of at least one of the at least one fluid to perform a second expansion.

[0405] The method may include achieving a temperature below a dew point of at least one fluid at a given pressure in at least one liquefaction module.

[0406] The method may include providing a fluid flow from at least one of the at least one diverter elements to at least one liquefaction module, the fluid flow being proportional to the amount of fluid entering the diverter element, having a ratio of less than 80 mass percent, more preferably less than 65 mass percent, and most preferably less than 55 mass percent.

[0407] The method may include reducing the thermal energy content of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0408] The method may include reducing the temperature of a component of the energy storage system with the aid of at least one fluid.

[0409] The method may include achieving a target operating temperature of a component of the energy storage system with the aid of at least one fluid.

[0410] The method may include reducing the temperature of at least one fluid to a temperature level sufficient to cool at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0411] The method may include: dividing a fluid flow into at least one flow A and at least one flow B; and providing at least one flow A to at least one pressure control component of at least two pressure control components, and providing at least one flow B to at least one heat exchanger component of at least one heat exchanger component, wherein at least one pressure control component of at least two pressure control components and at least one heat exchanger component of at least one heat exchanger component are arranged in parallel; wherein the method includes providing at least one flow A and at least one flow B by means of at least one flow diverter element of at least one flow diverter element.

[0412] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be connected in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0413] The method may include actuating at least two of the at least two pressure control components and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component to control a temperature of at least one fluid within / near at least one temperature constraint.

[0414] The method may include actuating at least two of the at least two pressure control components and at least one heat exchanger component to control the temperature of at least one fluid to a temperature above its phase change temperature at a given pressure.

[0415] The method may include storing the heat of compression in at least one thermal reservoir comprising direct heat exchange.

[0416] The system is configured to perform the methods described herein.

[0417] The method may include utilizing a system as described herein to perform a method as described herein.

[0418] The method may comprise utilizing components of a system as described to perform given steps of a method as described herein.

[0419] The invention also relates to the use as described herein for energy storage.

[0420] The invention also relates to the use of a method as described herein for cryogenic energy storage.

[0421] Additionally or alternatively, the invention relates to the use of a system as described herein for cryogenic energy storage.

[0422] The present technology is also described by way of the following numbered implementations.

[0423] Next, system implementations will be discussed. These implementations are abbreviated as the letter "S" followed by a number. Whenever "system implementations" are mentioned in this document, these implementations are referred to.

[0424] S1. An energy storage system, the system comprising:

[0425] at least one fluid input element, the at least one fluid input element being used to input at least one fluid,

[0426] at least two thermal storage components configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid,

[0427] at least two pressure control components configured to perform at least one pressure change, and

[0428] At least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0429] S2. The system according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the system is configured to evaporate at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0430] S3. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to condense at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0431] S4. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one flow direction, wherein the system is configured to reverse at least one of the at least one flow direction.

[0432] S5. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one fluid output element.

[0433] S6. The system according to the preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least one fluid output element is configured to discharge at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0434] S7. The system according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one fluid output element is configured to feed at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid back into the system.

[0435] S8. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0436] S9. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid before the first pressure control component.

[0437] S10. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid before the second pressure control component.

[0438] S11. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the first pressure control component.

[0439] S12. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the second pressure control component.

[0440] S13. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one diverting element configured to divert the flow of the at least one fluid.

[0441] S14. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is arranged in series with at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0442] S15. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid before one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0443] S16. A system according to embodiment S14, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0444] S17. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid in parallel with at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0445] S18. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid.

[0446] S19. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature and pressure of at least one fluid in at least one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid.

[0447] S20. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control a temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one flow diverting element.

[0448] S21. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid at at least two locations in the system.

[0449] S22. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least three thermal storage components.

[0450] S23. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least four thermal storage components.

[0451] S24. A system according to the previous embodiment and having the features of S11, S12 and S17, wherein:

[0452] At least one of the at least four heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the first pressure control component,

[0453] At least one of the at least four heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the second pressure control component, and

[0454] Two of the at least four thermal storage components are arranged in series and are configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid in parallel with at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0455] S25. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components comprises at least one of the following: a pump, a compression component, an expansion component, a heater, a heat exchanger component, a fan, and a blower.

[0456] S26. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components comprises at least one positive displacement turbine.

[0457] S27. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure-control components is configured to compress the at least one fluid.

[0458] S28. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to control the flow of the at least one fluid.

[0459] S29. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to generate and / or consume mechanical energy.

[0460] S30. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to expand and / or compress the at least one fluid.

[0461] S31. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to operate reversibly.

[0462] S32. A system according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components includes a compressor configured to operate reversibly.

[0463] S33. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least three pressure control components.

[0464] S34. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least four pressure control components.

[0465] S35. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least one fluid input element.

[0466] S36. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0467] S37. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least one fluid output element.

[0468] S38. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0469] S39. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0470] S40. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0471] S41. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least two pressure control components include at least one heater configured to heat the at least one fluid.

[0472] S42. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least two pressure control components include at least one heat exchanger component configured to change the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0473] S43. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one phase separator component configured to separate a liquid phase and / or a gas phase from the at least one fluid.

[0474] S44. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least one phase separator components is configured to supply a gas phase from the at least one fluid to at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0475] S45. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least one phase separator component.

[0476] S46. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one fluid comprises at least one of the following: air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0477] S47. A system according to the previous embodiment, wherein the at least one fluid includes at least one cryogenic liquid of the following: air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0478] S48. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the following is configured to be compressed to a pressure above a critical pressure of the at least one fluid:

[0479] the first pressure control component, and

[0480] The second pressure control component.

[0481] S49. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one impurity removal component configured to remove impurities from the at least one fluid.

[0482] S50. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one impurity removal components comprises at least one of the following: a filter, an adsorption station, a phase separator, a cold trap, a fluid removal component.

[0483] S51. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one impurity removal component is configured to remove at least one of: water, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, suspended particles, or any combination thereof.

[0484] S52. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the impurity removal component removes moisture to achieve a dew point of at least 263K, more preferably 243K, most preferably 223K.

[0485] S53. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one impurity removal component is arranged in series with at least one of:

[0486] At least one of the at least two pressure control components,

[0487] at least one heat storage component of the at least two heat storage components,

[0488] At least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module,

[0489] one phase separator of the at least one phase separator,

[0490] at least one of the at least one pump, and

[0491] At least one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is a storage tank for cryogenic liquid.

[0492] S54. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least one impurity removal component is configured to remove impurities immediately after one of the at least one fluid input element.

[0493] S55. A system according to any one of the two preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one impurity removal component is configured to remove impurities before the first pressure control component and / or before the second pressure control component.

[0494] S56. A system according to embodiment S49, wherein the system is configured to actuate the at least one impurity removal component after the first pressure control component and / or after the second pressure control component.

[0495] S57. A system according to embodiment S49, wherein the system is configured to actuate the at least one impurity removal component after and / or before at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0496] S58. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises at least one reservoir configured to store thermal energy.

[0497] S59. The system according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the system is configured to store heat in at least one of the at least two heat storage components by direct heat exchange.

[0498] S60. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one reservoir is at least one of the following: a packed bed thermal reservoir, a structured solid thermal reservoir, a latent heat reservoir.

[0499] S61. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one fluid comprises at least one first fluid and at least one second fluid.

[0500] S62. The system of the preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one first fluid is not in direct contact with the at least one second fluid.

[0501] S63. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to store thermal energy in at least one of the at least two thermal storage components, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to utilize the at least one second fluid.

[0502] S64. The system of any one of the two preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one first fluid and at least one of the at least one second fluid are the same.

[0503] S65. A system according to any one of embodiments S61 to S63, wherein at least one of the at least one first fluid is different from at least one of the at least one second fluid.

[0504] S66. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises one of the at least two pressure control components configured to control the flow of the at least one second fluid.

[0505] S67. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises at least one heat exchanger component configured to control the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0506] S68. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate at least one direct heat exchange and / or at least one indirect heat exchange.

[0507] S69. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and according to embodiment S67, wherein the at least one second fluid is at least one of: a gas, a liquid, a suspension, a suspension comprising a phase change material, or any combination.

[0508] S70. The system according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the system is configured to store thermal energy with the aid of the at least one second fluid.

[0509] S71. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and embodiment S59 and having the features of embodiments S58, S63, S66 and S67, wherein the at least one second fluid is configured to transfer thermal energy to / from the at least one reservoir by direct heat exchange.

[0510] S72. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to store heat of compression in at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0511] S73. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises at least one element configured to withstand high pressure.

[0512] S74. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least a portion of the system is configured to withstand a pressure greater than 1 bar, preferably greater than 10 bar, more preferably greater than 40 bar, and most preferably greater than 50 bar.

[0513] S75. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least a portion of the system is configured to withstand a pressure below 300 bar, preferably below 250 bar, more preferably below 200 bar.

[0514] S76. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises at least one cold storage component.

[0515] S77. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises at least one thermal storage component.

[0516] S78. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments and the features of S58, wherein at least one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to store heat at a temperature above ambient temperature.

[0517] S79. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments and the features of S58, wherein at least one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to store heat at a temperature below ambient temperature.

[0518] S80. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature.

[0519] S81. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid at a temperature below ambient temperature.

[0520] S82. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid within or close to at least one temperature constraint.

[0521] S83. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one temperature constraint comprises at least one of the following:

[0522] a maximum temperature, wherein the maximum temperature is determined by the temperature of the at least one fluid after compression,

[0523] a minimum temperature of one of the at least one fluid interacting with at least one of the at least two heat storage members,

[0524] a minimum temperature of the liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid,

[0525] a temperature requirement of another component of the system located downstream of a component of the system,

[0526] a phase transition temperature of the at least one fluid relative to a pressure level of the at least one fluid,

[0527] a phase transition temperature of the at least one second fluid relative to the pressure level of the at least one second fluid,

[0528] a common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluid between two consecutive thermal storage components, wherein the shared intermediate temperature is determined to ensure that the two consecutive thermal storage components reach the same internal temperature profile before and after each consecutive charging and discharging of the system for the same period of time,

[0529] temperature constraints determined to ensure a continuous heat flow between at least two heat exchanging media, wherein the continuous heat flow occurs along the length of the components of the system by direct or indirect heat exchange,

[0530] Or any combination thereof.

[0531] S84. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises a temperature below 273K, preferably below 223K, preferably below 183K.

[0532] S85. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises a temperature below 150K, preferably below 140K, more preferably below 120K.

[0533] S86. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate two consecutive thermal storage components under matched temperature constraints.

[0534] S87. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to extract stored thermal energy.

[0535] S88. The system according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the system is configured to balance thermal energy extracted and stored within at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0536] S89. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to at least partially change the phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0537] S90. The system according to the previous embodiment and having the features of S67, wherein one of the at least one heat exchanger components is configured to at least partially evaporate the at least one fluid.

[0538] S91. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one heater is used to at least partially change the phase of the fluid.

[0539] S92. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one electrically driven component.

[0540] S93. The system of the preceding embodiment, wherein the system comprises at least one motor.

[0541] S94. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one generator.

[0542] S95. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one control component.

[0543] S96. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one control loop.

[0544] S97. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one control system.

[0545] S98. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one of: a sensor, an insulation component, a piping element, a heat exchanger component, a heater, and a filter.

[0546] S99. The system according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one thermally insulating component comprises at least one of the following:

[0547] Glass wool,

[0548] asbestos,

[0549] Rockwool,

[0550] PS,

[0551] Polytetrafluoroethylene,

[0552] cellulose,

[0553] Perlite,

[0554] Polystyrene foam,

[0555] Polyurethane,

[0556] Aerogel,

[0557] Sound insulation materials, and

[0558] vacuum.

[0559] S100. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one auxiliary component.

[0560] S101. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises at least one auxiliary blower.

[0561] S102. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate in a charging mode.

[0562] S103. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate in a discharge mode.

[0563] S104. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to actuate one of the at least one impurity removal component in the filling mode.

[0564] S105. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to regenerate one of the at least one impurity removal components in the drain mode.

[0565] S106. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to restore one of the at least one impurity removal components by means of pressure and / or temperature fluctuations.

[0566] S107. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and according to embodiment S63, wherein at least one of the at least one second fluid is used at a pressure lower than the pressure of the fluid flow at the at least one heat exchanger component, and the temperature of the fluid flow is controlled by one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0567] S108. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and according to embodiment S63, wherein at least one of the at least one second fluid is used at a pressure higher than the pressure of the fluid flow at the at least one heat exchanger component, and the temperature of the fluid flow is controlled by one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0568] S109. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one blower is configured as:

[0569] assisting in removing thermal energy content from the fluid stream, the temperature of the fluid stream being controlled by one of the at least two thermal storage components, and

[0570] The removed energy is delivered to the at least one storage element.

[0571] S110. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one blower is configured as:

[0572] assisting in removing thermal energy content from the at least one storage element, and

[0573] The removed energy is delivered to the fluid stream, the temperature of which is controlled by one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0574] S111. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiment S63, wherein the at least one blower is configured to control the flow of at least one of the at least one second fluids separated from the at least one fluid.

[0575] S112. The system of embodiment S100, wherein the at least one auxiliary component comprises at least one of:

[0576] Evaporator,

[0577] motor,

[0578] dynamo,

[0579] Electric drive components,

[0580] Control circuit components,

[0581] sensor,

[0582] Pipeline components,

[0583] Insulation components,

[0584] Valve components,

[0585] Blower,

[0586] fan,

[0587] Muffler,

[0588] Filters,

[0589] Heat recovery components, and

[0590] Power supply components.

[0591] S113. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least two pressure control components include at least one non-isothermal compressor.

[0592] S114. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one of the following: an electric inverter, a wire, a transformer, an electric converter.

[0593] S115. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiment S25, wherein the expansion component comprises at least one of: an expander and a throttling valve.

[0594] S116. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one expander comprises at least one of the following: a turbine expander, a volume expander, a piston, a screw, a scroll.

[0595] S117. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the fluids comprises a liquid phase.

[0596] S118. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is configured to confine a liquid phase of one of the at least one fluid.

[0597] S119. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments and embodiment S18, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is arranged in series with at least one of:

[0598] At least one of the at least two pressure control components,

[0599] at least one heat storage component of the at least two heat storage components,

[0600] at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module, and

[0601] A phase separator of the at least one phase separator.

[0602] S120. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid comprises at least one insulation component.

[0603] S121. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid comprises a pressure vessel.

[0604] S122. A system according to the previous embodiment, wherein the pressure vessel comprises a pressure between 1 bar and 37 bar, preferably between 5 bar and 30 bar, and more preferably between 10 bar and 20 bar.

[0605] S123. A system according to embodiment S121, wherein the pressure vessel comprises a pressure higher than 37 bar, preferably higher than 40 bar, and more preferably higher than 55 bar.

[0606] S124. A system according to any one of the six preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid comprises a pressure control component.

[0607] S125. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiment S42, wherein the at least one heat exchanger component is configured to perform evaporation of a fluid within at least one of the at least one storage tanks for cryogenic liquids.

[0608] S126. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid comprises at least one phase separator.

[0609] S127. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is configured to receive a liquid.

[0610] S128. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is configured to supply liquid.

[0611] S129. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is configured to increase the pressure of the contained liquid.

[0612] S130. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is configured to maintain the temperature and pressure of the contained liquid.

[0613] S131. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid.

[0614] S132. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to change pressure in at least one stage.

[0615] S133. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to change the pressure in at least two stages.

[0616] S134. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one component of one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to change pressure in at least one stage.

[0617] S135. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure rise of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 30 bar, more preferably at least 40 bar, and most preferably at least 55 bar.

[0618] S136. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure rise of less than 300 bar, preferably less than 150 bar, most preferably less than 100 bar, and most preferably less than 70 bar.

[0619] S137. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure drop of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 30 bar, more preferably at least 40 bar, and most preferably at least 55 bar.

[0620] S138. A system according to the previous embodiment, wherein the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure drop of less than 300 bar, preferably less than 150 bar, most preferably less than 100 bar, and most preferably less than 70 bar.

[0621] S139. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to generate an outlet temperature T o , where the outlet temperature T o Different from the inlet temperature T i .

[0622] S140. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein the outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At least 100K higher, preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i At least 150K higher, more preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i At least 200K high.

[0623] S141. A system according to embodiment S139, wherein the outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At most 1500K higher, preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i Up to 900K higher, more preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i Up to 500K.

[0624] S142. A system according to embodiment S139, wherein the outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At least 20K lower than the inlet temperature T i At least 50K lower, more preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i At least 80K low.

[0625] S143. A system according to embodiment S139, wherein the outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At most 800K lower, preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i At most 500K lower, more preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i As low as 300K.

[0626] S144. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to operate with a variable efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%.

[0627] S145. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to expand the at least one fluid.

[0628] S146. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure-controlled components is connected to one of the at least one electrically driven component.

[0629] S147. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to generate and / or consume mechanical energy.

[0630] S148. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to generate and / or consume electrical energy.

[0631] S149. A system according to any one of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate at least one of the at least two pressure control components with the aid of energy generated and / or consumed.

[0632] S150. The system according to any one of the three preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate in the discharge mode to generate energy.

[0633] S151. The system according to any one of the four preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate in the charging mode by consuming energy.

[0634] S152. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the charging mode is configured to consume energy to store heat and at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0635] S153. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the filling mode is configured to consume energy to at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid by changing the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0636] S154. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the exhaust mode is configured to consume heat and liquid to generate energy.

[0637] S155. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the discharge mode is configured to change the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid to generate energy.

[0638] S156. A system according to any of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to exchange thermal energy between at least one of the at least one fluid and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components while evaporating the liquid phase of the at least one fluid.

[0639] S157. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to maintain a system state by maintaining thermal potential and mechanical potential.

[0640] S158. A system according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to operate reversibly with a polytropic efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%.

[0641] S159. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein the system includes a connection type including at least one of the following:

[0642] bring,

[0643] Gearbox, and

[0644] Direct connection of shafts.

[0645] S160. The system of embodiment S92, wherein at least one of the at least one electrically driven component comprises a type of at least one of:

[0646] induction,

[0647] permanent magnet,

[0648] Reluctance,

[0649] Synchronization, and

[0650] asynchronous.

[0651] S161. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one motor is configured to operate at a variable rotational speed.

[0652] S162. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one motor is configured to operate at a variable frequency.

[0653] S163. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiments S92 and S114, wherein at least one of the at least electric drive components is connected to at least one of the following: an electric inverter, a wire, a transformer, an electric converter.

[0654] S164. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one valve.

[0655] S165. A system according to the previous embodiment, wherein the at least one valve includes at least one of the following: a pressure changing component, a heat storage component, a liquefaction module, a pump, a phase separator, a tank for cryogenic liquid, and an impurity removal component.

[0656] S166. A system according to the previous embodiment, wherein one of the at least one valve is configured for bidirectional operation.

[0657] S167. The system according to any one of the preceding three embodiments, wherein the at least one valve comprises at least one of the following:

[0658] Check valve,

[0659] Flow control valve,

[0660] Stop valve,

[0661] Throttle valve,

[0662] Safety valves, such as pressure reducing valves, and

[0663] Sampling valve.

[0664] S168. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiment S164, wherein the at least one valve comprises at least one actuating mechanism.

[0665] S169. A system according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least one actuating mechanisms is configured to automatically actuate the at least one valve.

[0666] S170. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the pressure changing component, the heat storage component, the liquefaction module, the pump, the phase separator, the storage tank for the cryogenic liquid, and the impurity removal component is connected to at least one valve.

[0667] S171. A system according to any one of the three preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiment S96, wherein the at least one control circuit is configured to control at least one of the at least one actuator mechanisms.

[0668] S172. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiments S96 and S92, wherein the at least one control loop is configured to control one of the at least one electrically driven components.

[0669] S173. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one pressure reducing valve is connected to at least one of: a storage tank, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0670] S174. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components comprises at least one of the following: a positive displacement compressor, a turbo compressor.

[0671] S175. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components comprises at least one of the following: a piston compressor, a scroll compressor, a screw compressor, a vane compressor, or a Roots compressor.

[0672] S176. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to be in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0673] S177. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to be fluidically connected to at least one of the at least one phase separators.

[0674] S178. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0675] S179. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one heat exchanger component.

[0676] S180. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein the at least one heat exchanger component comprises at least one of the following: a plate-fin heat exchanger, a plate heat exchanger, a shell and tube heat exchanger, and a regenerative heat exchanger.

[0677] S181. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the diverter element is configured to divert the fluid flow with a variable diverter ratio.

[0678] S182. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein one of the at least one diverter element is configured to change a diversion ratio between one of the at least two thermal storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0679] S183. A system according to the previous embodiment, wherein one of the at least one diverter element is configured to adjust the diversion ratio to balance the thermal energy content transferred to one of the at least two thermal storage components and the amount of thermal energy content that can be obtained from the generated liquid phase.

[0680] S184. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one merging element configured to merge at least two fluid flows.

[0681] S185. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one diverter element of the at least one diverter element configured to divert the fluid flow with a variable divert ratio.

[0682] S186. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one of the at least one merging element.

[0683] S187. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0684] S188. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one of the at least one fluid output element.

[0685] S189. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one of the one fluid input elements.

[0686] S190. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one thermal insulation component.

[0687] S191. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one auxiliary component.

[0688] S192. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiment S179, wherein at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components is configured to receive at least one fluid flow from at least one of the at least one diverter element.

[0689] S193. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0690] S194. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to discharge at least a portion of the at least one fluid that is close to thermal and mechanical equilibrium with ambient air.

[0691] S195. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to reduce the thermal energy content of different portions of the at least one fluid by means of at least some portions of the at least one fluid being at a lower temperature level.

[0692] S196. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is supplied with at least one of the at least one fluid at ambient temperature and high pressure, and supplied with at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid at a reduced thermal energy content and an intermediate pressure, wherein the thermal energy content of the portion of at least one of the at least one fluid is first reduced only by means of the liquefaction module, and wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from one of the at least one fluid.

[0693] S197. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to reduce the pressure of the at least one fluid to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0694] S198. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from the at least one fluid, wherein one of the at least one liquefaction modules is arranged in series with at least one of:

[0695] At least one of the at least two pressure control components,

[0696] at least one heat storage component of the at least two heat storage components,

[0697] a storage tank for a cryogenic liquid among the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid, and

[0698] At least one phase separator of the at least one phase separator.

[0699] S199. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one fluid in parallel with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0700] S200. A system according to embodiment S192, wherein at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components receive serial fluid flows from at least one of the at least one diverter element.

[0701] S201. A system according to embodiment S179 and having the features of embodiment S25, wherein at least one fluid flow of the at least one heat exchanger component is merged with another fluid flow in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0702] S202. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiment S25, wherein the at least one liquefaction module comprises at least two of the at least two pressure control components arranged in series.

[0703] S203. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiments S25 and S179, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0704] S204. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiments S25 and S179, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0705] S205. A system according to embodiment S202 and having the features of embodiment S179, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0706] S206. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series between two of the at least two heat exchanger components.

[0707] S207. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiment S25, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to receive at least one fluid flow from at least one of the at least one diverter element.

[0708] S208. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein the at least one fluid flow is supplied by at least one heat exchanger component of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0709] S209. A system according to embodiment S207, wherein the at least one fluid flow is supplied by another pressure control component of at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0710] S210. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure changing components is connected in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0711] S211. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two heat storage components is arranged between one of the at least two pressure control components and one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0712] S212. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to produce at least 20 mass percent, more preferably at least 30 mass percent, and most preferably at least 40 mass percent of a liquid phase.

[0713] S213. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure below 25 bar, more preferably below 20 bar, and most preferably below 18 bar.

[0714] S214. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure higher than 3 bar, more preferably higher than 5 bar, and most preferably higher than 10 bar.

[0715] S215. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to reduce the pressure to near atmospheric pressure to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0716] S216. The system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to increase liquid production by means of thermal energy management.

[0717] S217. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid by means of at least one expansion.

[0718] S218. The system according to the previous embodiment, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to increase liquid production from at least one of the at least one fluid by means of a secondary expansion and at least one heat exchanger component that assists in thermal energy management.

[0719] S219. The system of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to increase liquid production by means of the second expansion.

[0720] S220. A system according to embodiment S218, wherein a gas phase of at least one of the at least one fluid is used for the second expansion.

[0721] S221. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module achieves a temperature below the dew point of the at least one fluid at a given pressure.

[0722] S222. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to receive a fluid flow from at least one of the at least one diverter element, and the fluid flow is proportional to the amount of fluid entering the diverter element, with a ratio lower than 80 mass percent, more preferably lower than 65 mass percent, and most preferably lower than 55 mass percent.

[0723] S223. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to reduce the thermal energy content of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0724] S224. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to reduce the temperature of at least one component of the system with the aid of the at least one fluid.

[0725] S225. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to achieve a target operating temperature of a component with the aid of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0726] S226. The system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to reduce the temperature of the at least one fluid to a temperature level sufficient to cool at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0727] S227. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least two of the at least two pressure control components and the at least one heat exchanger component and the at least one diverter element.

[0728] S228. A system according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is connected in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0729] S229. A system according to embodiment S227, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component receive at least one fluid flow in parallel from at least one of the at least one diverter element.

[0730] S230. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and having the features of embodiment S83, wherein the system is configured to actuate at least two of the at least two pressure control components and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component to control the temperature of the at least one fluid within / close to at least one temperature constraint.

[0731] S231. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to actuate at least two of the at least two pressure control components and the at least one heat exchanger component to control the temperature of the at least one fluid at a temperature higher than its phase change temperature at a given pressure.

[0732] Below, method embodiments will be discussed. These embodiments are abbreviated as the letter "M" followed by a number. Whenever "method embodiments" are mentioned in this document, these embodiments are referred to.

[0733] M1. A method for storing energy, the method comprising:

[0734] inputting at least one fluid into the energy storage system,

[0735] controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid,

[0736] Perform at least one pressure change,

[0737] at least partially generating a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid, and

[0738] Store thermal energy.

[0739] M2. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the energy storage system is described according to any system embodiment of the aforementioned system embodiments.

[0740] M3. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises evaporating at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0741] M4. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises condensing at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0742] M5. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling at least one flow direction of the at least one fluid, wherein the method comprises reversing at least one of the at least one flow directions.

[0743] M6. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises discharging at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0744] M7. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises feeding at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid back to the system.

[0745] M8. A method according to any of the foregoing method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one of the at least one fluid in the energy storage system according to system embodiment S8.

[0746] M9. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid before the first pressure control component.

[0747] M10. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid before the second pressure control component.

[0748] M11. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after the first pressure control component.

[0749] M12. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after the second pressure control component.

[0750] M13. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises splitting the flow of the at least one fluid.

[0751] M14. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is arranged in series with at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0752] M15. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid before one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0753] M16. A method according to embodiment M14, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0754] M17. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid arranged in parallel with at least one component of at least one liquefaction module in the at least one liquefaction module.

[0755] M18. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing at least one of the at least one fluid in the energy storage system.

[0756] M19. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes confining at least one of the at least one fluid in at least one of the at least one storage tanks for cryogenic liquids.

[0757] M20. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature and pressure of at least one fluid in at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid.

[0758] M21. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after the diversion step.

[0759] M22. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid at at least two locations in the energy storage system.

[0760] M23. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises:

[0761] controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after the first pressure control component,

[0762] controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after the second pressure control component, and

[0763] The temperature of the at least one fluid is controlled in parallel with at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0764] M24. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises compressing at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0765] M25. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the flow of the at least one fluid.

[0766] M26. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises generating and / or consuming mechanical energy.

[0767] M27. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises expanding and / or compressing at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0768] M28. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reversibly operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0769] M29. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reversibly operating the compressor.

[0770] M30. A method according to any one of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes controlling pressure, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with at least one of the following: at least one fluid input element of at least one fluid input element, at least one liquefaction module of at least one liquefaction module, at least one fluid output element of at least one fluid output element, at least one heat storage component of at least two heat storage components, and at least one pressure control component of at least two pressure control components.

[0771] M31. A method according to any of the aforementioned method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling pressure, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0772] M32. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises heating the at least one fluid.

[0773] M33. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises changing the thermal energy content of at least one fluid.

[0774] M34. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises separating a liquid phase and / or a gas phase from the at least one fluid.

[0775] M35. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the at least one fluid comprises at least one of the following: air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0776] M36. A method according to any of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the method includes using at least one cryogenic liquid, and the at least one cryogenic liquid includes at least one of the following: air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water or any combination thereof.

[0777] M37. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises compressing at least one of the at least one fluid to a pressure above the critical pressure.

[0778] M38. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises removing impurities from at least one of the fluids.

[0779] M39. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises removing moisture to achieve a dew point of at least 263K, more preferably 243K, and most preferably 223K.

[0780] M40. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises removing impurities by means of at least one impurity removal component arranged in series with at least one of:

[0781] At least one of the at least two pressure control components,

[0782] at least one heat storage component of the at least two heat storage components,

[0783] At least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module,

[0784] one phase separator of the at least one phase separator,

[0785] at least one of the at least one pump, and

[0786] At least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid. At least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid.

[0787] M41. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises removing impurities immediately after one of the at least one fluid input elements.

[0788] M42. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises removing impurities before the first pressure control component and / or before the second pressure control component.

[0789] M43. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises actuating the at least one impurity removal component after the first pressure control component and / or after the second pressure control component.

[0790] M44. The method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises actuating the at least one impurity removal component after and / or before at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0791] M45. A method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the method comprises storing heat in at least one of the at least two heat storage components using direct heat exchange.

[0792] M46. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the at least one fluid comprises at least one first fluid and at least one second fluid.

[0793] M47. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the at least one first fluid is not in direct contact with the at least one second fluid.

[0794] M48. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing thermal energy in at least one of the at least two thermal storage components, wherein the method comprises utilizing the at least one second fluid.

[0795] M49. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein at least one of the at least one first fluid and at least one of the at least one second fluid are the same.

[0796] M50. A method according to any one of embodiments M1 to M48, wherein at least one of the at least one first fluid is different from at least one of the at least one second fluid.

[0797] M51. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the method includes controlling the flow of at least one of the at least one second fluids.

[0798] M52. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the thermal energy content of at least one of the fluids.

[0799] M53. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein, when the system is according to embodiment S67, the method includes controlling the thermal energy content.

[0800] M54. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating direct heat exchange and / or indirect heat exchange.

[0801] M55. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, having the features of embodiment M53, wherein the at least one second fluid comprises at least one of: a gas, a liquid, a suspension, a suspension comprising a phase change material, or any combination thereof.

[0802] M56. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing thermal energy with the aid of the at least one second fluid.

[0803] M57. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises transferring thermal energy to / from the at least one storage device by direct heat exchange with the aid of the at least one second fluid.

[0804] M58. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing heat of compression in at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0805] M59. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises utilizing high pressure.

[0806] M60. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating at least one component of the system at a pressure greater than 1 bar, preferably greater than 10 bar, more preferably greater than 40 bar, and most preferably greater than 50 bar.

[0807] M61. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating at least one component of the system at a pressure below 300 bar, preferably below 250 bar, and more preferably below 200 bar.

[0808] M62. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing heat at a temperature above the ambient temperature.

[0809] M63. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing heat at a temperature below the ambient temperature.

[0810] M64. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of at least one fluid at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature.

[0811] M65. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid at a temperature below the ambient temperature.

[0812] M66. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid within or close to at least one temperature constraint.

[0813] M67. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the temperature constraint comprises at least one of the following:

[0814] a maximum temperature, wherein the maximum temperature is determined by the temperature of the at least one fluid after compression,

[0815] a minimum temperature of one of the at least one fluid interacting with at least one of the at least two heat storage members,

[0816] a minimum temperature of the liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid,

[0817] a temperature requirement of another component of the energy storage system located downstream of a component of the energy storage,

[0818] a phase transition temperature of the at least one fluid relative to its pressure level,

[0819] the phase transition temperature of the at least one second fluid relative to its pressure level,

[0820] a common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluid between two consecutive thermal storage components, wherein the shared intermediate temperature is determined to ensure that the two consecutive thermal storage components achieve the same internal temperature profile before and after each consecutive charging and discharging of the energy storage system for the same period of time,

[0821] a temperature constraint determined to ensure a continuous heat flow between at least two heat exchanging media, wherein the continuous heat flow takes place along the length of a component of the energy storage by direct heat exchange or indirect heat exchange,

[0822] or any combination thereof.

[0823] M68. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises matching temperature constraints of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0824] M69. A method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the method comprises operating two consecutive heat storage components of the at least two heat storage components under matched temperature constraints.

[0825] M70. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises extracting stored thermal energy from at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0826] M71. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the method includes balancing the thermal energy extracted and stored in at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0827] M72. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises at least partially changing the phase of at least one of the at least one fluid in at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0828] M73. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises at least partially evaporating at least one fluid in one of at least one heat exchanger components comprised by the energy storage system.

[0829] M74. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises using at least one heater to at least partially change the phase of the fluid.

[0830] M75. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises using at least one electric drive component.

[0831] M76. A method according to any of the aforementioned method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the energy storage system with the aid of at least one of the following: a control component, a control loop, and a control system.

[0832] M77. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes operating the system in a charging mode.

[0833] M78. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes operating the system in an exhaust mode.

[0834] M79. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes actuating one of the at least one impurity removal components when the system is in the filling mode.

[0835] M80. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises regenerating one of the at least one impurity removal components when the system is in the exhaust mode.

[0836] M81. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises restoring one of the at least one impurity removal components by means of pressure fluctuations and / or temperature fluctuations.

[0837] M82. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises using at least one of the at least one second fluid at a pressure at the at least one heat exchanger component that is lower than the pressure of the fluid flow whose temperature is controlled.

[0838] M83. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises using at least one of the at least one second fluid at a pressure at the at least one heat exchanger component that is higher than the pressure of the fluid flow whose temperature is controlled.

[0839] M84. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises:

[0840] Helps remove thermal energy content from a fluid stream whose temperature is controlled, and

[0841] The removed energy is delivered to the at least one storage element.

[0842] M85. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises:

[0843] facilitating removal of thermal energy content from the at least one storage element, and

[0844] The removed energy is transferred to the fluid stream whose temperature is controlled.

[0845] M86. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the flow of at least one of the at least one second fluids separated from the at least one fluid.

[0846] M87. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein at least one of the fluids comprises a liquid phase.

[0847] M88. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes confining a liquid phase of one of the at least one fluid in one of the at least one storage tanks for cryogenic liquids.

[0848] M89. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is arranged in series with at least one of:

[0849] At least one of the at least two pressure control components,

[0850] at least one heat storage component of the at least two heat storage components,

[0851] at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module, and

[0852] A phase separator of the at least one phase separator.

[0853] M90. A method according to any of the aforementioned method embodiments, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid comprises a pressure vessel.

[0854] M91. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the pressure vessel comprises a pressure between 1 bar and 37 bar, preferably between 5 bar and 30 bar, and more preferably between 10 bar and 20 bar.

[0855] M92. A method according to embodiment M90, wherein the pressure vessel comprises a pressure higher than 37 bar, preferably higher than 40 bar, and more preferably higher than 55 bar.

[0856] M93. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid comprises a pressure control component.

[0857] M94. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes evaporating the fluid in at least one of the at least one storage tanks for cryogenic liquid.

[0858] M95. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes at least partially separating the liquid phase and / or gas phase of at least one of the at least one fluids in a storage tank for cryogenic liquids.

[0859] M96. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes supplying liquid with the aid of one of the at least one storage tanks for cryogenic liquid.

[0860] M97. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes increasing the pressure of the liquid in one of the at least one storage tanks for cryogenic liquid.

[0861] M98. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes maintaining the temperature and pressure of the liquid contained in one of the at least one storage tanks for cryogenic liquid.

[0862] M99. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises changing the pressure in at least one stage.

[0863] M100. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises varying the pressure in at least two stages.

[0864] M101. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure rise of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 30 bar, more preferably at least 40 bar, most preferably at least 55 bar.

[0865] M102. A method according to any of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure rise of less than 300 bar, preferably less than 150 bar, more preferably less than 100 bar, most preferably less than 70 bar.

[0866] M103. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure drop of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 30 bar, more preferably at least 40 bar, most preferably at least 60 bar.

[0867] M104. A method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure drop of less than 300 bar, preferably less than 150 bar, most preferably less than 100 bar, most preferably less than 70 bar.

[0868] M105. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reducing the temperature of at least one of the at least one fluid from an inlet temperature T i Change to outlet temperature T o , where the outlet temperature T o Different from the inlet temperature T i .

[0869] M106. The method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At least 100K higher, preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i At least 150K higher, more preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i At least 200K high.

[0870] M107. A method according to embodiment M105, wherein the outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At most 1500K higher, preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i Up to 900K higher, more preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i Up to 500K.

[0871] M108. A method according to embodiment M105, wherein the outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At least 20K lower than the inlet temperature T i At least 50K lower, more preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i At least 80K low.

[0872] M109. A method according to embodiment M105, wherein the outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At most 800K lower, preferably lower than the inlet temperature Ti At most 500K lower, more preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i As low as 300K.

[0873] M110. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating at least one component of the system at a polynomial efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%.

[0874] M111. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises expanding the at least one fluid.

[0875] M112. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises generating and / or consuming mechanical energy in the energy storage system.

[0876] M113. A method according to any of the aforementioned method embodiments, wherein the method includes generating and / or consuming electrical energy.

[0877] M114. A method according to any one of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components by means of the energy generated and / or consumed.

[0878] M115. A method according to any of the three preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating the system in the emission mode to generate energy.

[0879] M116. A method according to any one of the four preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating the system in the charging mode by consuming energy.

[0880] M117. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the charging mode includes consuming energy to store heat and at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0881] M118. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the filling mode includes consuming energy to at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid by changing the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0882] M119. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes consuming heat and liquid to generate energy when the system is in the discharge mode.

[0883] M120. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises changing the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluids to generate energy when the system is in the discharge mode.

[0884] M121. A method according to any of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises exchanging thermal energy between at least one of the at least one fluid and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components while evaporating the liquid phase of the at least one fluid.

[0885] M122. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises maintaining a system state by maintaining thermal potential and mechanical potential.

[0886] M123. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the method includes reversibly operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components with a variable efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%.

[0887] M124. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating at least one motor at a variable rotational speed.

[0888] M125. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating the at least one motor at a variable frequency.

[0889] M126. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises bidirectionally operating at least one valve.

[0890] M127. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises automatically actuating the at least one valve by means of at least one actuating mechanism.

[0891] M128. A method according to any of the aforementioned method embodiments, wherein the at least one valve comprises at least one actuating mechanism.

[0892] M129. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the method includes automatically actuating the at least one valve via at least one of the at least one actuating mechanisms.

[0893] M130. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises establishing at least one fluid connection between at least two components of the system.

[0894] M131. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes establishing at least one of the at least one fluid connection between at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module and at least one heat storage component of the at least two heat storage components.

[0895] M132. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes establishing at least one of the at least one fluid connection between at least one liquefaction module in the at least one liquefaction module and at least one phase separator in the at least one phase separator.

[0896] M133. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one pressure control component of the at least two pressure control components of the energy storage system.

[0897] M134. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one heat exchanger component.

[0898] M135. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises diverting at least one fluid flow at least once with a variable diversion ratio.

[0899] M136. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the method includes changing a split ratio of a fluid flow between one of the at least two thermal storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0900] M137. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the method includes adjusting the split ratio to balance the thermal energy content transferred to one of the at least two thermal storage components and the amount of thermal energy content that can be obtained from the generated liquid phase.

[0901] M138. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises merging at least two fluid streams.

[0902] M139. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes diverting at least one of the at least one fluid flows of at least one of the at least one fluid in at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0903] M140. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises merging the at least two fluid flows in at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0904] M141. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing heat within the at least one liquefaction module.

[0905] M142. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises removing fluid from at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0906] M143. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises adding fluid to at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0907] M144. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes conveying at least one fluid flow from at least one of the at least one diverter element to at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0908] M145. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method reduces the thermal energy content of at least one fluid.

[0909] M146. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises discharging at least a portion of the at least one fluid that is close to thermal and mechanical equilibrium with ambient air.

[0910] M147. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reducing the thermal energy content of different parts of the at least one fluid by means of at least some parts of the at least one fluid being at a lower temperature level.

[0911] M148. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method comprises supplying only at least one of the at least one fluid to the at least one liquefaction module, wherein one of the at least one fluid is at ambient temperature and high pressure, and supplying at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid at a reduced thermal energy content and intermediate pressure, wherein the method comprises reducing the thermal energy content of a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid only by means of the liquefaction module, wherein the method comprises at least partially producing a liquid phase from one of the at least one fluid by means of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0912] M149. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises establishing fluid communication between one of the at least one liquefaction modules and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0913] M150. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reducing the pressure of the at least one fluid to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0914] M151. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises at least partially producing a liquid phase from the at least one fluid in one of the at least one liquefaction modules, wherein one of the at least one liquefaction modules is arranged in series with at least one of:

[0915] At least one of the at least two pressure control components,

[0916] at least one heat storage component of the at least two heat storage components,

[0917] One of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is a cryogenic liquid storage tank, and

[0918] At least one phase separator of the at least one phase separator.

[0919] M152. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes at least partially producing a liquid phase from at least one fluid in parallel with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components in at least one component of at least one liquefaction module in the at least one liquefaction module.

[0920] M153. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components and at least one of the at least two heat storage components receive a serial fluid flow from at least one of the at least one diverter element.

[0921] M154. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises merging at least one fluid flow of the at least one heat exchanger component with another fluid flow in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0922] M155. A method according to any of the aforementioned method embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module comprises at least two of the at least two pressure control components arranged in series.

[0923] M156. A method according to any of the aforementioned method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0924] M157. A method according to any of the aforementioned method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0925] M158. A method according to embodiment M155, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0926] M159. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is arranged in series between two of the at least two heat exchanger components.

[0927] M160. A method according to any of the aforementioned method embodiments, wherein the method includes receiving a fluid flow from at least one of the at least one diverter element at at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0928] M161. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the method includes supplying the at least one fluid flow through at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0929] M162. A method according to embodiment M160, wherein the method includes supplying the at least one fluid flow through another pressure control component of at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0930] M163. A method according to any of the aforementioned method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure changing components is connected in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0931] M164. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein one of the at least two heat storage components is arranged between one of the at least two pressure control components and one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0932] M165. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating the at least one liquefaction module to produce at least 20 mass percent, more preferably at least 30 mass percent, and most preferably at least 40 mass percent of a liquid phase.

[0933] M166. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating the at least one liquefaction module to at least partially produce a liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure below 25 bar, more preferably below 20 bar, and most preferably below 18 bar.

[0934] M167. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating the at least one liquefaction module to at least partially produce a liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure above 3 bar, more preferably above 5 bar, and most preferably above 10 bar.

[0935] M168. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes reducing the pressure in at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules to near atmospheric pressure to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0936] M169. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises increasing the liquid production of the at least one liquefaction module by means of thermal energy management.

[0937] M170. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises at least partially producing a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluids by means of at least one expansion.

[0938] M171. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the method includes increasing the liquid production from at least one of the at least one fluid by means of a secondary expansion and at least one heat exchanger component that assists in thermal energy management.

[0939] M172. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises increasing production by means of the second expansion.

[0940] M173. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises using a gas phase of at least one of the at least one fluid to perform the second expansion.

[0941] M174. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises achieving a temperature below the dew point of the at least one fluid at a given pressure in the at least one liquefaction module.

[0942] M175. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes providing a fluid flow from at least one of the at least one diverter element to the at least one liquefaction module, wherein the fluid flow is proportional to the amount of fluid entering the diverter element, with a ratio of less than 80 mass percent, more preferably less than 65 mass percent, and most preferably less than 55 mass percent.

[0943] M176. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes reducing the thermal energy content of at least one of the at least one fluids.

[0944] M177. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reducing the temperature of a component of the energy storage system by means of the at least one fluid.

[0945] M178. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises achieving a target operating temperature of a component of the energy storage system with the aid of the at least one fluid.

[0946] M179. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reducing the temperature of the at least one fluid to a temperature level sufficient to cool at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0947] M180. A method according to any one of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises:

[0948] dividing the fluid stream into at least one stream A and at least one stream B; and

[0949] providing the at least one stream A to at least one of the at least two pressure control components and providing the at least one stream B to at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component, wherein the at least one of the at least two pressure control components and the at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component are arranged in parallel;

[0950] Therein, the method comprises providing the at least one flow A and the at least one flow B by means of at least one of the at least one flow dividing element.

[0951] M181. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is connected in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0952] M182. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes actuating at least two of the at least two pressure control components and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components to control the temperature of the at least one fluid within / close to at least one temperature constraint.

[0953] M183. A method according to any of the method embodiments described above, wherein the method includes actuating at least two of the at least two pressure control components and the at least one heat exchanger component to control the temperature of the at least one fluid to a temperature higher than its phase change temperature at a given pressure.

[0954] M184. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing compression heat in at least one heat storage comprising direct heat exchange.

[0955] S232. A system according to any one of the aforementioned system implementations, wherein the system is configured to perform a method according to any one of the aforementioned method implementations.

[0956] M185. A method according to any method implementation in the aforementioned method implementation, wherein the method includes utilizing a system according to any system implementation in the aforementioned system implementation to execute a method according to any method implementation in the aforementioned method implementation.

[0957] M186. A method according to any method implementation in the aforementioned method implementation, wherein the method includes utilizing components of a system according to any system implementation in the aforementioned system implementation to perform given steps of the method described in any method implementation in the aforementioned method implementation.

[0958] The use embodiments are discussed below. These embodiments are abbreviated as the letter "U" followed by a number. Whenever "use embodiments" are mentioned herein, these embodiments are being referred to.

[0959] U1. Use of the method according to any one of the aforementioned method embodiments for energy storage.

[0960] U2. Use of the method according to any one of the aforementioned method embodiments for energy storage.

[0961] U3. A use of the system according to any of the aforementioned system embodiments for energy storage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0962] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the present invention. These embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the present invention.

[0963] Figure 1 depicts a system for storing energy according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0964] Figure 2 depicts a configuration of a system for storing energy according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0965] Figure 3 Another configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention is depicted;

[0966] Figure 4 Depicting additional configurations of systems according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0967] Figure 5depicts an embodiment of a system including two additional expanders and one additional heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0968] Figure 6 depicts an embodiment of a system including a bypass flow that is raised to a higher pressure and expanded to produce a cold flow in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0969] Figure 7 A pre-filled module is depicted attached and combined with the energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0970] It should be noted that not all figures carry all reference numerals. On the contrary, in some of the figures in the drawings, some of the reference numerals are omitted for brevity and simplicity of illustration. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0971] Figure 1 A system configured to store energy according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically depicted. Briefly, the system includes: compression / expansion stages conceptually depicted by reference numerals 110 and 120, thermal energy storage devices 130 and 140, a liquefaction module 1000, and a phase separator / liquid storage tank 150. The inlet fluid, which may also be mixed with other fluid supplies to be used, first needs to be prepared for further processing. The preparation step can remove moisture and any other components that may be undesirably condensed or even frozen downstream under the operating conditions of the system. The dry fluid is then pressurized to the expected operating pressure. This may involve multiple compression stages. In this case, after each compression stage, if necessary, the compression heat carried by the fluid is stored in thermal storage components 130, 140 (thermal storage components 130, 140 themselves can contain multiple subcomponents). Therefore, the result of each compression stage combined with thermal storage is a fluid stream at high pressure and room temperature. Finally, a fluid stream at a desired pressure and room temperature is obtained to be fed to other sections of the process, such as a liquefaction module 1000. The main purpose of the liquefaction module 1000 is to at least partially liquefy the fluid. To optimize the process, the liquefaction occurs at an intermediate pressure. The liquefaction may occur independently of any external thermal storage components 130, 140 or in combination with any external thermal storage components 130, 140.

[0972] If the configuration of the liquefaction module 1000 allows the entire fluid flow at high pressure and room temperature to be fed back into the liquefaction module 1000, it is at least partially liquefied, thereby producing a two-phase flow. The two phases are separated from each other in the phase separator 150, the liquid phase can be stored and the gas phase is fed back into the liquefaction module 1000 and used for the thermal energy management process that is the core of the liquefaction module 1000. The high pressure and room temperature fluid can also be divided and a portion of it is first pre-cooled and / or partially liquefied by the thermal storage components 130, 140, which are shown here as "thermal storage 2" 140. These thermal storage components 140 are called cold storages because they are at a temperature below room temperature. Therefore, when the high pressure and room temperature fluid interacts with them, the fluid is cooled. In this case, the liquefaction module 1000 is assisted by the thermal storage components 130, 140 to have a higher liquid yield. To prime the thermal storage components for later use in precooling high pressure and room temperature fluids, additional components may be used or liquid may be produced via liquefaction module 1000 to prepare the reservoir while being discharged as described below.

[0973] The so-called charging mode of the system includes consuming energy to feed the fluid to the process, compressing the fluid to the desired pressure, storing the available heat of compression, at least partially liquefying the fluid (by using a cold storage or at least partially liquefying the fluid independently of the cold storage), and storing the liquid phase at an intermediate pressure. The available portion of the energy consumed in this mode is stored in the form of heat, for example, in the hot storage 1130 and in the form of a pressurized liquid (which may be at a cryogenic temperature) in a liquid storage tank. The system can be maintained in a charging state and enter a discharge mode when necessary. In this mode, the liquid phase is pressurized back to the maximum pressure of the system in the charging mode and then evaporated in the cold storage. The cold storage that has been at least partially exhausted during the previous charging mode is regenerated when it provides latent heat of vaporization and sensible heat to heat the vaporized liquid. In this process, the cold storage is regenerated by supplying heat, thereby becoming cold itself. The high pressure room temperature gas produced as an output of a liquid phase interacting with, for example, thermal storage 2 140 is further heated by interacting with thermal storage 1 130, which stores the heat of compression during the charging mode. This produces high pressure, high temperature gas. This gas is then expanded and operates a selected generator to produce energy, and is then exhausted.

[0974] It should be understood that the system is designed and tuned so that the cooling capacity of the cold storage generated during the discharge mode of the system should balance the amount of heat that needs to be removed to pre-cool the portion of the flow that interacts with it in the next filling mode. In order to optimize the use of the cold storage, the diverter element can be used with different diverter ratios to adjust the proportion of fluid that directly enters the liquefaction module 1000 and the fluid that interacts with the cold storage to be pre-cooled. Therefore, after each filling-discharging cycle, the cold storage is in the same state.

[0975] Additionally, as previously described, during the charging mode, the gas phase outlet of the phase separator at an intermediate pressure is fed back to the liquefaction module 1000. That is, the maximum cooling capacity of the stream is used by further expanding the stream to a lower pressure inside the liquefaction module 1000. The stream then leaves the liquefaction module 1000 and can be discharged or mixed with fresh non-drying input fluid, thus requiring less drying and preparation work / energy.

[0976] The liquefaction module 1000 comprises a plurality of components. The purpose of liquefaction is achieved in the context of the present invention by thermal management. The components of the liquefaction module 1000 may include different arrangements and configurations that allow for different thermal management alternatives. It should be understood that the liquefaction module 1000 is designed and tuned so that the temperature and pressure of the produced liquid ensures a balance between the heat removed from the fluid interacting with the cold storage in the filling mode and the heat added to the fluid from the cold storage in the discharge mode.

[0977] The arrangement of the internal components of the liquefaction module 1000 that are compatible with the proposed energy storage system is depicted in the following figures. It should be understood that these arrangements are merely exemplary and do not limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

[0978] Figures 2 to 6 The configuration of a liquefaction module 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically depicted.

[0979] Simply put, Figure 2 The liquefaction module 1000 depicted in FIG. 1 includes a heat exchanger 1010, expanders 1020 and 1030, and a throttle valve 1040. Figure 2In the embodiment of the present invention, a part of the fluid flow at high pressure and room temperature after the split enters the liquefaction module 1000. Then, a part of the fluid flow undergoes another split inside the liquefaction module 1000; a part of it expands and mixes with the already expanded gas flow leaving the phase separator 150. The mixture, which is now at the lowest possible pressure and temperature, is used to cool the other part of the flow that has not expanded after the internal split. The cooling process occurs in the heat exchanger component. At this time, the cooled flow leaving the heat exchanger is mixed with another flow (another part of the split outside the liquefaction module 1000) that is pre-cooled by interacting with the cold storage. Then the mixture with high pressure and low temperature is throttled to an intermediate temperature, resulting in partial liquefaction. The two-phase flow leaves the liquefaction module 1000, and the liquid phase is separated from the gas phase and stored. The gas phase is fed back to the liquefaction module 1000 and processed as previously described. After the specified charging mode duration ends, the accumulated liquid is kept in the storage and used in the next discharge mode to generate energy and set the thermal storage component.

[0980] Simply put, Figure 3 The liquefaction module 1000 depicted in FIG. 1 includes heat exchangers 1050, 1060, and 1070, expanders 1080 and 1090, and a throttle valve 1110. Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, a part of the fluid flow at high pressure and room temperature after the split enters the liquefaction module 1000. Then, this part of the fluid flow undergoes another split inside the liquefaction module 1000; a part of it is precooled in the heat exchanger before expanding to an intermediate pressure (the same pressure as the pressure of the gas leaving the phase separator and fed back to the liquefaction module 1000). After this expansion, the flow is mixed with the gas flow of the phase separator and expanded to the lowest possible pressure to produce the coldest possible fluid flow for liquefaction. Another part of the fluid flow at high pressure and room temperature after the split outside the liquefaction module 1000 is transferred to the hot storage 2 for precooling. Afterwards, this part of the fluid flow enters the liquefaction module 1000 and is split again. A part of it is first mixed with the remaining flow of another split of the high pressure and room temperature flow, and a lower temperature flow is produced. Then, it is further cooled in the heat exchanger and mixed with the remaining part of the flow entering the liquefaction module 1000 from the cold storage. This final stream is again further cooled in a heat exchanger before passing through a throttling valve where it is at least partially liquefied. The two-phase stream leaves the liquefaction module 1000, with the liquid phase separated from the gas phase and stored. The gas phase is fed back to the liquefaction module 1000 and processed as previously described. After the specified charging mode duration has ended, the accumulated liquid is held in storage and used in the next discharge mode to generate energy.

[0981] Simply put, Figure 4The liquefaction module 1000 depicted in FIG. 1 includes heat exchangers 1110 and 1120 and expanders 1130 and 1140. Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the fluid stream at high pressure and room temperature after the split enters the liquefaction module 1000. This stream is precooled in a heat exchanger before being mixed with the rest of the separated stream that has been precooled in the hot storage 2 140 using the cold storage before being fed to the liquefaction module 1000. The mixture is expanded to an intermediate pressure, resulting in partial liquefaction. The two-phase stream is then sent to another heat exchanger and further cooled to increase the liquid production. The resulting two-phase stream with a higher liquid fraction leaves the liquefaction module 1000; the liquid phase is separated from the gas phase and stored. The gas phase is fed back to the liquefaction module 1000 and expanded to the lowest possible pressure, which will result in the required cooling capacity in the liquefaction module 1000. After the specified charging mode duration ends, the accumulated liquid is held in the storage and used in the next discharge mode to generate energy.

[0982] Simply put, Figure 5 The liquefaction module 1000 depicted in FIG. 1 includes a heat exchanger 1150, an expander 1160, and a throttle valve 1170. Figure 5 In the embodiment of the present invention, a part of the fluid flow at high pressure and room temperature after the split enters the liquefaction module 1000. The flow is precooled in a heat exchanger before mixing with the rest of the separated flow that has been precooled in the hot storage 2 using the cold storage and enters the liquefaction module 1000. The precooled mixture at high pressure then passes through a throttle valve, where its pressure is reduced to an intermediate level, resulting in at least partial liquefaction. The two-phase flow leaves the liquefaction module 1000, and the liquid phase is separated from the gas phase and stored. The gas phase is fed back to the liquefaction module 1000 and expanded to the lowest possible pressure, which will result in the required cooling capacity in the liquefaction module 1000. After the specified charging mode duration ends, the accumulated liquid is kept in the storage and used in the next discharge mode to generate energy.

[0983] Simply put, Figure 6 The liquefaction module 1000 depicted in FIG. 1 includes heat exchangers 1190, 1210, and 1230, a compressor 1180, an expander 1240, a heat storage component 1220, and a throttle valve 1200. Figure 6In the embodiment of the present invention, a part of the fluid stream at high pressure and room temperature after the split enters the liquefaction module 1000. This stream is used as the main source of cold generation required in the liquefaction module 1000. First, the stream is compressed to an even higher pressure level, and the heat of compression is stored in the components of the thermal storage 3. Then, the stream is precooled in the heat exchanger before expanding to the lowest possible pressure. This results in a stream with the cooling capacity required in the liquefaction module 1000. Another part of the separated stream is sent to the thermal storage 2, where another part of the separated stream is precooled using the cold storage. When the stream enters the liquefaction module 1000, it is further cooled in the heat exchanger before being throttled to the intermediate pressure. Throttling results in at least partial liquefaction. In order to increase the liquid production to 100%, the stream enters another heat exchanger, where further liquefaction occurs. The produced liquid is then stored. After the specified charging mode duration ends, the accumulated liquid is kept in the storage and used in the next discharge mode to generate energy.

[0984] Figure 7 The configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically depicted, the system including a heat exchanger 160 and expanders 170 and 180 . Figure 7 The components in the figure depict a method for regenerating the cold in the hot storage 2 140 (cold storage) independently of the discharge mode of the system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Following the dotted lines on the figure, the high pressure room temperature flow leaving the hot storage 1 130 is split into two parts. One part is expanded to the lowest possible pressure and used as a cooling source for the other part in the heat exchanger 160. Once the other part is pre-cooled (at high pressure) and leaves the heat exchanger, it is expanded to the lowest possible pressure. This results in a flow with cooling capacity that can regenerate the cold storage in the hot storage 2 140.

[0985] Although the preferred embodiments have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0986] Reference numerals and letters that appear between parentheses in the claims and that identify features described in the embodiments and illustrated in the drawings are provided as examples of the claimed subject matter to assist the reader. The inclusion of such reference numerals and letters should not be construed as placing any limitation on the scope of the claims.

[0987] When terms such as "before", "after" and the like are used, they may be considered in terms of the flow direction. If the flow direction is reversed according to S4 and / or M5, the features described in the embodiments are considered to have the meaning of changing "before" to "after" and vice versa only when those features are affected by the reversal of the flow direction.

[0988] When terms such as "parallel" or "series" are used, they may be considered in terms of process engineering steps in the context of the features they describe.

[0989] When a term such as thermal energy management is used, it may include, for example but not limited to, the following system characteristics: maximum operating pressure and liquefaction pressure, the concept and ratio of flow split between the liquefaction module and the thermal storage components, any internal flow splits in the liquefaction module, the arrangement of heat exchangers for continuous flow between the two fluids, the arrangement of components of the liquefaction module, all of which are related to the process engineering steps in the context of the feature being used.

[0990] The term "at least one of a first option and a second option" is intended to mean the first option or the second option or both the first option and the second option.

[0991] Whenever relative terms such as "about", "roughly" or "approximately" are used in this specification, such terms should also be interpreted as also including exact terms. That is, for example, "roughly straight" should be interpreted as also including "(exactly) straight".

[0992] It should be noted that whenever a step is described above or in the appended claims, the order of the steps described herein may be random. That is, unless otherwise stated, or unless it is clear to the technician, the order of the steps described may be random. That is, when the document states that, for example, a method includes steps (A) and (B), this does not necessarily mean that step (A) is before step (B), but step (A) may also be performed (at least partially) simultaneously with step (B), or step (B) is before step (A). In addition, when step (X) is referred to as before another step (Z), this does not mean that there is no step between step (X) and step (Z). That is, step (X) includes the case where step (X) is performed directly before step (Z) before step (Z), and also includes the case where step (X) is performed before one or more steps (Y1) ..., and step (Z) is performed after one or more steps (Y1) .... Corresponding considerations apply to the use of terms such as "after ..." or "before ...". Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the order of features and steps is not critical to the resulting configuration and its effects unless explicitly required and / or unless the context requires it. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that regardless of the order of features and steps, the presence or absence of time delays between steps may exist between some or all of the steps described.

Claims

1. An energy storage system, the system comprising: at least one fluid input element, the at least one fluid input element being used to input at least one fluid, at least two thermal storage components configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid, at least two pressure control components configured to perform at least one pressure change, and At least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid.

2. System according to the preceding claim, wherein: The system is configured to have at least one of the following evaporating at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid, and condensing at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid, Therein, the system comprises at least one flow direction, wherein the system is configured to reverse at least one of the at least one flow direction.

3. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The system comprises at least one fluid output element, wherein at least one of the at least one fluid output element is configured to discharge at least one of the at least one fluid; at least one flow splitter element configured to split the flow of the at least one fluid and / or to split the fluid flow with a variable split ratio; at least one phase separator component configured to separate a liquid phase and / or a gas phase from the at least one fluid, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises at least one reservoir configured to store thermal energy, wherein at least one of the at least one phase separator component is configured to supply a gas phase from the at least one fluid to at least one of the at least one liquefaction module; and At least one of the following: at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid, wherein one of the at least one storage tank for a cryogenic liquid is configured to confine a liquid phase of one of the at least one fluid; at least one impurity removal component configured to remove impurities from the at least one fluid; at least one electrically driven component; at least one control system; At least one of: a sensor, an insulation component, a piping element, a heat exchanger component, a heater, and a filter; at least one auxiliary component; at least one valve, wherein the at least one valve is constituted by at least one of the following: a pressure changing component, a heat storage component, a liquefaction module, a pump, a phase separator, a tank for a cryogenic liquid, an impurity removal component; and At least one of the following: an inverter, a wire, a transformer, an electrical converter.

4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: One of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid, wherein the one of the at least two thermal storage components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components; and Among them, at least one of the following is involved: One of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid, wherein the one of the at least two thermal storage components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module, One of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid in parallel with at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules; and wherein one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one flow diverter element; and Wherein, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module is configured to At least one of the at least two heat storage components is in fluid communication, and In fluid communication with at least one of the at least one phase separator.

5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The system includes at least one of the following: The system comprises at least four thermal storage components, wherein At least one of the at least four heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the first pressure control component, At least one of the at least four heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the second pressure control component, and two of the at least four thermal storage components are arranged in series and configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid in parallel with at least one component of at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module; The system is configured to operate two consecutive thermal storage components under matched temperature constraints; and One of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is arranged in series with at least one of: At least one of the at least two pressure control components, at least one heat storage component of the at least two heat storage components, At least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module, a phase separator in the at least one phase separator, and Wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid at at least two locations in the system.

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The at least one fluid comprises at least one cryogenic liquid selected from the group consisting of: air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof; At least one of the at least two pressure control components comprises at least one of: a pump, a compression component, an expansion component, a heater, a heat exchanger component, a fan, and a blower; and in, The system includes at least one of the following: At least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to operate reversibly; The system is configured to store heat in at least one of the at least two heat storage components by direct heat exchange; and The at least one fluid comprises at least one first fluid and at least one second fluid, wherein the system is configured to store thermal energy in at least one of the at least two thermal storage components, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to utilize the at least one second fluid, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises one of the at least two pressure control components, one of the at least two pressure control components being configured to control the flow of the at least one second fluid, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises at least one heat exchanger component configured to control the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid, wherein at least one of the following is involved: wherein at least one of the at least one second fluid is used at the at least one heat exchanger component at a pressure lower than the pressure of a fluid stream, the temperature of the fluid stream being controlled by one of the at least two heat storage components, and wherein at least one of the at least one second fluid is used at the at least one heat exchanger component at a pressure higher than the pressure of the fluid stream, the temperature of the fluid stream being controlled by one of the at least two thermal storage components.

7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: At least one of the first pressure control component and the second pressure control component is configured to compress to a pressure above a critical pressure of the at least one fluid; wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to at least partially change the phase of at least one of the at least one fluid; wherein one of the at least one flow diverter element is configured to adjust the flow diversion ratio so that the thermal energy content transferred to one of the at least two thermal storage components is balanced with the amount of thermal energy content that can be obtained from the produced liquid phase; wherein the system is configured to expand the at least one fluid; wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to increase liquid production by means of thermal energy management, wherein the system includes at least one of the following: The system is configured to store heat of compression in at least one of the at least two heat storage components, One of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to discharge at least a portion of the at least one fluid that is close to thermal and mechanical equilibrium with ambient air, One of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to reduce the thermal energy content of different portions of the at least one fluid by means of at least some portions of the at least one fluid being at a lower temperature level, and The at least one liquefaction module is configured to increase liquid production by means of a secondary expansion; The system includes at least one of the following: One of the at least two pressure control components is configured to generate and / or consume mechanical energy, The system is configured to balance extracted and stored thermal energy within at least one of the at least two thermal storage components, The system is configured to regenerate one of the at least one impurity removal component in a drain mode, One of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquid is configured to increase the pressure of the contained liquid, At least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to vary the pressure in at least one stage, One of the at least one flow dividing element is configured to change a flow dividing ratio between one of the at least two heat storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction module, One of the at least one liquefaction modules is supplied with at least one of the at least one fluid at ambient temperature and high pressure and with at least a portion of the at least one of the at least one fluid at reduced thermal energy content and at an intermediate pressure, wherein the thermal energy content of the portion of at least one of the at least one fluid is first reduced only by means of the liquefaction module, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from one of the at least one fluid, and The system is configured to achieve a target operating temperature of each component with the aid of at least one of the at least one fluid.

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The system includes at least one of the following: At least one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid within or near at least one temperature constraint; as well as the system being configured to actuate at least two of the at least two pressure control components and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component to control the temperature of the at least one fluid within / close to at least one temperature constraint, The at least one temperature constraint condition includes at least one of the following: a maximum temperature, wherein the maximum temperature is determined by the temperature of the at least one fluid after compression, a minimum temperature of one of the at least one fluid interacting with at least one of the at least two heat storage members, a minimum temperature of the liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid, a temperature requirement of another component of the system located downstream of a component of the system, a phase transition temperature of the at least one fluid relative to a pressure level of the at least one fluid, a phase transition temperature of at least one second fluid relative to the pressure level of the at least one second fluid, a common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluid between two consecutive thermal storage components, wherein the shared intermediate temperature is determined to ensure that the two consecutive thermal storage components reach the same internal temperature profile before and after each consecutive charge and discharge of the system for the same period of time, a temperature constraint determined to ensure a continuous heat flow between at least two heat exchanging media, wherein the continuous heat flow occurs along the length of the component of the system by direct heat exchange or indirect heat exchange, Or any combination thereof.

9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the system being configured to at least one of operate in a charging mode, operate in a discharging mode, and be configured to generate and / or consume electrical energy, wherein the system is configured to operate in the charging mode by consuming energy and to operate in the discharging mode to generate energy, wherein the charging mode is configured to consume energy to store heat and at least partially generate a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid, and wherein the charging mode is configured to consume energy to at least partially generate a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid by changing a pressure and an enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid, wherein the discharge mode is configured to consume heat and liquid to generate energy, and wherein the discharge mode is configured to change the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid to generate energy.

10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: wherein at least a portion of the system is configured to withstand a pressure greater than 1 bar, preferably greater than 10 bar, more preferably greater than 40 bar, most preferably greater than 50 bar, and / or wherein at least a portion of the system is configured to withstand a pressure less than 300 bar, preferably less than 250 bar, more preferably less than 200 bar; wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure below 25 bar, more preferably below 20 bar, most preferably below 18 bar, and / or wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure above 3 bar, more preferably above 5 bar, most preferably above 10 bar; wherein at least one of the following is involved: At least one of the at least two heat storage components comprises a temperature below 273 K, preferably below 223 K, preferably below 183 K, At least one of the at least two heat storage components comprises a temperature below 150 K, preferably below 140 K, more preferably below 120 K, The pressure vessel comprises a pressure between 1 bar and 37 bar, preferably between 5 bar and 30 bar, more preferably between 10 bar and 20 bar, at least one of the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure increase of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 30 bar, more preferably at least 40 bar, most preferably at least 55 bar, and / or at least one of the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure increase of less than 300 bar, preferably less than 150 bar, most preferably less than 100 bar, most preferably less than 70 bar, and / or the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure drop of at least 20 bar, preferably at least 30 bar, more preferably at least 40 bar, most preferably at least 55 bar, and / or the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure drop of less than 300 bar, preferably less than 150 bar, most preferably less than 100 bar, most preferably less than 70 bar; and Wherein, at least one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to generate an outlet temperature T o , where the outlet temperature T o Different from the inlet temperature T i , including at least one of the following: The outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At least 100K higher, preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i At least 150K higher, more preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i At least 200K high, The outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At most 1500K higher, preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i Up to 900K higher, more preferably higher than the inlet temperature T i Up to 500K, The outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At least 20K lower than the inlet temperature T i At least 50K lower, more preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i At least 80K lower, and The outlet temperature T o Than the inlet temperature T i At most 800K lower, preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i At most 500K lower, more preferably lower than the inlet temperature T i As low as 300K.

11. A method for storing energy, the method comprising inputting at least one fluid into the energy storage system, controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid, Perform at least one pressure change, at least partially generating a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid, and Store thermal energy.

12. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein: The method comprises at least one of the following: evaporating at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid; condensing at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid; controlling the flow of the at least one fluid, and / or wherein, The method comprises controlling at least one flow direction of the at least one fluid, wherein the method comprises reversing at least one of the at least one flow direction; and reducing the pressure in at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules to near atmospheric pressure to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid, and / or reducing the pressure of the at least one fluid to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid, and / or reducing the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid, and / or changing the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid; The method comprises at least one of the following: exhausting at least one of the at least one fluid and / or exhausting at least a portion of the at least one fluid that is close to thermal and mechanical equilibrium with ambient air; separating a liquid phase and / or a gas phase from the at least one fluid; feeding at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid back to the system; and increasing the liquid production of the at least one liquefaction module by means of thermal energy management, Wherein the energy storage system is based on any one of the preceding system claims.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding method claims, wherein: The method comprises at least one of the following: controlling a temperature of the at least one fluid, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module; controlling a temperature of the at least one fluid prior to one of the at least one liquefaction modules; controlling a temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one liquefaction modules; and controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid arranged in parallel with at least one component of at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module, The method comprises at least one of the following: splitting the flow of the at least one fluid; splitting at least one fluid flow at least once with a variable split ratio; and changing a split ratio of a fluid flow between one of the at least two thermal storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction module, wherein the method comprises controlling a temperature of the at least one fluid after the splitting step; and The method comprises at least one of the following: adjusting the split ratio to balance the amount of heat energy content delivered to one of the at least two heat storage components with the amount of heat energy content that can be obtained from the generated liquid phase; storing at least one of the at least one fluid in the energy storage system; and At least one of the at least one fluid is confined in at least one of the at least one storage tank for cryogenic liquids.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding method claims, wherein: The method comprises: utilizing high pressure; compressing at least one of the at least one fluid to a pressure above a critical pressure; storing heat of compression in at least one of the at least two thermal storage components; expanding the at least one fluid; and at least partially changing the phase of at least one of the at least one fluid in at least one of the at least two thermal storage components, Among them, at least one of the following is involved: The at least one fluid comprises at least one first fluid and at least one second fluid; The method comprises operating a direct heat exchange and / or an indirect heat exchange; The method includes increasing production by means of a secondary expansion; The method includes controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid at at least two locations in the energy storage system; The method includes storing heat at a temperature above ambient temperature; The method includes storing heat at a temperature below ambient temperature; The method includes controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid to a temperature greater than the ambient temperature; The method includes controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid to a temperature below the ambient temperature; The method includes controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid within or near at least one temperature constraint; The temperature constraints include at least one of the following: a maximum temperature, wherein the maximum temperature is determined by the temperature of the at least one fluid after compression, a minimum temperature of one of the at least one fluid interacting with at least one of the at least two heat storage members, a minimum temperature of the liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid, a temperature requirement of another component of the energy storage system downstream of a component of the energy storage, a phase transition temperature of the at least one fluid relative to a pressure level of the at least one fluid, a phase transition temperature of the at least one second fluid relative to the pressure level of the at least one second fluid, a common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluid between two consecutive thermal storage components, wherein the shared intermediate temperature is determined to ensure that the two consecutive thermal storage components achieve the same internal temperature profile before and after each consecutive charging and discharging of the energy storage system for the same period of time, a temperature constraint determined to ensure a continuous heat flow between at least two heat-exchanging media, wherein the continuous heat flow takes place along the length of the component of the energy storage by direct heat exchange or indirect heat exchange, or any combination thereof; The method includes matching temperature constraints of at least two thermal storage components; and The method comprises at least one of the following: establishing at least one fluid connection between at least two components of the system; establishing at least one of the at least one fluid connection between at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module and at least one thermal storage component of the at least two thermal storage components; establishing at least one of the at least one fluid connection between at least one liquefaction module of the at least one liquefaction module and at least one phase separator of the at least one phase separator; balancing extracted and stored thermal energy within at least one of the at least two thermal storage components; supplying at least one of the at least one fluid separately to the at least one liquefaction module, wherein the one of the at least one fluid is at ambient temperature and high pressure, and supplying at least a portion of the at least one of the at least one fluid at reduced thermal energy content and intermediate pressure, wherein the method comprises reducing the thermal energy content of the portion of the at least one of the at least one fluid solely by means of the liquefaction module, wherein the method comprises at least partially producing a liquid phase from the one of the at least one fluid by means of the at least one liquefaction module; achieving target operating temperatures for components of the energy storage system with the at least one fluid; heating the at least one fluid; reversibly operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components; and Impurities are removed from the at least one fluid.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding method claims, wherein: The method includes operating the system in a charging mode and a draining mode, wherein the method includes operating the system in the exhaust mode to produce energy, operating the system by consuming energy in the charging mode; Wherein, the filling mode includes consuming energy to store heat and at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid, consuming energy to at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid by changing a pressure and an enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid; Wherein, the method comprises consuming heat and liquid to generate energy when the system is in the discharge mode, and A pressure and an enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid are changed to generate energy when the system is in the discharge mode.

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