Thermal energy storage system and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to an energy storage system comprising at least one fluid input element for inputting 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 implement at least one pressure change, and at least one liquefaction module configured to produce at least a partial liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid. The present invention also relates to a method of energy storage implemented in the system, the method comprising the steps of inputting at least one fluid to the energy storage system, controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid, implementing at least one pressure change, producing at least a partial liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid, and storing thermal energy.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of energy storage, in particular to the field of thermal storage. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal energy storage system, a method implemented in such a system, and corresponding uses of the system. [Background technology]

[0002] Electrical energy storage systems store baseload energy during off-peak hours and use the stored energy to supply power during peak hours. Such systems are essential to the power generation industry. In traditional power generation systems, energy storage systems can provide significant benefits, including load following, peak power, and standby reserve. By providing spinning reserve and dispatched load, electrical energy storage systems can increase the net efficiency of thermal power sources while reducing harmful emissions.

[0003] Electrical energy storage systems are crucial for intermittent renewable energy supply systems, such as solar photovoltaic and wind turbine supply systems. This is because renewable energy sources are intermittent, meaning that they are not always available for long periods of time. Such drawbacks hinder the green power industry. Therefore, a suitable energy storage system is needed. Furthermore, electrical storage systems are required to be environmentally friendly.

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

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

[0006] Pumped hydroelectric storage (PHS) is the most widely used energy storage system. It stores hydroelectric potential energy by pumping water from a lower reservoir to a higher one. The amount of energy stored is proportional to the difference in height between the two reservoirs and the amount of water stored. During periods of high electricity demand, water flows down from the higher reservoir to the lower reservoir via a turbine generator, similar to conventional hydroelectric facilities. Pumped hydroelectric storage (PHS) is a mature technology with high efficiency, large capacity, long storage time, and a relatively low capital cost per unit of energy. However, the lack of sites where two large reservoirs and one or more dams can be constructed is a major drawback of PHS. The long lead time for construction (typically around 10 years) and environmental issues (e.g., the need to clear the land of trees and vegetation before the reservoir is filled) are also two major drawbacks of PHS systems.

[0007] Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is based on conventional gas turbine technology and utilizes the elastic potential energy of compressed air. Energy is stored by compressing air in an airtight space, such as an underground storage cavern. To extract the stored energy, compressed air is drawn from the storage vessel, heated, and expanded through a high-pressure turbine, capturing a portion of the compressed air's energy. The air is then mixed with fuel and burned, and the exhaust is expanded through a low-pressure turbine. Both the high-pressure and low-pressure turbines are connected to a generator to produce electricity. CAES offers a relatively high energy density, long storage life, low capital cost, and high efficiency. Compared to currently available energy storage systems, such as pumped hydroelectric power generation, CAES requires combustion in a gas turbine. It cannot be used in other types of power plants, such as coal-fired, nuclear, wind turbine, or solar power plants. Furthermore, the combustion of fossil fuels emits pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and carbon oxides, making CAES less attractive. Similar to pumped hydroelectric power generation, CAES relies on favorable topography, such as a cavern. CAES is only economically feasible for power plants with nearby rock mines, salt caverns, aquifers, or depleted gas fields.

[0008] EP 1989400 B1 describes 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 energy storage that includes providing a gas input, generating a cryogenic material from the gas input, storing the cryogenic material, expanding the cryogenic material, and using the expanded cryogenic material to drive a turbine and recovering cold from the expansion of the cryogenic material.

[0009] EP 2603761 B1 relates to a method for integrating one or more thermal processes with one another, the thermal processes having different thermal energy supply and demand criteria. The method involves the use of one or more thermal stores.

[0010] EP 2753808 A1 relates to a system for storing energy by compressed air, in which: a storage volume takes in air under high pressure pH; ambient air is compressed and transferred to the storage volume for energy storage; compressed air is removed from the storage volume for removal from storage and released to the environment for work output; a turbomachine (low-pressure turbomachine) (or several such machines) compresses or expands ambient air to a mean pressure pM for alternating compressions and expansions; a machine (high-pressure machine) compresses or expands ambient air from a mean pressure pM to a storage pressure pH for alternating compressions and expansions, or several such machines fluidly connected in parallel perform this work; and these machines (low-pressure turbomachines and high-pressure turbomachines) are fluidly connected in series and mechanically coupled to each or a common generator / motor (i.e., an electric machine that selectively operates as a motor or generator).

[0011] Patent Document 4 (China Patent No. 102758689) relates to an ultra-supercritical air energy storage / release system. This system is a new large-scale energy storage system and energy storage technology, namely, it uses off-peak power from a power plant to compress air to an ultra-supercritical state, simultaneously storing the heat of compression, and uses an expansion engine to cool the air, while simultaneously recovering the expansion work to improve efficiency, and uses the stored cold energy to cool, liquefy, and store the ultra-supercritical air, and the liquid air is pressurized to absorb heat and reach an ultra-supercritical state during peak power usage, and further absorbs the heat of compression to generate electricity in a turbine generator.

[0012] Patent Document 5 (EP 2753861) relates to a cryogenic energy storage system, and in particular to a method for capturing and reusing captured cold energy. This system allows for effective capture, storage, and utilization of cold energy from the power recovery process of the cryogenic energy storage system. The captured cold energy can be reused in any co-located process, for example, to increase the production efficiency of cryogenic materials, to increase the production efficiency of liquefied natural gas, and / or to provide cooling. This system can store cold energy at very low pressure, recover cold energy from various components of at least one of the systems, and / or store cold energy in multiple thermal stores. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 1989400 [Patent Document 2] European Patent No. 2603761 [Patent Document 3] European Patent Application Publication No. 2753808 [Patent Document 4] Chinese Patent No. 102758689 [Patent Document 5] European Patent No. 2753861 Summary of the Invention

[0014] In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least mitigate the drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and corresponding system for improved thermal efficiency.

[0015] Such an object is achieved by the present invention.

[0016] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to an energy storage system comprising at least one fluid input element for inputting 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 configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0017] It should be understood that the term energy storage system is intended to refer to a system suitable for a cyclical process of charging, storing, and discharging. Therefore, the thermal energy potential created during the process needs to be conserved. The use of thermal energy storage within the system significantly reduces energy loss to the environment (i.e., no heat of compression is released into the environment) and improves the round-trip efficiency of the system. The use of thermal storage components improves liquid yield and, therefore, cycle efficiency. This allows heat to be stored at low temperature levels to assist the liquefaction process during charging. This is particularly advantageous because it reduces the need for additional "cold" production via energy extraction from the system (i.e., expansion) or inefficient cooling methods such as throttling.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system comprised of relatively few components, making the inventive system less complex (compared to similar systems typically used in the art), easier to manufacture, more reliable, requiring less maintenance, fewer raw materials, and less prone to error. More simply stated, the inventive approach provides a lean process for implementing liquefaction as energy storage. Furthermore, the inventive approach is particularly advantageous because this can be achieved, for example, by using pressure control components to target both the expansion and compression steps required for the overall process. Additionally or alternatively, the inventive approach is particularly beneficial because the use of heat exchanger components as part of the liquefaction module and heat storage components is sized and designed to function fully in different operating modes (priming phase, normal filling phase, discharge to prepare for refrigeration, and normal discharge phase) instead of having separate heat exchangers for each operating mode.

[0019] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to vaporize at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0020] Additionally, the system may be configured to condense at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0021] 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.

[0022] The system may include at least one fluid output element, wherein at least one of the at least one fluid output element may be configured to eject at least one of the at least one fluid, and additionally or alternatively, the at least one fluid output element may be configured to feed back at least a portion of the at least one of the at least one fluid into the system.

[0023] This is particularly advantageous because, firstly, the partially liquefied gas stream can be recycled to the liquefaction module to extract heat at the low temperature required for liquefaction. Secondly, after utilizing the maximum possible cooling capacity of the fed-back stream, this cooling capacity can also be used to partially feed the system, thereby reducing energy consumption in the drying process since the stream is already dry. Thirdly, feeding the fluid into a possible existing secondary cycle is advantageous because it allows the use of the dried stream and adjustment of the pressure level without the need for an additional feed.

[0024] In one embodiment, one of the at least two heat storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid, wherein one of the at least two heat storage components may be disposed in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0025] This approach is beneficial because using a thermal energy storage component immediately after increasing the pressure significantly reduces energy loss to the environment, i.e., by not releasing the heat of compression into the environment, the round trip efficiency of the system is improved.

[0026] Additionally, one of the at least two heat storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid prior to the first pressure control component.

[0027] Additionally, one of the at least two heat storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid prior to the second pressure control component.

[0028] One of the at least two heat 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 heat storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the second pressure control component.

[0029] This approach is particularly beneficial because it removes excess heat after the fluid is compressed and before it enters the refrigeration section or liquefaction module, preventing unnecessary loss of "cold" from those parts of the system. It should be understood that in this context, the term cold is intended to refer to low energy level heat or a thermal reservoir below ambient temperature.

[0030] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one dividing element configured to divide at least one fluid flow.

[0031] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid, wherein the one of the at least two thermal storage components may be disposed in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

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

[0033] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0034] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be 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.

[0035] In additional embodiments, the system may include at least one storage tank for the cryogenic liquid.

[0036] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature and pressure of at least one fluid in at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

[0037] One of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one dividing elements.

[0038] 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 within the system.

[0039] This is advantageous because it allows the implementation of several heat exchangers or heat storage components in multiple locations simultaneously. This reduces the complexity and losses of the system, since only one heat storage component can be used to store, for example, the heat of compression of several compression stages. Furthermore, this allows the optimization of heat usage between different operating modes, such as a higher temperature level of the stored heat after two consecutive compression stages during system charging, or a higher temperature (and thus enthalpy) of the fluid before each expansion stage during discharge, and thus the efficiency of the system.

[0040] Additionally, the system may include at least three heat storage components. In another embodiment, the system may include at least four heat storage components.

[0041] 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 the first pressure control component, and 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 the second pressure control component, and two of the at least four thermal storage components may be 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 module.

[0042] This is advantageous because removing the heat of compression after each compression step ensures that the temperature limit of the next compression stage is not exceeded. For example, but not limited to, the present invention achieves this with two heat storage components, one after each compression step. The approach of the present invention is to enter the "cold air portion" of the system at ambient temperature, preventing unnecessary loss of cold from this portion of the system. Because liquefaction requires a large temperature change, the thermodynamic properties of the fluid and storage medium can vary significantly. To ensure the intended amount of heat transfer and desired temperature level are achieved, it may be necessary to place two additional reservoirs for temperatures below ambient (depending on the type of reservoir used) in series with each other. This is particularly true when the fluid is air and the heat storage components are implemented through a secondary cycle using low-pressure air as the heat transfer medium. This arrangement improves overall performance by lowering the temperature required to increase liquor yield.

[0043] Furthermore, the two heat storage components are placed in parallel with the liquefaction module components, which allows for the use of cold air from the previous run and the independent use of the liquefaction module to be utilized and optimized, increasing the liquid yield.

[0044] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may comprise at least one of a pump, a compression component, an expansion component, a heater, a heat exchanger component, a fan, and a blower.

[0045] In another embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may include at least one positive displacement turbomachine.

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

[0047] One of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to control the flow of at least one fluid.

[0048] One of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to generate and / or consume mechanical energy.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] The present invention is aimed at filling and discharging systems. To keep the process as lean as possible, it makes sense to reuse the equipment involved in both operating modes. This means that where one component can serve multiple purposes or can be used in multiple steps of the process, the present invention makes the most of this situation. A less complex system / one with fewer components is more reliable, easier to manufacture, has fewer parts for maintenance, and requires fewer raw materials. Furthermore, the physical compactness of the aforementioned system is significantly improved compared to similar systems.

[0052] The use of a reversible compressor is particularly advantageous because such a compressor is also suitable for functioning as an expander by flow reversal, significantly reducing the complexity of the system. This can be explained by the elimination of additional equipment for the expansion process during the system discharge, i.e., an additional expander / turbine and generator. For example, the approach of the present invention allows a positive displacement compressor to be used as an expander when the system is discharged to recover energy. Additionally or alternatively, the present invention also allows the use of a heat exchanger within the system both during the system charge and discharge, instead of having one heat exchanger for the system charge and another for the system discharge. Thus, the present invention provides a system with reduced complexity, resulting in less maintenance and service. This is evident from the reduced number of parts required in the approach of the present invention, which are consistently reused across multiple process steps.

[0053] 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.

[0054] One of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in series with at least one of the at least one fluid input element.

[0055] One of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0056] One of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in series with at least one of the at least one fluid output element.

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

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] In one embodiment, the at least two pressure control components may comprise at least one heater configured to heat the at least one fluid. Additionally or alternatively, the at least two pressure control components may comprise at least one heat exchanger component configured to change the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0061] Additionally, the system may include at least one phase separator component configured to separate a liquid phase and / or a gas phase from the at least one fluid, and at least one of the at least one phase separator component may be configured to provide a gas phase from the at least one fluid to at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0062] One of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in series with at least one of the at least one phase separator components.

[0063] In one embodiment, the at least one fluid may include at least one of air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one fluid may include at least one cryogenic liquid including at least one of air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0064] Additionally, at least one of the first pressure control component and the second pressure control component may be configured to compress to a pressure above a critical pressure of the at least one fluid.

[0065] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one impurity removal component configured to remove impurities from the at least one fluid.

[0066] One of the at least one impurity removal components may include at least one of a filter, an adsorbent station, a phase separator, a cold trap, and a fluid removal component.

[0067] The at least one impurity removal component may be configured to remove at least one of water, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, suspended particles, or any combination thereof.

[0068] In one embodiment, the impurity removal component removes moisture until a dew point of at least 263 K, more preferably 243 K, and most preferably 223 K is reached. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one impurity removal component may be disposed in series with 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, at least 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 cryogenic liquid storage tank. 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.

[0069] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to activate at least one impurity removal component after the first pressure control component and / or after the second pressure control component.

[0070] The system may also be configured to operate at least one impurity removal component after and / or before at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0071] Impurities, such as moisture content in the atmosphere, can freeze and accumulate in cryogenic parts of the system, such as heat exchangers and heat exchanger components, which can cause problems in system operation. To avoid this, a low dew point is required, which can be achieved, for example, by an adsorbent exposed to the fluid. However, the cyclic process of the present invention is particularly beneficial because it can use flow reversal to regenerate the adsorbent and remove impurities within the adsorbent. As a result, the present invention requires less effort to regenerate the adsorbent compared to traditional liquefaction processes due to its cyclic nature. Furthermore, the adsorbent stage for impurity removal can be sized to fit the overall process time, requiring even simpler impurity removal components (without intermediate cleaning processes).

[0072] The present invention allows impurities to be removed at various locations within the system. For example, they can be removed at the beginning of the process when the fluid is entrained. Removing impurities at high pressure not only increases the adsorption rate (lowering the dew point) but also allows the use of pressure swings to regenerate the adsorbent. Furthermore, the present invention allows for the use of excess heat present in the system, thereby reducing the energy consumption required to regenerate the desiccant. In one preferred implementation, desiccant regeneration is positioned at the beginning of the process or after heat removal at charging and heating the fluid with heat storage at discharging. The heated fluid at discharging heats the desiccant, shifting the equilibrium and causing desorption. Impurities carried with the fluid also slightly increase the flow rate, which has a positive impact on the discharge output.

[0073] In the present invention, by combining several impurity removal components in various positions, it is possible to optimize this effect, minimize additional energy consumption, and thus increase overall efficiency. Thus, in the present invention, one stage before the first compression stage can be at room temperature (which can be regenerated without additional energy consumption during the discharge process after the final expansion with the help of excess heat present in the fluid before it is discharged), and another stage after the first or second compression stage can be at high pressure (which can be regenerated without additional energy consumption by utilizing heat from thermal energy storage in combination with a pressure swing). Such positioning of the impurity removal components allows the present invention to operate without additional energy consumption for impurity removal.

[0074] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components may comprise at least one reservoir configured to store thermal energy.

[0075] Additionally, the system may be configured to store heat in at least one of the at least two heat storage components by direct heat exchange.

[0076] This is particularly advantageous as the implementation of a direct heat exchange reservoir, for example a packed bed, reduces the complexity of the system.

[0077] Furthermore, the use of a direct-contact packed bed of gravel as the thermal storage material reduces the system complexity as opposed to other systems that use phase change materials, chemical reactions, or exotic materials for energy storage. Rather than increasing complexity, the excess heat can be removed or used to regenerate the desiccant by implementing a cycle such as an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) to utilize the excess heat available after each charge-discharge. This allows the present invention to be tailored to the needs of the energy storage system.

[0078] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least one reservoir may be at least one of a packed bed heat reservoir, a structured solid heat reservoir, and a latent heat reservoir.

[0079] The use of fixed-bed thermal storage components (e.g., packed-bed thermal storage, structured solid thermal storage) allows for flexible thermal energy management, as it can store heat over a wide range of temperature levels compared to other thermal storage technologies, such as liquid tank thermal storage applied with phase-change materials or similar systems. Furthermore, such thermal storage provides the option of discharging stored heat at a nearly constant fluid outlet temperature, which can compensate for differences resulting from different charge and discharge flow rates or different power demands of the application. Fixed-bed thermal storage components also offer advantages over other thermal storage systems and methods known in the art, as they require little external control, are less complex, and use fewer critical resources. Furthermore, they offer the advantages of being easy to implement and stable at high temperatures, which can benefit processes by allowing higher temperature levels to be stored and increasing efficiency. This type of thermal storage can also be used at very low temperatures using the same thermal storage material. The aforementioned advantages greatly increase the flexibility of process design, minimizing the number of components required, as processes naturally require a wide temperature range. Additionally, local resources can be used as stockpiles, eliminating the need to transport heavy, low-value bulk materials from central factories and instead replenishing them at the site where the system is installed, such as at the user's site, greatly facilitating construction.

[0080] Further, 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.

[0081] In one embodiment, the system is configured to store thermal energy in at least one of at least two thermal storage components, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to utilize at least one second fluid, 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.

[0082] This is particularly advantageous because utilizing a second fluid for indirect heat transfer allows the fixed-bed storage to be implemented without direct contact with the first fluid, thereby maintaining the benefits mentioned above. This allows only the heat exchanger to withstand high pressure, further simplifying the rest of the storage. This is also beneficial because the same heat storage can easily function at different locations in the system, resulting in fewer components being required. Furthermore, the second fluid can be selected based on its properties, for example, to prevent phase transitions caused by low temperatures. Preventing phase transitions within the fixed-bed storage is beneficial because their adverse effects can occur. Using the same fluid as the heat transfer medium for the second cycle reduces the need for additional equipment, since the fluid can simply be split and used for replenishment, adapting the pressure level of the second cycle. This also contributes to the location-independent nature of the storage, since air is abundant throughout the Earth. By storing heat at low temperatures, heat must be used from the heat storage component to recover the phase transition enthalpy of the main body while releasing it (evaporating the liquid phase). Direct contact heat exchange in which a phase transition occurs within a fixed bed presents several technical and practical challenges that are overcome by embodiments of the present invention. To name a few, the coldest part must be located at the bottom of the reservoir to prevent convection, but transporting the two-phase mixture upward against gravity within the reservoir is difficult. The density change associated with the phase transition makes it difficult or impossible to maintain flow and contact time between the two media. It is impossible to distribute the liquid uniformly and prevent droplet formation. The present invention overcomes these challenges by using a heat transfer medium that does not undergo a phase transition in the relevant temperature range. When the second fluid is identical to the first fluid, the present invention provides the most efficient implementation by reducing the fluid's pressure and shifting its transition temperature to a lower temperature outside the required range.

[0083] 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 at least two pressure control components configured to control the flow of the at least one second fluid.

[0084] Additionally, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components may comprise at least one heat exchanger component configured to control the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0085] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to operate at least one direct heat exchange and / or at least one indirect heat exchange.

[0086] The at least one second fluid may be at least one of a gas, a liquid, a suspension, a suspension including a phase change material, or any combination. Additionally or alternatively, the system may be configured to store thermal energy via the at least one second fluid.

[0087] The at least one second fluid may be configured to transfer thermal energy to and from the at least one reservoir by direct heat exchange.

[0088] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to store the heat of compression in at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0089] Furthermore, at least one of the at least two heat storage components may comprise at least one element configured to withstand high pressure.

[0090] Furthermore, at least part of the system may be configured to withstand pressures greater than 1 bar (0.1 MPa), preferably greater than 10 bar (1 MPa), more preferably greater than 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably greater than 50 bar (5 MPa).

[0091] At least part of the system may be configured to withstand pressures of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 250 bar (25 MPa), more preferably less than 200 bar (20 MPa).

[0092] At least one of the at least two heat storage components may include at least one refrigeration component.

[0093] At least one of the at least two heat storage components may include at least one heat storage component.

[0094] Additionally, at least one of the at least two heat storage components may be configured to store heat at a temperature greater than the ambient air temperature.

[0095] At least one of the at least two heat storage components may be configured to store heat at a temperature below the ambient air 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 at a temperature above the ambient atmospheric 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 to a temperature below the ambient atmospheric temperature.

[0098] At least one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid at or near at least one temperature constraint.

[0099] Further, the at least one temperature constraint may include a maximum temperature (wherein the maximum temperature may be determined by a 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, The temperature requirements may include at least one of: a minimum temperature of the liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid; a temperature requirement of a part of the system that is downstream of another part of the system; a phase transition temperature of the at least one fluid for that pressure level; a phase transition temperature of the at least one second fluid for that pressure level; a common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluid between two consecutive heat storage parts (wherein the common intermediate temperature may be determined such that the two consecutive heat storage parts reach the same internal temperature distribution before and after each consecutive filling 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 media exchanging heat (wherein the continuous heat flow occurs along the length of the part of the system by either direct or indirect heat exchange, or a combination thereof).

[0100] The lower the temperature of the fluid, the higher the liquid yield when the fluid is expanded. However, process components have temperature requirements and limitations. For example, expanders typically cannot expand liquids. Therefore, to maximize liquid yield, the input temperature must be as close as possible to the liquid-liquid phase transition of the fluid at a given pressure. For example, a throttling operation can process the liquid in the input, allowing the temperature to be lowered below that point. However, the minimum temperature level available is limited by the temperature that can be recovered from the thermal storage component (primarily determined by the storage temperature of the liquid that evaporates during the discharge mode) or simply by the minimum temperature available from another stream (e.g., after expansion). Another example is the thermal storage component's limitations due to the thermophysical properties of the storage material. To optimize the process, and therefore its efficiency, the present invention utilizes the lowest accessible temperature to increase liquid yield, i.e., operates close to such temperature constraints.

[0101] One of the at least two heat storage components may comprise a temperature below 273K, preferably below 223K, preferably below 183K.

[0102] At least one of the at least two heat storage components may have a temperature below 150K, preferably below 140K, more preferably below 120K.

[0103] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to operate two consecutive thermal storage components with matching temperature constraints.

[0104] 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 with stored thermal energy within one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0105] At least one of the at least two thermal storage components may be configured to at least partially change the phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0106] One of the at least one heat exchanger components may be configured to at least partially evaporate the at least one fluid.

[0107] To recover the phase transition enthalpy as heat potential, the heat for evaporation must be provided from one of the heat storage components. Because the phase transition significantly changes the thermophysical properties of the fluid, this is best implemented via a heat exchanger that can be optimized for this purpose. As part of the heat storage component, the heat exchanger can transfer heat from the heat storage component to the fluid via a second fluid, thereby reducing the temperature of the second fluid and returning it to the heat storage component. To minimize the available temperature level, the liquid can be pumped to a specified pressure just before evaporation in the heat exchanger component. Recovering this temperature level increases the efficiency of the system.

[0108] At least one heater may be used to at least partially change the phase of the fluid.

[0109] 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.

[0110] In one embodiment, the system may comprise at least one control loop. In another embodiment, the system may comprise at least one control system.

[0111] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one of a sensor, an insulating component, a piping element, a heat exchanger, a heater, and a filter. The at least one insulating component may include at least one of glass wool, stone wool, rock wool, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, cellulose, perlite, polystyrene foam, polyurethane, aerogel, acoustic insulation, and a vacuum.

[0112] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one auxiliary component.

[0113] At least one of the at least two heat storage components may be provided with at least one auxiliary blower.

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

[0115] In another embodiment, the system may be configured to operate in an ejection mode.

[0116] In another embodiment, the system may be configured to operate one of the at least one impurity removal components in a fill mode.

[0117] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to regenerate one of the at least one impurity removal components in a release mode.

[0118] If impurities freeze, they can accumulate in cryogenic parts of the system, such as heat exchangers, potentially causing problems in system operation. To avoid this, impurities must be removed to a sufficient level. However, removing impurities is an energy-intensive process and can reduce the efficiency of the process. When a desiccant is used as the adsorbent, the desiccant must be regenerated, which is typically achieved by temperature and / or pressure swings. The present invention achieves this reduction in energy consumption by at least partially utilizing the process fluid and available excess heat during discharge. The fluid after the final expansion stage is still at a temperature higher than ambient, and the present invention utilizes this to heat the desiccant, shifting its equilibrium and allowing the impurities to desorb.

[0119] In additional embodiments, the system may be configured to rejuvenate one of the at least one impurity removal components by a pressure swing and / or a temperature swing.

[0120] At least one of the at least one second fluid At least one heat exchanger component may be used at a lower pressure than the fluid flow whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0121] To maximize yield and efficiency, one of the thermal storage components may operate at a temperature below or near the condensation temperature of the fluid. Having the second fluid be identical to the first fluid is particularly advantageous because the pressure of the second fluid can be reduced to prevent phase transitions and shift the dew point to lower temperatures outside the operating range. Furthermore, this approach reduces the complexity of the storage unit because many of the components do not need to withstand high pressures.

[0122] At least one of the at least one second fluid may be used at a higher pressure in the at least one heat exchanger component than the fluid flow whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two heat storage components.

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

[0124] 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 transport the removed energy to a fluid flow whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0125] The at least one blower may be configured to control the flow of at least one of the at least one second fluid separated from the at least one fluid.

[0126] The at least one auxiliary component may include at least one of an evaporator, a motor-generator, an electric drive component, a control loop component, a sensor, a piping component, an insulating component, a valve component, a blower, a fan, a silencer, a filter, a heat recovery component, and a power component.

[0127] In one embodiment, the at least two pressure control components may include at least one non-isothermal compressor.

[0128] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one of an electrical inverter, a wire, a transformer, and an electrical converter.

[0129] The expansion component may include at least one of an expander and a throttle valve.

[0130] Expanders extract energy from the fluid during the process, and in addition to the temperature drop caused by expansion, the extracted work reduces the enthalpy content of the fluid, leading to an even lower temperature. This is particularly beneficial in increasing the resulting liquefaction yield. Throttling is an isenthalpic process in which no work is performed. This results in a higher exit temperature for the same expansion ratio as in an expander. However, throttling is a much simpler process. The present invention utilizes these two fundamental properties in various arrangements, as shown in the diagram below.

[0131] In one embodiment, the at least one expander may include at least one of a turbo expander, a positive displacement expander, a piston, a screw, and a scroll.

[0132] In another embodiment, at least one fluid may include a liquid phase.

[0133] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks may be configured to contain one liquid phase of the at least one fluid.

[0134] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks 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 heat storage components, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module, and at least one of the at least one phase separator. Additionally or alternatively, one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks may include at least one thermal insulation component.

[0135] For discharge, the liquid fluid must be pressurized to a specified operating pressure. During discharge, a pressure change component (e.g., a pump) connected in series with the cryogenic liquid storage tank is used to pressurize the liquid to a subcooled state, creating a minimum temperature for optimal cold recovery to assist in liquefaction during the next charge.

[0136] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks may comprise a pressure vessel, which may additionally or alternatively contain a pressure of 1 to 37 bar (0.1 to 3.7 MPa), preferably 5 to 30 bar (0.5 to 3 MPa), more preferably 10 to 20 bar (1 to 2 MPa).

[0137] Storage at elevated pressure reduces evaporation losses when storing liquid fluids (the equilibrium vapor and liquid phase densities are closer to each other at elevated pressure, and limiting the upper pressure limit reduces storage complexity).

[0138] The pressure vessel may contain pressures in excess of 37 bar (3.7 MPa), preferably in excess of 40 bar (4 MPa), more preferably in excess of 55 bar (5.5 MPa).

[0139] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks may include a pressure control component.

[0140] Pressurization of the liquid fluid for discharge may occur in a cryogenic tank, for example by evaporating a small portion of the liquid with ambient heat, which is particularly advantageous as it reduces the energy consumption of the system.

[0141] The at least one heat exchanger component may be configured to effect evaporation of a fluid within at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

[0142] Instead of using ambient heat, the liquid reservoir can be replaced with a thermal reservoir and pressurized, which has a positive effect on the next fill, as it prevents potential cold from being lost and increases the cold recovered.

[0143] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks may comprise at least one phase separator.

[0144] Integrating the phase separator and cryogenic storage tank into a single unit reduces complexity by allowing the same vessel to be utilized. Additionally, the two-phase mixture can be transported in a single pipe, freeing up some piping.

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

[0146] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank may be configured to provide the liquid.

[0147] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks may be configured to increase the pressure of the liquid contained therein.

[0148] For example, the simplest implementation for pressurizing a liquid fluid is by automatically pressurizing a reservoir, with or without additional equipment.

[0149] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks may be configured to maintain the temperature and pressure of the contained liquid.

[0150] One of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in series with one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank.

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

[0152] One of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to vary the pressure in at least two steps.

[0153] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to vary the pressure in at least one step.

[0154] At least one of the at least one fluid is subjected to a total pressure increase of at least 20 bar (2 MPa), preferably at least 30 bar (3 MPa), more preferably at least 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably at least 55 bar (5.5 MPa).

[0155] At least one of the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure rise of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 150 bar (15 MPa), most preferably less than 100 bar (10 MPa), most preferably less than 70 bar (7 MPa).

[0156] In one embodiment, the at least one fluid is subjected to a total pressure drop of at least 20 bar (2 MPa), preferably at least 30 bar (3 MPa), more preferably at least 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably at least 60 bar (6 MPa). Additionally or alternatively, the at least one fluid may be subjected to a total pressure drop of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 150 bar (15 MPa), most preferably less than 100 bar (10 MPa), and most preferably less than 70 bar (7 MPa).

[0157] One method of producing the liquid utilized by the liquefaction module involves reducing the pressure of the fluid by expansion. Expansion from a high pressure reduces the temperature, which aids in higher liquid yields. However, increasing pressure also increases the heat capacity of the fluid, adversely affecting liquid yields. The present invention is optimized for an operating pressure of approximately 60 bar (6 MPa), taking into account the increased technical complexity and overall efficiency associated with higher pressures. This is for the stream entering the liquefaction module.

[0158] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to generate an outlet temperature To, where the outlet temperature To may be different from the inlet temperature Ti. Additionally or alternatively, the outlet temperature To may be at least 100 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 150 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 200 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0159] The exit temperature of the compression stage is primarily determined by the compressor's efficiency and the level of internal cooling within the compressor. To maximize reciprocating efficiency, the energy consumed in the compression stage must be present in the fluid at the highest possible pressure and temperature. For this reason, it is beneficial to increase the temperature as close as possible to adiabatic compression. With readily available compressors, a temperature increase of approximately 200 K is achievable. The most desirable solution in terms of efficiency is to reach the maximum desired operating pressure with a single compression stage. This option is difficult to achieve, as the exit temperature would then be very high (>1000 K) and the technical implementation of a compressor with a compression ratio of more than 15 is at least difficult. However, the present invention overcomes these technical challenges, taking into account the need for energy storage systems to be constructed from reliable, readily available components while still maintaining manageable temperature levels and minimizing losses. The present invention provides a solution to these technical challenges by implementing two or more compression stages, such as three compression stages. This is particularly useful for reaching pressures of approximately 60 bar (6 MPa).

[0160] The outlet temperature To may be up to 1500K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably up to 900K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably up to 500K higher than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0161] Additionally or alternatively, the outlet temperature To may be at least 20K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 50K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 80K lower than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0162] Furthermore, the outlet temperature To may be up to 800K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably up to 500K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably up to 300K lower than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0163] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to operate with a polytropic efficiency of greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%.

[0164] High polytropic efficiency ensures low internal losses in the compression stage, which contributes significantly to overall efficiency.

[0165] In another embodiment, the system may be configured to expand at least one fluid.

[0166] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be connected to one of the at least one electrically driven component.

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

[0168] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to generate and / or consume electrical energy.

[0169] Additionally, the system may be configured to operate at least one of the at least two pressure control components with the generated and / or consumed energy.

[0170] Additionally, the system may be configured to operate in an emission mode to generate energy.

[0171] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to operate in a charging mode by consuming energy.

[0172] In another embodiment, the fill mode may be configured to consume energy and store heat to at least partially generate a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0173] In additional embodiments, the filling mode may be configured to consume energy to at least partially generate 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.

[0174] Further, the emission mode may be configured to consume heat and liquid to generate energy. Additionally or alternatively, the emission mode may be configured to change the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid to generate energy.

[0175] 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.

[0176] Evaporating a liquid requires a supply of heat to overcome the enthalpy of evaporation. When this heat is provided by a medium, the medium becomes cold. The present invention takes advantage of this fact to store "cold" during the evaporation of a liquid. The evaporating liquid absorbs heat from a second fluid via a heat exchanger, and the cooled second fluid is then connected to a thermal storage component. Through this connection, the thermal storage component reheats the second fluid while cooling itself. In this arrangement, the heat of evaporation required for the liquid's phase change is essentially provided by the thermal storage component, resulting in the thermal storage component becoming cold. In other words, "cold is stored." The temperature at which this cold is stored can be controlled by system variables. Ideally, this temperature is as low as possible to maximize cooling capacity when needed. The most important situation in which this cooling capacity is used is when the first fluid, or a portion of it, is connected to a thermal storage component, where it is pre-cooled before being sent to the liquefaction module. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for thermal energy management between the fill and discharge modes of the system.

[0177] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to maintain a system state by maintaining thermal and mechanical potentials. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to operate reversibly with a polytropic efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%. Additionally or alternatively, the system may include a connection type including at least one of a belt, a gearbox, and a direct shaft connection.

[0178] The efficiency of the expander at discharge contributes significantly to the round trip efficiency of the system, minimizing losses.

[0179] At least one of the at least one electric drive component may be of at least one of the following types: inductive, permanent magnet, reluctance, synchronous and asynchronous.

[0180] In one embodiment, the at least one motor may be configured to operate at variable rotational speeds.

[0181] In one embodiment, at least one motor may be configured to operate at a variable frequency.

[0182] At least one of the at least one electrically driven component may be connected to at least one of an electrical inverter, a wire, a transformer, and an electrical converter.

[0183] In one embodiment, the system may include at least one valve. The at least one valve may comprise at least one of a pressure change component, a heat storage component, a liquefaction module, a pump, a phase separator, a cryogenic liquid tank, and an impurity removal component. One of the at least one valve may be configured to operate bidirectionally.

[0184] The at least one valve may include at least one of a check valve, a flow control valve, a shut-off valve, a throttle valve, a safety valve such as a pressure relief valve, and a sampling valve.

[0185] The at least one valve may include at least one actuation mechanism.

[0186] At least one of the at least one actuation mechanism may be configured to automatically actuate the at least one valve, and the at least one valve may be connected to at least one of the pressure change component, the heat storage component, the liquefaction module, the pump, the phase separator, the cryogenic liquid storage tank, and the impurity removal component.

[0187] The at least one control loop may be configured to control at least one of the at least one actuation mechanism.

[0188] The at least one control loop may be configured to control one of the at least one electrically driven component.

[0189] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least one pressure relief valve may be connected to at least one of the storage tank and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0190] In another embodiment, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may comprise at least one of a positive displacement compressor, a dynamic compressor.

[0191] Additionally, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may comprise at least one of a piston compressor, a scroll compressor, a screw compressor, a vane compressor, and a Roots compressor.

[0192] At least one of the at least one liquefaction module may be configured in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0193] In additional embodiments, at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may be configured in fluid communication with at least one of the at least one phase separator.

[0194] Additionally, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module may include at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0195] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may include at least one heat exchanger component.

[0196] Additionally, 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.

[0197] In one embodiment, the splitting elements may be configured to split the fluid flow with a variable split ratio. One of the at least one splitting elements may be configured to vary the split ratio between one of the at least two thermal storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction modules. One of the at least one splitting elements may be configured to adjust the split ratio to balance the thermal energy content transferred to one of the at least two thermal storage components and the thermal energy content obtained from the liquid phase produced.

[0198] The dividing element allows for varying the ratio of the total fluid sent to the liquefaction module to the thermal storage component operating at a temperature below ambient temperature, which is advantageous because it allows the liquefaction module to be used independently of the thermal storage component. Furthermore, the portion of the first fluid entering the thermal storage section, and thus the consumption of cold air, can be optimized and adapted to the needs of the liquefaction module. This is particularly advantageous because the cooling capacity and achievable temperature levels of the thermal storage component can vary depending on, for example but not limited to, its usage, the extent of losses, etc. As a result, only a portion of the fluid is pre-cooled in the liquefaction module, allowing for a more efficient use of the cold air from the expansion, increasing the yield. Overall, this improves the overall efficiency of the inventive system.

[0199] In one embodiment, the system may comprise at least one combining element configured to combine at least two fluid streams.

[0200] Combining elements are particularly advantageous because they allow potentially separated portions of the fluid to be combined and sent to downstream components of the system for further processing. For example, the stream after the combining element will naturally have a single set of thermodynamic properties, but may share the same properties with, for example, but not limited to, expansion components, heat exchangers, etc. This is further illustrated in the following diagram.

[0201] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may comprise at least one of the at least one splitting element configured to split the fluid flow at a variable split ratio.

[0202] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may comprise at least one of the at least one combining element.

[0203] Additionally, at least one of the at least one liquefaction module may include at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0204] This is particularly advantageous because it allows the liquefaction module to further increase the pressure of a portion of the fluid flow, subsequently cooling it first to ambient temperature, and then further cooling it using the remaining cooling capacity from the downstream expansion (this is further illustrated in Figure 6 below). It will be appreciated that this can be achieved, for example, by combining it with a pressure change component. This increased cooling capacity made possible by the subsequent expansion can generate sufficient cooling capacity (in combination with a pre-cooling heat exchanger) to liquefy the other portion of the fluid cooled by the thermal store and expanded. A portion of the fluid can be overpressurized to approximately 200 bar (20 MPa), while the split can be adjusted to liquefy the other portion. This avoids gas entering the cryogenic liquid store, resulting in a simplification of subsequent components.

[0205] Additionally, at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may comprise at least one of the one fluid output elements.

[0206] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may comprise at least one of the one fluid input elements.

[0207] Additionally, at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may include at least one insulating component.

[0208] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may include at least one auxiliary component.

[0209] Additionally, at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components may be configured to receive at least one fluid stream from at least one of the at least one dividing element.

[0210] This is particularly advantageous because the heat exchanger component pre-cools only a portion of the fluid, thereby allowing even lower temperatures to be achieved, assuming the cooling capacity on the other side of the heat exchanger is sufficient for this operation.

[0211] One of the at least one liquefaction modules may be configured to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0212] One of the at least one liquefaction modules may be configured to expel at least a portion of the at least one fluid to near thermal and mechanical equilibrium with the surrounding air.

[0213] This is particularly advantageous as it ensures that both the entire cooling capacity and the work capacity potential (due to the pressure above atmospheric) of this gas stream are utilized before it is discharged or fed back. Each recycled gas stream is first expanded to the lowest pressure (ensuring the lowest temperature). It is then used as a cooling stream in the heat exchanger components. To achieve this, the heat exchangers and their placement are optimized, as exemplified by the configuration shown in the diagram below. This reduces cold losses and improves liquid yield and efficiency.

[0214] One of the at least one liquefaction modules may be configured to reduce the thermal energy content of at least a portion of the at least one fluid by another portion of the at least one fluid at a lower temperature level.

[0215] In one embodiment, 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 at least a portion of the at least one fluid at an intermediate pressure with reduced thermal energy content, the thermal energy content of the portion of the at least one fluid being initially reduced by the liquefaction module alone, and the at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from the one of the at least one fluid.

[0216] This is particularly advantageous because the liquid module is used independently of the refrigerated section, which may not be filled with cooling capacity. This arrangement can be used as the sole liquefaction path, if desired. Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous because sufficient liquid can be generated and stored that may be used for the initial filling of the refrigerated section in much the same process as normal discharge operation, allowing the system to be self-sufficient and not requiring external means to prime / fill the refrigerated section with the cooling capacity required for a given period of normal fill mode operation. Furthermore, this makes the system location-independent (since it is self-sufficient). This also reduces the complexity of the implementation procedure and allows for lost cold to be replenished as needed.

[0217] 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.

[0218] One of the at least one liquefaction modules may be configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from the at least one fluid, wherein the one of the at least one liquefaction modules may be disposed in series with at least one of at least two pressure control components, at least one of at least two heat storage components, at least one of at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank, and at least one of the at least one phase separator.

[0219] Furthermore, at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may be configured to produce at least a partial liquid phase from the at least one fluid in parallel with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0220] At least one of the at least one heat exchanger component and at least one of the at least two heat storage components receive fluid flow serially from at least one of the at least one dividing element.

[0221] At least one flow of fluid in the at least one heat exchanger component is joined with another flow of fluid in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0222] This combination allows the system to use a single pressure change component regardless of whether the streams were previously split. In other words, different portions of the initial fluid flow are redirected to different sections of the system to be pre-cooled using different existing cooling capacities. When these streams are recombined, a single stream with a range of thermodynamic properties can be fed into a single pressure change component (as further illustrated in Figure 2 below). The temperature of the combined stream will vary depending on the ratio or volume of each stream before mixing. However, that temperature can be controlled by both the split ratio occurring upstream and the level of cooling experienced by the split stream. This allows for control of the liquid yield downstream of the pressure change component. In another configuration, shown in Figure 3, a portion of the fluid already pre-cooled using the cooling capacity of a thermal storage component is combined with another portion of the ambient temperature fluid. Varying this portion allows for some flexibility in thermal energy management. For example, the temperature of the stream pre-cooled through a thermal storage component can be controlled by taking into account the cooling capacity (or load) available at the corresponding thermal storage component. Mixing this stream with another stream at room temperature provides additional flexibility to the system, allowing the temperature of the combined stream to be adjusted to the level required by downstream pressure control components. Furthermore, the cooling load of each heat storage component can be adjusted in this manner. In other words, based on the cooling capacity available in each heat storage component (determined by the amount of heat storage regeneration during discharge mode), the system can be retuned to use that cooling capacity. Additionally, retuning based on the available cooling capacity and the upstream split ratio is used to ensure a continuous heat flow required by downstream heat exchangers and to avoid pinch points within the heat exchangers.

[0223] The at least one liquefaction module may comprise at least two of the at least two pressure control components arranged in series.

[0224] At least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0225] Additionally, at least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0226] The first expansion operation causes partial liquefaction in the liquefaction module. The resulting gas phase of the stream is in equilibrium with the liquid phase and is still at high pressure. Therefore, a second expansion to the lowest possible pressure results in a stream with the greatest cooling capacity. To take advantage of this cooling capacity and increase the liquid yield, a heat exchanger can be added before or after the first expansion. Because the expander typically has no liquid phase at its inlet, the fluid temperature is limited to the dew point of the fluid at a given pressure. Adding a heat exchanger after the expander allows for increased liquid yield by taking advantage of the lowest temperature available in the liquefaction module, since partial liquefaction has already occurred. If a throttle is used instead of an expander, a heat exchanger can be added before the component. This is beneficial because expansion at a lower temperature increases the yield.

[0227] At least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in series between two of the at least two heat exchanger components.

[0228] Furthermore, at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be configured to receive at least one fluid flow from at least one of the at least one dividing element. The at least one fluid flow may be supplied by at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one fluid flow may be supplied by another of the at least two pressure control components.

[0229] At least one of the at least two pressure change components may be in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0230] Additionally, one of the at least two heat storage components may be disposed between one of the at least two pressure control components and one of the at least one heat exchanger.

[0231] In one embodiment, the at least one liquefaction module may be configured to produce at least 20 weight percent, more preferably at least 30 weight percent, and most preferably at least 40 weight percent liquid phase.

[0232] In another embodiment, the at least one liquefaction module may be configured to produce at least a partial liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure of less than 25 bar (2.5 MPa), more preferably less than 20 bar (2 MPa), and most preferably less than 18 bar (1.8 MPa).

[0233] In additional embodiments, the at least one liquefaction module may be configured to produce at least a partial liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure greater than 3 bar (0.3 MPa), more preferably greater than 5 bar (0.5 MPa), and most preferably greater than 10 bar (1 MPa).

[0234] One of the core advantages of the present invention is the use of high pressure to enhance yield. Liquefaction occurring at high pressure has several advantages. For example, when liquefaction occurs at high pressure, the enthalpy change required for phase transition is lower (less effort required for liquefaction) as the fluid approaches its critical pressure, potentially resulting in higher liquid yields. For example, air does not undergo a phase transition to liquid at pressures above approximately 37.8 bar (3.78 MPa) (its critical pressure). On the other hand, the densities of the gas and liquid phases at equilibrium at high pressure are closer to each other. That is, when a given amount of liquid is added to a storage tank filled with gas at the same pressure, the mass lost (the mass of gas displaced by the incoming liquid) increases at higher pressures. Therefore, intermediate pressures favor both the benefits of the lower enthalpy change required for liquefaction at high pressure and avoid the significant mass loss associated with refilling the cooled gas already present in the tank.

[0235] In one embodiment, the at least one liquefaction module may be configured to reduce the pressure to near atmospheric pressure to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0236] In additional embodiments, at least one liquefaction module may be configured to increase liquid yield through thermal energy management.

[0237] In another embodiment, the at least one liquefaction module may be configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid by at least one expansion. The at least one liquefaction module may be configured to increase the liquid yield from at least one of the at least one fluid by a second expansion and at least one heat exchanger component that assists in thermal energy management.

[0238] Expanding the fluid again to the lowest possible pressure provides the flow with the greatest cooling capacity, as explained above.

[0239] Additionally, at least one liquefaction module may be configured to increase liquid yield through a second expansion.

[0240] The gas phase of at least one of the at least one fluid may be used in the second expansion.

[0241] In one embodiment, the at least one liquefaction module achieves a temperature below the dew point of the at least one fluid at a given pressure.

[0242] In another embodiment, the at least one liquefaction module may be configured to receive a fluid flow from at least one of the at least one dividing element in a proportion of less than 80 mass %, more preferably less than 65 mass %, and most preferably less than 55 mass %, relative to the amount of fluid entering the dividing element.

[0243] Additionally, the system may be configured to reduce the thermal energy content of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0244] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to reduce the temperature of at least one component of the system with at least one fluid.

[0245] Additionally, the system may be configured to achieve a target operating temperature of the component with at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0246] 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.

[0247] In an additional embodiment, the system may include at least two of the at least two pressure control components, at least one heat exchanger component, and at least one divider element, and at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component.

[0248] Additionally, 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 stream in parallel from at least one of the at least one dividing element.

[0249] In one embodiment, the system may be configured to operate 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 the at least one fluid at or near at least one temperature constraint.

[0250] In another embodiment, the system may be configured to operate 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 above its phase transition temperature at a given pressure.

[0251] For example, as will be described later in FIG. 7, the use of additional components in the system allows for the possibility of regenerating the required cooling capacity in the associated heat storage component. That is, rather than regenerating the heat storage component solely by evaporating the liquid in the discharge mode, this arrangement allows for regeneration whenever and to the required extent. This arrangement does not require liquefaction. A portion of the high-pressure stream is expanded to a lower pressure, producing a cooler stream that is used to pre-cool the remaining portion of the stream. This remaining portion is then expanded to a level that achieves the desired outlet temperature. This temperature is determined by the minimum temperature required for the heat storage component to be regenerated and / or recharged. This arrangement has the advantage that it does not require a change in the operating mode of the system. In other words, the regeneration of the heat storage component and its charging with the cooling capacity required for the next charging mode can be carried out as a continuation of the current charging phase. This is particularly advantageous because it allows the heat storage component to be regenerated with the required cooling capacity in a shorter operating time than approaches requiring liquefaction followed by a discharge mode. Other advantages include less complexity in thermal storage regeneration, greater control, and system location independence, further enhancing the system's suitability for use cases where it is also used as a backup energy storage.

[0252] The demand for energy storage systems is increasing, necessitating a variety of sizes and capacities based on diverse use cases. Storage based on thermodynamic process principles is typically designed according to traditional large-scale plant sizing. This can be seen, for example, in some prior art applications of air separation plant principles for air liquefaction-based storage. However, the present invention emphasizes a streamlined design, where units are designed and sized for ease of transportation and portability. The present invention is based on the combined use of thermodynamic principles and abundantly available resources as thermal energy storage media. The system is primarily designed to use only air as the working fluid and only gravel as the thermal energy storage medium. However, it can be adapted to other working fluids and materials as needed. Furthermore, the present invention is designed to be modular. In other words, multiple thermal storage components, pressure change components, and liquefaction modules can be combined in various configurations, allowing for independent expansion of power capture and storage capacity based on use case requirements. Another advantageous feature of the present invention is the ability to use several system components in different operating modes. For example, the compressor is intended to be used reversibly as an expander during charging mode, and the heat exchanger is designed to function in several situations, which helps reduce system complexity and increase flexibility.

[0253] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method of storing energy, the method comprising the steps of inputting at least one fluid into an energy storage system, controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid, performing at least one pressure change, producing at least a partial liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid, and storing thermal energy. The energy storage system may be as listed herein.

[0254] In one embodiment, the method may include evaporating at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0255] Additionally, the method may include condensing at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0256] In an additional embodiment, the method may include controlling at least one fluid in at least one flow direction, wherein the method may include reversing at least one of the at least one flow direction.

[0257] The method may include draining at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0258] Furthermore, the method may include a step of feeding back at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluids to the system. The step of feeding back a fluid has several advantages for the process. This step involves recycling the partially liquefied gas stream to the liquefaction module, where it must be used to extract heat at the low temperature required for liquefaction. After maximizing the cooling capacity of the fed-back stream, it can also be used as a partial feed to the system. This reduces energy consumption in the drying process, since this stream may already be dry. Another application is to feed a fluid into a possible existing secondary cycle, utilizing the dried stream and adjusting the pressure level without the need for an additional feed.

[0259] The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one of the at least one fluid in the energy storage system enumerated herein. In another embodiment, the method may include controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid before a first pressure control component. Additionally or alternatively, the method may include controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid before a second pressure control component.

[0260] The method may include controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after a first pressure control component. In one embodiment, the method may include controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after a second pressure control component. Removing excess heat after compressing the fluid and before it enters the refrigeration section or liquefaction module can prevent unnecessary depletion of "cold" (cold is a heat store with low energy levels or below ambient temperature) from such portions of the system.

[0261] The method may include splitting at least one fluid flow.

[0262] One of the at least two heat storage components may be disposed in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0263] The method may include controlling a temperature of the at least one fluid before one of the at least one liquefaction modules.The method may include controlling a temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0264] The method may include controlling a temperature of at least one fluid disposed in parallel in at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0265] 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 cryogenic liquid storage tanks. Further, the method may include controlling a temperature and a pressure of the at least one fluid in the at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks. The method may include controlling a temperature of the at least one fluid after the splitting step.

[0266] The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid at at least two locations within the energy storage system. Several heat exchangers or heat storage components can be implemented simultaneously in multiple locations. This reduces system complexity and losses, for example, by using only one heat storage component to store the heat of compression for several compression stages. Furthermore, this allows for optimizing the use of heat between different operating modes and thus the efficiency of the system. For example, increasing the temperature level of the stored heat after two consecutive compression stages while charging the system, and increasing the temperature (and thus the enthalpy) of the fluid before each expansion stage while releasing it.

[0267] The method may include controlling a temperature of at least one fluid after a first pressure control component, controlling a temperature of at least one fluid after a second pressure control component, and controlling 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. The method may include compressing at least one of the at least one fluid. In another embodiment, the method may include controlling a flow of the at least one fluid.

[0268] The method may include producing and / or consuming mechanical energy. The method may include expanding and / or compressing at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0269] 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 includes controlling a pressure, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in series with 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 thermal storage components, and at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0270] The method includes controlling a 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.

[0271] The method may include heating the at least one fluid. The method may include changing the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid. The method may include separating a liquid and / or a gas phase from the at least one fluid.

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

[0274] The method may include compressing at least one of the at least one fluid to a pressure above a critical pressure.

[0275] The method may include removing impurities from the at least one fluid.

[0276] The method may include removing moisture to reach a dew point of at least 263 K, more preferably 243 K, and most preferably 223 K. The method may include removing impurities with at least one impurity removal component disposed in series with 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, 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 cryogenic liquid storage tank.

[0277] The method may include removing impurities immediately after one of the at least one fluid input elements. The method may include removing impurities before the first pressure control component and / or before the second pressure control component.

[0278] The method may include activating at least one impurity removal component after the first pressure control component and / or after the second pressure control component. The method may include activating at least one impurity removal component after and / or before at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0279] The method may include storing heat in at least one of the at least two heat storage components by 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.

[0280] 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.

[0281] 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, while 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.

[0282] The method may include controlling the flow of at least one of the at least one second fluid.

[0283] The method may include controlling the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0284] The method may include controlling the thermal energy content when the system is as described herein.

[0285] The method may include operating a direct heat exchange and / or an indirect heat exchange.

[0286] The method may include storing thermal energy with at least one second fluid, where 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.

[0287] The method may include transferring thermal energy to or from the at least one reservoir by direct heat exchange with at least one second fluid.

[0288] The method may include storing the heat of compression in at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0289] The method may include applying high pressure.

[0290] The method may include operating at least one component of the system at a pressure greater than 1 bar (0.1 MPa), preferably greater than 10 bar (1 MPa), more preferably greater than 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably greater than 50 bar (5 MPa).

[0291] The method may include operating at least one component of the system at a pressure of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 250 bar (25 MPa), more preferably less than 200 bar (20 MPa).

[0292] The method may include storing heat at a temperature above the ambient air temperature.

[0293] The method may include storing heat at a temperature below the ambient air temperature.

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

[0295] The method may include controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid at a temperature below the ambient atmospheric temperature.

[0296] The method may include controlling the temperature of at least one fluid at or near at least one temperature constraint.

[0297] The at least one temperature constraint may include at least one of 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 heat storage components, a minimum temperature of the liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid, a temperature requirement of a component of the energy storage system downstream of another component of the energy storage, a phase transition temperature of the at least one fluid for that pressure level, a phase transition temperature of the at least one second fluid for that pressure level, a common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluid between two consecutive heat storage components (wherein the common intermediate temperature may be determined to ensure that two consecutive heat storage components reach the same internal temperature distribution before and after consecutive charging and discharging of the energy storage system for the same period of time), a temperature constraint determined to ensure continuous heat flow between the at least two media exchanging heat (wherein the continuous heat flow occurs along the length of the energy storage component by direct or indirect heat exchange), or any combination thereof.

[0298] The method may include matching temperature constraints of at least two heat storage components.

[0299] The method may include operating two consecutive heat storage components of the at least two heat storage components with matched temperature constraints.

[0300] The method may include extracting stored thermal energy from at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0301] The method may include balancing extracted and stored thermal energy within at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0302] The method may include at least partially changing the phase of at least one of the at least one fluid within at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0303] The method may include at least partially evaporating at least one fluid within one of at least one heat exchanger component included in the energy storage system.

[0304] The method may include at least partially changing the phase of the fluid using at least one heater.

[0305] The method may include using at least one electrically driven component.

[0306] The method may include controlling the energy storage system with at least one of a control component, a control loop, and a control system.

[0307] The method may include operating the system in a fill mode.The method may include operating the system in a discharge mode.

[0308] The method may include activating one of the at least one impurity removal components while the system may be in a fill mode.

[0309] The method may include regenerating one of the at least one impurity removal components while the system may be in the emission mode.

[0310] The method may include restoring one of the at least one impurity removal components by a pressure swing and / or a temperature swing.

[0311] The method may include using at least one of the at least one second fluid in the at least one heat exchanger component at a pressure lower than the flow pressure of the fluid whose temperature is to be controlled.

[0312] The method may include using at least one of the at least one second fluid in the at least one heat exchanger component at a pressure higher than the flow pressure of the fluid whose temperature is to be controlled.

[0313] The method may include assisting in the removal of thermal energy content from the temperature-controlled fluid stream by at least one blower and transporting the removed energy to at least one storage component.

[0314] The method may include assisting in the removal of thermal energy content from the at least one storage component by at least one of the at least one blower and transporting the removed energy to the temperature-controlled fluid flow.

[0315] The method may include controlling at least one flow of at least one second fluid separated from the at least one fluid.

[0316] At least one of the fluids may include a liquid phase.

[0317] The method may include confining one liquid phase of the at least one fluid in one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

[0318] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks 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 may be disposed in series with at least one of the.

[0319] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks may comprise a pressure vessel.

[0320] The pressure vessel may contain a pressure of 1 to 37 bar (0.1 to 3.7 MPa), preferably 5 to 30 bar (0.5 to 3 MPa), more preferably 10 to 20 bar (1 to 2 MPa).

[0321] The pressure vessel may contain pressures in excess of 37 bar (3.7 MPa), preferably in excess of 40 bar (4 MPa), more preferably in excess of 55 bar (5.5 MPa).

[0322] One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks may include a pressure control component.

[0323] The method may include vaporizing a fluid within at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank.

[0324] The method may include at least partially separating at least one liquid and / or vapor phase of at least one fluid in a storage tank for the cryogenic liquid.

[0325] The method may include providing the liquid via one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

[0326] The method may include increasing the pressure of the liquid within one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank.

[0327] The method may include maintaining a temperature and pressure of a liquid contained in one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank.

[0328] The method may include varying the pressure in at least one step.

[0329] The method may include varying the pressure in at least two stages.

[0330] At least one fluid may be subjected to a total pressure increase of at least 20 bar (2 MPa), preferably at least 30 bar (3 MPa), more preferably at least 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably at least 55 bar (5.5 MPa).

[0331] At least one fluid may be subjected to a total pressure rise of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 150 bar (15 MPa), most preferably less than 100 bar (10 MPa), most preferably less than 70 bar (7 MPa).

[0332] At least one fluid may be subjected to a total pressure drop of at least 20 bar (2 MPa), preferably at least 30 bar (3 MPa), more preferably at least 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably at least 60 bar (6 MPa).

[0333] At least one fluid may be subjected to a total pressure drop of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 150 bar (15 MPa), most preferably less than 100 bar (10 MPa), most preferably less than 70 bar (7 MPa).

[0334] The method may include changing the temperature of at least one of the at least one fluid from an inlet temperature Ti to an outlet temperature To, where the outlet temperature To may be different from the inlet temperature Ti.

[0335] The outlet temperature To may be at least 100K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 150K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 200K higher than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0336] The outlet temperature To may be up to 1500K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably up to 900K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably up to 500K higher than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0337] The outlet temperature To may be at least 20K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 50K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 80K lower than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0338] The outlet temperature To may be up to 800K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably up to 500K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably up to 300K lower than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0339] The method may include operating at least one component of the system at a polytropic efficiency of greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%.

[0340] The method may include expanding at least one fluid.

[0341] The method may include producing and / or consuming mechanical energy in an energy storage system.

[0342] The method may include generating and / or consuming electrical energy.

[0343] The method may include operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components with the generated energy and / or the consumed energy.

[0344] The method may include operating the system in an emission mode to generate energy.

[0345] The method may include operating the system in a charging mode by consuming energy.

[0346] The charging mode may include consuming energy and storing heat to at least partially produce a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0347] The filling mode may include 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.

[0348] The method may include consuming heat and liquid to generate energy while the system may be in a discharge mode.

[0349] The method may include, while the system is possibly in a discharge mode, varying the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid to generate energy.

[0350] 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.

[0351] The method may include maintaining a system state by maintaining thermal and mechanical potentials.

[0352] The method may include reversibly operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components with a polytropic efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%.

[0353] The method may include operating at least one motor at a variable rotational speed.

[0354] The method may include operating at least one motor at a variable frequency.

[0355] The method may include bidirectionally operating at least one valve.

[0356] The method may include automatically actuating the at least one valve by at least one actuation mechanism.

[0357] The at least one valve may include at least one actuation mechanism.

[0358] The method may include automatically actuating the at least one valve via at least one of the at least one actuation mechanism.

[0359] The method may include establishing at least one fluid communication between at least two components of the system.

[0360] The method may include establishing at least one of the at least one fluid communication between at least one of the at least one liquefaction module and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0361] The method may include establishing at least one of the at least one fluid communication between at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules and at least one of the at least one phase separator.

[0362] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may include at least one of the at least two pressure control components of the energy storage system.

[0363] At least one of the at least one liquefaction modules may include at least one heat exchanger component.

[0364] The method may include splitting at least one fluid stream at least once with a variable split ratio.

[0365] The method may include varying a fluid flow split ratio between one of the at least two thermal storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0366] The method may include adjusting the split ratio to balance the thermal energy content transferred to one of the at least two thermal storage components and the thermal energy content obtained from the liquid phase produced.

[0367] The method may include the step of combining at least two fluid streams. The method may include the step of splitting at least one of the at least one fluid streams of the at least one fluid at least once in at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules. More simply, the stream that is split within the liquefaction module is not the same as the stream that was sent directly to the liquefaction module after external splitting, but rather, for example, a stream that was first sent to thermal store 2 (see Figures 1 to 6 below) and then sent to the liquefaction module.

[0368] The method may include combining the at least two fluid streams in at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0369] The method may include storing heat in at least one liquefaction module.

[0370] The method may include removing fluid from at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0371] The method may include adding fluid to at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0372] The method may include delivering at least one fluid flow from at least one of the at least one dividing element to at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0373] The method reduces the thermal energy content of at least one fluid.

[0374] The method may include discharging at least a portion of the at least one fluid in near thermal and mechanical equilibrium with the ambient air.

[0375] The method may include reducing the thermal energy content of at least a portion of the at least one fluid by a different portion of the at least one fluid at a lower temperature level.

[0376] The method may include supplying only at least one of the at least one fluid to at least one liquefaction module, where one of the at least one fluid is at ambient temperature and elevated pressure, and at least a portion of the at least one fluid has reduced thermal energy content and is at an intermediate pressure. The method includes reducing the thermal energy content of the portion of the at least one fluid by the liquefaction module only. The method includes producing at least a partial liquid phase from one of the at least one fluid by the at least one liquefaction module.

[0377] 10. 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 module and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0378] The method includes reducing the pressure of the at least one fluid to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0379] The method may include at least partially producing a liquid phase from the at least one fluid in one of at least one liquefaction modules, wherein the one of the at least one liquefaction modules may be disposed in series with at least one of at least two pressure control components, at least one of at least two thermal storage components, at least one of at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank, and at least one of at least one phase separator.

[0380] The method may include producing at least a partial liquid phase from the at least one fluid in at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules in parallel with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0381] At least one of the at least one heat exchanger component and at least one of the at least two heat storage components receive fluid flow serially from at least one of the at least one dividing element.

[0382] The method may include 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.

[0383] The at least one liquefaction module may comprise at least two of the at least two pressure control components arranged in series.

[0384] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0385] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0386] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0387] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be disposed in series between two of the at least two heat exchanger components.

[0388] The method may include receiving a fluid flow from at least one of the at least one dividing element at at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0389] The method may include providing at least one fluid flow through at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0390] The method may include providing at least one fluid flow by at least one other component of the at least two pressure control components.

[0391] At least one of the at least two pressure change components may be in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0392] One of the at least two heat storage components may be disposed between one of the at least two pressure control components and one of the at least one heat exchanger.

[0393] The method may include operating at least one liquefaction module to produce at least 20 weight percent liquid phase, more preferably at least 30 weight percent, and most preferably at least 40 weight percent liquid phase.

[0394] The method may include operating at least one liquefaction module to produce at least a partial liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure of less than 25 bar (2.5 MPa), more preferably less than 20 bar (2 MPa), and most preferably less than 18 bar (1.8 MPa).

[0395] The method may include operating at least one liquefaction module to produce an at least partially liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure greater than 3 bar (0.3 MPa), more preferably greater than 5 bar (0.5 MPa), and most preferably greater than 10 bar (1 MPa).

[0396] The method may include reducing the pressure of 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.

[0397] The method may include increasing liquid yield of at least one liquefaction module through thermal energy management.

[0398] The method may include producing an at least partially liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid by at least one expansion.

[0399] The method may include increasing the liquid yield from at least one of the at least one fluid with at least one heat exchanger component that assists in second expansion and thermal energy management.

[0400] The method may include increasing the yield by a second expansion.

[0401] The method may include using at least one gas phase of the at least one fluid for the second expansion.

[0402] The method may include achieving a temperature below the dew point of the at least one fluid at a given pressure in the at least one liquefaction module.

[0403] The method may include providing the at least one liquefaction module with fluid flow from at least one of the at least one dividing element at a rate of less than 80 mass percent, more preferably less than 65 mass percent, and most preferably less than 55 mass percent, relative to the amount of fluid entering the dividing element.

[0404] The method may include reducing the thermal energy content of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0405] The method may include reducing the temperature of a component of the energy storage system with at least one fluid.

[0406] The method may include achieving a target operating temperature of a component of the energy storage system with at least one fluid.

[0407] The method may include reducing 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.

[0408] The method may include splitting a fluid flow into at least one stream A and at least one stream B, and providing the at least one stream A to at least one of at least two pressure control components and providing the at least one stream B to at least one of at least one heat exchanger components, where at least one of the at least two pressure control components and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components are arranged in parallel, where the method includes providing the at least one stream A and the at least one stream B through at least one of the at least one splitting element.

[0409] At least one of the at least two pressure control components may be in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0410] The method may include operating 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 at or near at least one temperature constraint.

[0411] The method may include 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 above its phase transition temperature at a given pressure.

[0412] The method may include storing the heat of compression in at least one heat store that includes direct heat exchange.

[0413] The system is configured to carry out the methods described herein.

[0414] The method may include utilizing the systems described herein to perform the methods described herein.

[0415] The methods may include utilizing components of the systems described herein to perform a given step of the methods described herein.

[0416] The invention also relates to the use of the material described herein for energy storage.

[0417] The present invention further relates to the use of the methods described herein for cryogenic energy storage.

[0418] Additionally or alternatively, the present invention relates to the use of the systems described herein for cryogenic energy storage.

[0419] The technology is further described by the following numbered embodiments:

[0420] In the following, system embodiments are discussed. Such embodiments are abbreviated by the letter "S" followed by a number. Whenever reference is made herein to a "system embodiment," such an embodiment is meant.

[0421] S1. An energy storage system, the system comprising: at least one fluid input element for inputting at least one fluid; at least two heat storage components configured to control the temperature of at least one fluid; at least two pressure control components configured to implement at least one pressure change; at least one liquefaction module configured to produce at least a partial liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0422] S2. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the system is configured to vaporize at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0423] 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.

[0424] S4. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one flow direction, and the system is configured to reverse at least one of the at least one flow direction.

[0425] S5. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one fluid output element.

[0426] S6. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least one fluid output element is configured to eject at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0427] S7. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one fluid output element is configured to feed back at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid into the system.

[0428] 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 at least one fluid, and wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0429] 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 at least one fluid prior to the first pressure control component.

[0430] S10. 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 prior to the second pressure control component.

[0431] S11. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the first pressure control component.

[0432] S12. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the second pressure control component.

[0433] S13. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one dividing element configured to divide at least one fluid flow.

[0434] 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 at least one fluid, and wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0435] S15. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid prior to one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0436] 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.

[0437] 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 at least one fluid in parallel with at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0438] S18. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one storage tank for the cryogenic liquid.

[0439] 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 cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

[0440] S20. 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 after one of the at least one dividing element.

[0441] S21. 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 at least one fluid at at least two locations within the system.

[0442] S22. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least three heat storage components.

[0443] S23. A system according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least four heat storage components.

[0444] S24. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, comprising the features of S11, S12 and S17, 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; A system wherein two of the at least four thermal storage components are arranged in series and configured to control the temperature of at least one fluid in parallel with at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0445] S25. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components includes at least one of a pump, a compression component, an expansion component, a heater, a heat exchanger component, a fan, and a blower.

[0446] S26. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components includes at least one positive displacement turbomachine.

[0447] S27. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is configured to compress at least one fluid.

[0448] 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 at least one fluid.

[0449] 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.

[0450] 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 at least one fluid.

[0451] 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.

[0452] S32. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components includes a compressor configured to operate reversibly.

[0453] S33. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least three pressure control components.

[0454] S34. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least four pressure control components.

[0455] S35. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least one fluid input element.

[0456] S36. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0457] S37. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least one fluid output element.

[0458] S38. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0459] S39. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0460] 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.

[0461] S41. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least two pressure control components comprise at least one heater configured to heat at least one fluid.

[0462] S42. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least two pressure control components comprise at least one heat exchanger component configured to change the thermal energy content of at least one fluid.

[0463] 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 at least one fluid.

[0464] S44. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least one phase separator components is configured to supply a vapor phase from the at least one fluid to at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0465] S45. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least one phase separation component.

[0466] S46. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one fluid comprises at least one of air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0467] S47. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one fluid comprises at least one cryogenic liquid: air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0468] S48. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, a first pressure control component; and and a second pressure control component, wherein at least one of the components is configured to compress the at least one fluid to a pressure above a critical pressure of the at least one fluid.

[0469] 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 at least one fluid.

[0470] S50. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one impurity removal component comprises at least one of a filter, an adsorbent station, a phase separator, a cold trap, and a fluid removal component.

[0471] S51. A 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.

[0472] S52. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the impurity removal component removes moisture to reach a dew point of at least 263K, more preferably 243K, and most preferably 223K.

[0473] S53. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one impurity removal component comprises: 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; 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 cryogenic liquid storage tanks, the system being disposed in series with at least one of the.

[0474] S54. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least one impurity removal components is configured to remove impurities immediately after one of the at least one fluid input elements.

[0475] S55. A system according to either 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.

[0476] S56. A system according to embodiment S49, wherein the system is configured to activate at least one impurity removal component after the first pressure control component and / or after the second pressure control component.

[0477] S57. A system according to embodiment S49, wherein the system is configured to operate at least one impurity removal component after and / or before at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0478] S58. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises at least one storage portion configured to store thermal energy.

[0479] S59. A system according to any 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.

[0480] S60. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one reservoir is at least one of a packed bed thermal reservoir, a structured solid thermal reservoir, a latent heat reservoir.

[0481] S61. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one fluid includes at least one first fluid and at least one second fluid.

[0482] S62. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one first fluid is not in direct contact with the at least one second fluid.

[0483] S63. A system according to 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, and wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to utilize at least one second fluid.

[0484] S64. A system according to either of the previous two 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.

[0485] S65. A system according to any of embodiments S61-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.

[0486] S66. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components includes one of at least two pressure control components configured to control the flow of at least one second fluid.

[0487] S67. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components includes at least one heat exchanger component configured to control the thermal energy content of at least one fluid.

[0488] 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.

[0489] S69. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and embodiment S67, wherein the at least one second fluid is at least one of a gas, a liquid, a suspension, a suspension including a phase change material, or any combination.

[0490] S70. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the system is configured to store thermal energy via at least one second fluid.

[0491] S71. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and embodiment S59, comprising the features of embodiments S58, S63, S66, and S67, wherein the at least one second fluid is configured to transfer thermal energy to or from the at least one reservoir by direct heat exchange.

[0492] S72. A system according to any 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.

[0493] S73. A system according to any 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.

[0494] S74. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least a portion of the system is configured to withstand pressures greater than 1 bar (0.1 MPa), preferably greater than 10 bar (1 MPa), more preferably greater than 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably greater than 50 bar (5 MPa).

[0495] S75. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least a portion of the system is configured to withstand pressures of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 250 bar (25 MPa), and more preferably less than 200 bar (20 MPa).

[0496] S76. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two heat storage components includes at least one cold storage component.

[0497] S77. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components includes at least one thermal storage component.

[0498] S78. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and features of S58, wherein at least one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to store heat at a temperature higher than the ambient air temperature.

[0499] S79. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and features of S58, wherein at least one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to store heat at a temperature below the ambient air temperature.

[0500] S80. A system according to 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 higher than the ambient air temperature.

[0501] S81. A system according to 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 to a temperature below the ambient atmospheric temperature.

[0502] S82. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to control the temperature of at least one fluid at or near at least one temperature constraint.

[0503] S83. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one temperature constraint comprises: 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 components; a minimum temperature of at least one liquid phase of the at least one fluid; The temperature requirements of a part of the system that is downstream of another part of the system, the phase transition temperature of at least one fluid for that pressure level; a phase transition temperature for that pressure level of the at least one second fluid; a common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluid between two successive heat storage components (wherein the common intermediate temperature is determined so as to ensure that the two successive heat storage components reach the same internal temperature distribution at the same time intervals before and after successive filling and discharging of the system); temperature constraints determined to ensure continuous heat flow between at least two media exchanging heat, where the continuous heat flow occurs along the length of the components of the system by direct or indirect heat exchange; or any combination thereof.

[0504] S84. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two heat storage components comprises a temperature below 273K, preferably below 223K, preferably below 183K.

[0505] S85. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two heat storage components comprises a temperature below 150K, preferably below 140K, and more preferably below 120K.

[0506] S86. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate two consecutive thermal storage components with matching temperature constraints.

[0507] S87. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components is configured to extract stored thermal energy.

[0508] S88. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the system is configured to balance extracted and stored thermal energy within at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0509] S89. A 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 phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0510] S90. A system comprising the features of S67 in accordance with the preceding embodiment, wherein one of the at least one heat exchanger components is configured to at least partially evaporate the at least one fluid.

[0511] S91. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one heater is used to at least partially change the phase of the fluid.

[0512] S92. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one electrically driven component.

[0513] S93. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one motor.

[0514] S94. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one generator.

[0515] S95. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one control component.

[0516] S96. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one control loop.

[0517] S97. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one control system.

[0518] S98. A system according to 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.

[0519] S99. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one insulating component comprises: glass wool, Stone wool, Rock wool, polystyrene, Polytetrafluoroethylene, cellulose, Perlite, Polystyrene foam, Polyurethane, aerogel, Soundproofing materials, and a vacuum;

[0520] S100. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one auxiliary component.

[0521] S101. A system according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two thermal storage components comprises at least one auxiliary blower.

[0522] S102. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate in a filling mode.

[0523] S103. A system according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate in an emission mode.

[0524] S104. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate one of the at least one impurity removal components in a filling mode.

[0525] S105. A 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 a release mode.

[0526] S106. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to rejuvenate one of the at least one impurity removal components by a pressure swing and / or a temperature swing.

[0527] S107. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and embodiment S63, wherein at least one of the at least one second fluid is used in at least one heat exchanger component at a lower pressure than the fluid flow whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0528] S108. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and embodiment S63, wherein at least one of the at least one second fluid is used in at least one heat exchanger component at a higher pressure than the fluid flow whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0529] S109. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one blower: assisting in removing thermal energy content from a fluid stream whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two thermal storage components; The system is configured to transport the removed energy to at least one storage component.

[0530] S110. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one blower: assisting in the removal of thermal energy content from at least one thermal storage component; The system is configured to transport the removed energy to a fluid stream whose temperature is controlled by one of at least two thermal storage components.

[0531] S111. A system having the features of embodiment S63, in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one blower is configured to control the flow of at least one of the at least one second fluid separated from the at least one fluid.

[0532] S112. A system according to embodiment S100, wherein at least one auxiliary component comprises: evaporator, motor, generator, Electric drive components, Control loop components, sensors, Piping elements, Insulating parts, Valve elements, Blower, fan, silencer, filter, Heat recovery components, and a power supply component.

[0533] S113. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least two pressure control components comprise at least one non-isothermal compressor.

[0534] S114. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one of an electrical inverter, a wire, a transformer, and an electrical converter.

[0535] S115. A system having the features of embodiment S25, in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the expansion component includes at least one of an expander and a throttle valve.

[0536] S116. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one expander comprises at least one of a turbo expander, a positive displacement expander, a piston, a screw, and a scroll.

[0537] S117. A system according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein at least one fluid comprises a liquid phase.

[0538] S118. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks is configured to confine a liquid phase of one of the at least one fluid.

[0539] S119. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments and embodiment S18, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks: 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, disposed in series with at least one of the system.

[0540] S120. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks comprises at least one thermal insulating component.

[0541] S121. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks comprises a pressure vessel.

[0542] S122. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the pressure vessel has a pressure of 1 to 37 bar (0.1 to 3.7 MPa), preferably 5 to 30 bar (0.5 to 3 MPa), more preferably 10 to 20 bar (1 to 2 MPa).

[0543] S123. The system according to embodiment S121, wherein the pressure vessel has a pressure greater than 37 bar (3.7 MPa), preferably greater than 40 bar (4 MPa), and more preferably greater than 55 bar (5.5 MPa).

[0544] S124. A system according to any of the preceding six embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks comprises a pressure control component.

[0545] S125. A system having the features of embodiment S42, in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one heat exchanger component is configured to perform evaporation of a fluid within at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

[0546] S126. A system according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks comprises at least one phase separator.

[0547] S127. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank is configured to receive the liquid.

[0548] S128. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank is configured to supply liquid.

[0549] S129. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks is configured to increase the pressure of the contained liquid.

[0550] S130. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks is configured to maintain the temperature and pressure of the contained liquid.

[0551] S131. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with one of the at least one storage tank for the cryogenic liquid.

[0552] 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 vary the pressure in at least one step.

[0553] 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 vary the pressure in at least two stages.

[0554] 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 vary the pressure in at least one step.

[0555] S135. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one fluid experiences a total pressure increase of at least 20 bar (2 MPa), preferably at least 30 bar (3 MPa), more preferably at least 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably at least 55 bar (5.5 MPa).

[0556] 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 (30 MPa), preferably less than 150 bar (15 MPa), most preferably less than 100 bar (10 MPa), most preferably less than 70 bar (7 MPa).

[0557] S137. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one fluid experiences a total pressure drop of at least 20 bar (2 MPa), preferably at least 30 bar (3 MPa), more preferably at least 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably at least 55 bar (5.5 MPa).

[0558] S138. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one fluid experiences a total pressure drop of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 150 bar (15 MPa), most preferably less than 100 bar (10 MPa), most preferably less than 70 bar (7 MPa).

[0559] 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 To, wherein the outlet temperature To is different from the inlet temperature Ti.

[0560] S140. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the outlet temperature To is at least 100 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 150 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 200 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0561] S141. A system according to embodiment S139, wherein the outlet temperature To is at most 1500 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at most 900 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at most 500 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0562] S142. A system according to embodiment S139, wherein the outlet temperature To is at least 20 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 50 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 80 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0563] S143. A system according to embodiment S139, wherein the outlet temperature To is at most 800 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at most 500 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at most 300 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0564] 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 polytropic efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%.

[0565] S145. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to expand at least one fluid.

[0566] S146. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components can be connected to one of the at least one electrically driven component.

[0567] S147. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to generate and / or consume mechanical energy.

[0568] S148. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to generate and / or consume electrical energy.

[0569] S149. A system according to either 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 generated energy and / or the consumed energy.

[0570] S150. A system according to any of the preceding three embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate in an emission mode to generate energy.

[0571] S151. A system according to any of the preceding four embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate in a charging mode by consuming energy.

[0572] S152. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the charging mode is configured to consume energy and store heat to at least partially generate a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0573] S153. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the filling 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 the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0574] S154. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the emission mode is configured to consume heat and liquid to generate energy.

[0575] S155. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the emission mode is configured to change the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid to generate energy.

[0576] S156. A system according to either 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 a liquid phase of the at least one fluid.

[0577] S157. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to maintain a system state by maintaining thermal and mechanical potentials.

[0578] S158. A system according to any preceding 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%.

[0579] S159. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises: belt, Gearbox, and a direct shaft connection.

[0580] S160. The system according to embodiment S92, wherein at least one of the at least one electrically driven component is: Induction, Permanent magnets, Magnetoresistance, Synchronization, and A system that includes at least one type of asynchronous.

[0581] S161. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one motor is configured to operate at a variable rotational speed.

[0582] S162. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one motor is configured to operate at a variable frequency.

[0583] S163. A system having the features of embodiments S92 and S114, according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one electrically driven component is connected to at least one of an electrical inverter, a wire, a transformer, or an electrical converter.

[0584] S164. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one valve.

[0585] S165. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one valve is comprised of at least one of a pressure change component, a heat storage component, a liquefaction module, a pump, a phase separator, a tank for cryogenic liquid, and an impurity removal component.

[0586] S166. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein one of the at least one valve is configured to operate bidirectionally.

[0587] S167. A system according to any of the preceding three embodiments, wherein at least one valve is: Check valve, flow control valve, Shut-off valve, Throttle valve, Safety valves, such as pressure relief valves, and a sampling valve.

[0588] S168. A system having the features of embodiment S164, in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one valve comprises at least one actuation mechanism.

[0589] S169. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least one actuation mechanism is configured to automatically actuate the at least one valve.

[0590] S170. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of a pressure change component, a heat storage component, a liquefaction module, a pump, a phase separator, a storage tank for the cryogenic liquid, and an impurity removal component is connected to at least one valve.

[0591] S171. A system having the features of embodiment S96 according to any of the preceding three embodiments, wherein at least one control loop is configured to control at least one of the at least one actuation mechanism.

[0592] S172. A system having the features of embodiments S96 and S92, in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one control loop is configured to control one of the at least one electrically driven component.

[0593] S173. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one pressure relief valve is connected to at least one of the storage tank, at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0594] 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 a positive displacement compressor, a turbo compressor.

[0595] 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 a piston compressor, a scroll compressor, a screw compressor, a vane compressor, or a Roots compressor.

[0596] S176. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction module is configured in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0597] S177. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured in fluid communication with at least one of the at least one phase separator.

[0598] S178. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction module comprises at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0599] 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.

[0600] S180. The system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one heat exchanger component comprises at least one of a plate-fin heat exchanger, a plate heat exchanger, a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, and a regenerative heat exchanger.

[0601] S181. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the dividing element is configured to divide the fluid flow with a variable dividing ratio.

[0602] S182. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein one of the at least one splitting elements is configured to vary a split ratio between one of the at least two thermal storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0603] S183. A system according to the preceding embodiment, wherein one of the at least one splitting elements is configured to adjust a splitting ratio to balance the thermal energy content transferred to one of the at least two thermal storage components and the thermal energy content obtained from the generated liquid phase.

[0604] S184. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system comprises at least one combining element configured to combine at least two fluid streams.

[0605] S185. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction module comprises at least one of the at least one splitting element configured to split the fluid flow at a variable split ratio.

[0606] S186. 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 one confluence element.

[0607] S187. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction module comprises at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0608] S188. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction module comprises at least one of the at least one fluid output element.

[0609] S189. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction module comprises at least one of the one fluid input elements.

[0610] S190. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules comprises at least one insulating component.

[0611] S191. A 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.

[0612] S192. A system having the features of embodiment S179, in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components is configured to receive at least one fluid stream from at least one of the at least one dividing element.

[0613] 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.

[0614] 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 near its thermal and mechanical equilibrium with the ambient air.

[0615] 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 at least a portion of the at least one fluid by another portion of the at least one fluid at a low temperature level.

[0616] 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 at least a portion 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 the at least one fluid is first reduced by the liquefaction module alone, and wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to at least partially produce a liquid phase from the one of the at least one fluid.

[0617] 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.

[0618] S198. A 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 at least one fluid, and wherein one of the at least one liquefaction modules: at least one of the at least two pressure control components; at least one of the at least two heat storage components; one of at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank; and at least one of the at least one phase separator, disposed in series with at least one of the system.

[0619] 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 module is configured in parallel with at least one of the at least two thermal storage components to at least partially produce a liquid phase from at least one fluid.

[0620] S200. A system according to embodiment S192, wherein at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component and at least one of the at least two heat storage components receive fluid flow in series from at least one of the at least one divider element.

[0621] S201. A system according to embodiment S179, comprising the features of embodiment S25, wherein at least one fluid flow of at least one heat exchanger component merges with another fluid flow in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0622] S202. A system having the features of embodiment S25, in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one liquefaction module comprises at least two of the at least two pressure control components arranged in series.

[0623] S203. A system having the features of embodiments S25 and S179, according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0624] S204. A system having the features of embodiments S25 and S179, in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0625] S205. A system according to embodiment S202, comprising the features of embodiment S179, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0626] S206. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series between two of the at least two heat exchanger components.

[0627] S207. A system having the features of embodiment S25, in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments, 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 dividing element.

[0628] S208. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one fluid flow is provided by at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0629] S209. The system according to embodiment S207, wherein the at least one fluid flow is supplied by at least one other component of the at least two pressure control components.

[0630] S210. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure change components is in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0631] S211. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein one of the at least two heat storage components is disposed between one of the at least two pressure control components and one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0632] S212. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one liquefaction module is configured to produce at least 20 mass percent liquid phase, more preferably at least 30 mass percent, and most preferably at least 40 mass percent liquid phase.

[0633] S213. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one liquefaction module is configured to produce at least a partial liquid phase from at least one fluid at a pressure of less than 25 bar (2.5 MPa), more preferably less than 20 bar (2 MPa), and most preferably less than 18 bar (1.8 MPa).

[0634] S214. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one liquefaction module is configured to produce at least a partial liquid phase from at least one fluid at a pressure greater than 3 bar (0.3 MPa), more preferably greater than 5 bar (0.5 MPa), and most preferably greater than 10 bar (1 MPa).

[0635] S215. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein 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.

[0636] S216. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one liquefaction module is configured to increase liquid yield through thermal energy management.

[0637] 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 at least one expansion.

[0638] S218. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one liquefaction module is configured to increase liquid yield from at least one of the at least one fluid by second expansion and at least one heat exchanger component that assists in thermal energy management.

[0639] S219. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one liquefaction module is configured to increase liquid yield by a second expansion.

[0640] S220. The system according to embodiment S218, wherein the vapor phase of at least one of the at least one fluid is used for the second expansion.

[0641] S221. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one liquefaction module achieves a temperature below the dew point of at least one fluid at a given pressure.

[0642] 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 dividing element at a rate of less than 80 mass %, more preferably less than 65 mass %, and most preferably less than 55 mass %, relative to the amount of fluid entering the dividing element.

[0643] 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.

[0644] 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 by at least one fluid.

[0645] S225. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to achieve a target operating temperature of the component by at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0646] S226. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to reduce 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.

[0647] 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, at least one heat exchanger component, and at least one dividing element.

[0648] S228. A system according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0649] 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 components receives at least one fluid stream in parallel from at least one of the at least one dividing element.

[0650] S230. A system having the features of embodiment S83, in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate 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 at or near at least one temperature constraint.

[0651] S231. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the system is configured to operate 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 above its phase transition temperature at a given pressure.

[0652] Method embodiments are discussed below. Such embodiments are abbreviated by the letter "M" followed by a number. Any reference herein to "method embodiments" refers to such embodiments.

[0653] M1. A method for storing energy, comprising: inputting at least one fluid into an energy storage system; controlling the temperature of at least one fluid; performing at least one pressure change; generating an at least partially liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid; storing thermal energy.

[0654] M2. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the energy storage system is according to any of the preceding system embodiments.

[0655] 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.

[0656] 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.

[0657] M5. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling at least one flow direction of at least one fluid, and the method includes reversing at least one of the at least one flow direction.

[0658] M6. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method includes the step of draining at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0659] M7. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method includes feeding back at least a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid to the system.

[0660] M8. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling a temperature of at least one of at least one fluid in an energy storage system according to system embodiment S8.

[0661] M9. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one fluid prior to the first pressure control component.

[0662] M10. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one fluid prior to the second pressure control component.

[0663] M11. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one fluid after the first pressure control component.

[0664] M12. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one fluid after the second pressure control component.

[0665] M13. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises splitting at least one fluid stream.

[0666] M14. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one fluid, and wherein one of the at least two thermal storage components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0667] M15. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid prior to one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0668] M16. The method according to embodiment M14, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one fluid after one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0669] M17. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one fluid arranged in parallel in at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules.

[0670] M18. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes storing at least one of the at least one fluid in an energy storage system.

[0671] M19. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes a step of confining at least one of the at least one fluid in at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank.

[0672] M20. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature and pressure of the at least one fluid in at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

[0673] M21. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of said at least one fluid after the dividing step.

[0674] M22. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid at at least two locations within an energy storage system.

[0675] M23. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, the method comprising: controlling the temperature of at least one fluid after the first pressure control component; controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after the second pressure control component; controlling 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.

[0676] 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.

[0677] M25. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling at least one fluid flow.

[0678] M26. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises generating and / or consuming mechanical energy.

[0679] 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.

[0680] 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.

[0681] M29. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reversibly operating the compressor.

[0682] M30. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling pressure, and wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with at least one of: 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 thermal storage components, and at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0683] M31. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling pressure, and wherein one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in parallel with at least one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0684] M32. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises heating at least one fluid.

[0685] 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.

[0686] 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 at least one fluid.

[0687] M35. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the at least one fluid comprises at least one of air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0688] M36. A method according to either of the previous two embodiments, wherein the method includes using at least one cryogenic liquid comprising at least one of air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof.

[0689] M37. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises: , a method comprising compressing the mixture to a pressure above the critical pressure.

[0690] M38. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises removing impurities from at least one fluid.

[0691] M39. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises removing moisture to reach a dew point of at least 263K, more preferably 243K, most preferably 223K.

[0692] M40. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes removing impurities with at least one impurity removal component, the at least one impurity removal component comprising: 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; 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 cryogenic liquid storage tanks, wherein the at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks is disposed in series with the at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

[0693] 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.

[0694] M42. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes removing impurities before the first pressure control component and / or before the second pressure control component.

[0695] M43. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes activating at least one impurity removal component after the first pressure control component and / or after the second pressure control component.

[0696] M44. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating at least one impurity removal component after and / or before at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0697] M45. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes storing heat in at least one of the at least two heat storage components by direct heat exchange.

[0698] 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.

[0699] M47. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the at least one first fluid is not in direct contact with the at least one second fluid.

[0700] M48. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes storing thermal energy in at least one of at least two thermal storage components, and the method includes utilizing at least one second fluid.

[0701] M49. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one first fluid and at least one of the at least one second fluid are identical.

[0702] M50. The method according to any of the preceding embodiments M1-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.

[0703] M51. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes controlling the flow of at least one of the at least one second fluid.

[0704] M52. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises controlling the thermal energy content of at least one fluid.

[0705] M53. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes controlling the thermal energy content if the system is according to embodiment S67.

[0706] M54. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating direct heat exchange and / or indirect heat exchange.

[0707] M55. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments 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 including a phase change material, or any combination thereof.

[0708] M56. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing thermal energy by means of at least one second fluid.

[0709] M57. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises transferring thermal energy to or from at least one reservoir using direct heat exchange with at least one second fluid.

[0710] M58. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes storing heat of compression in at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0711] M59. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises applying high pressure.

[0712] 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 (0.1 MPa), preferably greater than 10 bar (1 MPa), more preferably greater than 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably greater than 50 bar (5 MPa).

[0713] 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 of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 250 bar (25 MPa), and more preferably less than 200 bar (20 MPa).

[0714] M62. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes storing heat at a temperature higher than the ambient atmospheric temperature.

[0715] M63. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing heat at a temperature below the ambient atmospheric temperature.

[0716] M64. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one fluid at a temperature higher than the ambient atmospheric temperature.

[0717] M65. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one fluid at a temperature below the ambient atmospheric temperature.

[0718] M66. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of at least one fluid at or near at least one temperature constraint.

[0719] M67. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the temperature constraint is: 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 components; a minimum temperature of at least one liquid phase of the at least one fluid; the temperature requirements of a component of the energy storage system that is downstream of another component of the energy storage system; the phase transition temperature of at least one fluid for that pressure level; a phase transition temperature for that pressure level of the at least one second fluid; a common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluid between two successive heat storage components (wherein the common intermediate temperature is determined so as to ensure that the two successive heat storage components reach the same internal temperature distribution before and after successive 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 media exchanging heat, where the continuous heat flow occurs along the length of the component to be stored by direct or indirect heat exchange; or any combination thereof.

[0720] M68. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes matching temperature constraints of at least two thermal storage components.

[0721] M69. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method comprises operating two consecutive heat storage components of the at least two heat storage components with matching temperature constraints.

[0722] M70. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes extracting stored thermal energy from at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0723] M71. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes balancing extracted and stored thermal energy within at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0724] 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 thermal storage components.

[0725] M73. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes at least partially evaporating at least one fluid in one of at least one heat exchanger components included in the energy storage system.

[0726] M74. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises at least partially changing the phase of the fluid using at least one heater.

[0727] M75. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes using at least one electrically driven component.

[0728] M76. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes controlling an energy storage system by at least one of a control component, a control loop, and a control system.

[0729] M77. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes operating the system in a fill mode.

[0730] M78. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating the system in an emission mode.

[0731] M79. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes activating one of the at least one impurity removal components while the system is in the fill mode.

[0732] M80. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes regenerating one of the at least one impurity removal components while the system is in the emission mode.

[0733] M81. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes restoring one of the at least one impurity removal components by pressure swing and / or temperature swing.

[0734] M82. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes using at least one of the at least one second fluid at a pressure lower than the pressure of the fluid flow whose temperature is to be controlled in at least one heat exchanger component.

[0735] M83. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes using at least one of the at least one second fluid at a pressure that exceeds the pressure of the fluid flow whose temperature is to be controlled in at least one heat exchanger component.

[0736] M84. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, comprising: assisting in the removal of thermal energy content from a temperature-controlled fluid stream; and transporting the removed energy to at least one storage component.

[0737] M85. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises, by at least one of the at least one blower: assisting in removing thermal energy content from at least one storage component; and transferring the removed energy to a temperature-controlled fluid stream.

[0738] 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 fluid separated from the at least one fluid.

[0739] M87. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one fluid comprises a liquid phase.

[0740] M88. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes confining a liquid phase of one of the at least one fluid in one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

[0741] M89. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks comprises: one of at least two pressure control components; one of 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, disposed in series with at least one of the.

[0742] M90. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks comprises a pressure vessel.

[0743] M91. A method according to the previous embodiment, wherein the pressure in the pressure vessel is 1 to 37 bar (0.1 to 3.7 MPa), preferably 5 to 30 bar (0.5 to 3 MPa), more preferably 10 to 20 bar (1 to 2 MPa).

[0744] M92. The method according to embodiment M90, wherein the pressure vessel contains a pressure greater than 37 bar (3.7 MPa), preferably greater than 40 bar (4 MPa), and more preferably greater than 55 bar (5.5 MPa).

[0745] M93. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks comprises a pressure control component.

[0746] M94. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes evaporating fluid within at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

[0747] M95. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes at least partially separating at least one liquid and / or vapor phase of at least one fluid in a storage tank for the cryogenic liquid.

[0748] M96. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes a step of supplying liquid by one of at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank.

[0749] M97. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes increasing the pressure of the liquid in one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank.

[0750] M98. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes maintaining the temperature and pressure of a liquid contained in one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank.

[0751] M99. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises varying the pressure in at least one stage.

[0752] M100. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises varying the pressure in at least two stages.

[0753] M101. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the total pressure rise of at least one fluid is at least 20 bar (2 MPa), preferably at least 30 bar (3 MPa), more preferably at least 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably at least 55 bar (5.5 MPa).

[0754] M102. A method according to either of the previous two embodiments, wherein the total pressure rise of at least one fluid is less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 150 bar (15 MPa), more preferably less than 100 bar (10 MPa), and most preferably less than 70 bar (7 MPa).

[0755] M103. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the total pressure drop of at least one fluid is at least 20 bar (2 MPa), preferably at least 30 bar (3 MPa), more preferably at least 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably at least 60 bar (6 MPa).

[0756] M104. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the total pressure drop of at least one fluid is less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 150 bar (15 MPa), most preferably less than 100 bar (10 MPa), most preferably less than 70 bar (7 MPa).

[0757] M105. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes changing a temperature of at least one of the at least one fluid from an inlet temperature Ti to an outlet temperature To, wherein the outlet temperature To is different from the inlet temperature Ti.

[0758] M106. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the outlet temperature To is at least 100K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 150K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 200K higher than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0759] M107. The method according to embodiment M105, wherein the outlet temperature To is at most 1500 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at most 900 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at most 500 K higher than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0760] M108. The method according to embodiment M105, wherein the outlet temperature To is at least 20 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 50 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 80 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0761] M109. The method according to embodiment M105, wherein the outlet temperature To is at most 800 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at most 500 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at most 300 K lower than the inlet temperature Ti.

[0762] 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 polytropic efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%.

[0763] M111. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises expanding at least one fluid.

[0764] M112. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes generating and / or consuming mechanical energy in an energy storage system.

[0765] M113. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes generating and / or consuming electrical energy.

[0766] M114. A method according to either of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the method includes a step of operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components with the generated energy and / or the consumed energy.

[0767] M115. A method according to any of the preceding three embodiments, wherein the method includes operating the system in an emission mode to generate energy.

[0768] M116. A method according to any of the preceding four embodiments, wherein the method includes operating the system in a charging mode by consuming energy.

[0769] M117. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the charging mode includes consuming energy and storing heat to at least partially generate a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0770] M118. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the filling mode includes consuming energy to at least partially generate 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.

[0771] M119. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes consuming heat and liquid to generate energy while the system is in discharge mode.

[0772] M120. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes varying the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid to generate energy while the system is in a discharge mode.

[0773] M121. A method according to either 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 a liquid phase of the at least one fluid.

[0774] M122. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises maintaining a system state by maintaining thermal and mechanical potentials.

[0775] M123. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes reversibly operating at least one of the at least two pressure control components with a polytropic efficiency greater than 40%, preferably greater than 60%, and more preferably greater than 80%.

[0776] 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.

[0777] M125. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating at least one motor at a variable frequency.

[0778] M126. A method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating at least one valve bidirectionally.

[0779] M127. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises automatically actuating at least one valve by at least one actuation mechanism.

[0780] M128. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one valve comprises at least one actuation mechanism.

[0781] M129. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes automatically actuating the at least one valve via at least one of the at least one actuation mechanism.

[0782] M130. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes establishing at least one fluid communication between at least two components of the system.

[0783] M131. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes establishing at least one of the at least one fluid communication between at least one of the at least one liquefaction module and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0784] M132. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes establishing at least one of the at least one fluid communication between at least one of the at least one liquefaction module and at least one of the at least one phase separator.

[0785] M133. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction module comprises at least one of the at least two pressure control components of the energy storage system.

[0786] M134. A system according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one liquefaction module comprises at least one heat exchanger component.

[0787] M135. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises splitting at least one fluid stream at least once with a variable split ratio.

[0788] M136. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes varying a fluid flow split ratio between one of the at least two thermal storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0789] M137. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes adjusting a split ratio to balance the thermal energy content transferred to one of the at least two thermal storage components and the thermal energy content obtained from the generated liquid phase.

[0790] M138. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises the step of joining at least two fluid streams.

[0791] M139. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes splitting at least one of the at least one fluid streams of at least one fluid in at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules at least once.

[0792] M140. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes combining at least two fluid streams in at least one of the at least one liquefaction module.

[0793] M141. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing heat in at least one liquefaction module.

[0794] 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 module.

[0795] 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 module.

[0796] M144. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes delivering at least one fluid flow from at least one of the at least one dividing element to at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0797] M145. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method reduces the thermal energy content of at least one fluid.

[0798] 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 to a state close to thermal and mechanical equilibrium with the ambient air.

[0799] M147. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reducing the thermal energy content of at least a portion of the at least one fluid by a different portion of the at least one fluid having a lower temperature level.

[0800] M148. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises 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 the at least one fluid has a low thermal energy content and is at an intermediate pressure; The method includes reducing the thermal energy content of a portion of at least one of the at least one fluid by only a liquefaction module, and the method includes producing at least a partial liquid phase from one of the at least one fluid by the at least one liquefaction module.

[0801] M149. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes establishing fluid communication between one of the at least one liquefaction module and at least one of the at least two thermal storage components.

[0802] M150. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reducing the pressure of at least one fluid to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0803] M151. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, the method comprising the step of at least partially producing a liquid phase from said at least one fluid in one of at least one liquefaction module, wherein one of the at least one liquefaction module: at least one of the at least two pressure control components; at least one of the at least two heat storage components; one of at least one cryogenic liquid storage tank; and at least one of the at least one phase separator, disposed in series with at least one of the.

[0804] M152. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes producing at least partially a liquid phase from at least one fluid in at least one component of at least one of the at least one liquefaction module in parallel with at least one of the at least two heat storage components.

[0805] M153. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component and at least one of the at least two heat storage components receive fluid flow in series from at least one of the at least one divider element.

[0806] M154. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes 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.

[0807] M155. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one liquefaction module comprises at least two of the at least two pressure control components arranged in series.

[0808] M156. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0809] M157. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0810] M158. The method according to embodiment M155, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in parallel with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0811] M159. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is disposed in series between two of the at least two heat exchanger components.

[0812] M160. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes receiving a fluid flow at at least one of the at least two pressure control components from at least one of the at least one dividing element.

[0813] M161. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes providing at least one fluid flow through at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0814] M162. The method according to embodiment M160, wherein the method includes providing at least one fluid flow through another one of the at least two pressure control components.

[0815] M163. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure change components is in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0816] M164. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein one of the at least two heat storage components is disposed between one of the at least two pressure control components and one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0817] M165. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating 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 liquid phase.

[0818] M166. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating at least one liquefaction module to produce at least a partially liquid phase from at least one fluid at a pressure of less than 25 bar (2.5 MPa), more preferably less than 20 bar (2 MPa), and most preferably less than 18 bar (1.8 MPa).

[0819] M167. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises operating at least one liquefaction module to produce at least a partially liquid phase from at least one fluid at a pressure greater than 3 bar (0.3 MPa), more preferably greater than 5 bar (0.5 MPa), and most preferably greater than 10 bar (1 MPa).

[0820] M168. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes reducing the pressure in at least one of the at least one liquefaction module to near atmospheric pressure to reduce the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid.

[0821] M169. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises increasing the liquid yield of at least one liquefaction module by thermal energy management.

[0822] M170. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises producing at least a partially liquid phase from at least one of the at least one fluid by at least one expansion.

[0823] M171. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the method includes increasing liquid yield from at least one of the at least one fluid with at least one heat exchanger component that assists in second expansion and thermal energy management.

[0824] M172. The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises increasing the yield by a second expansion.

[0825] 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 for the second expansion.

[0826] M174. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises achieving, in at least one liquefaction module, a temperature below the dew point of at least one fluid at a given pressure.

[0827] M175. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes providing, to the at least one liquefaction module, a flow of fluid from at least one of the at least one dividing element at a rate of less than 80 mass percent, more preferably less than 65 mass percent, and most preferably less than 55 mass percent, relative to the amount of fluid entering the dividing element.

[0828] M176. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises reducing the thermal energy content of at least one of the at least one fluid.

[0829] M177. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes reducing the temperature of a component of the energy storage system with at least one fluid.

[0830] M178. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes achieving a target operating temperature of a component of the energy storage system with at least one fluid.

[0831] M179. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes 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.

[0832] M180. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, the method comprising: Splitting a fluid stream into at least one stream A and at least one stream B; providing at least one stream A to at least one of the at least two pressure control components and at least one stream B to at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components, 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 components are arranged in parallel; The method includes providing at least one stream A and at least one stream B by at least one of the at least one dividing element.

[0833] M181. A method according to any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one of the at least two pressure control components is in series with at least one of the at least one heat exchanger components.

[0834] M182. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, the method comprising operating 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 at least one fluid at / near at least one temperature constraint.

[0835] M183. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method includes operating 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 above its phase transition temperature at a given pressure.

[0836] M184. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, wherein the method comprises storing heat of compression in at least one heat storage unit comprising direct heat exchange.

[0837] S232. A system according to any of the preceding system embodiments, wherein the system is configured to perform a method according to any of the preceding method embodiments.

[0838] M185. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, the method comprising utilizing a system according to any of the preceding system embodiments to perform a method according to any of the preceding method embodiments.

[0839] M186. A method according to any of the preceding method embodiments, the method comprising utilizing components of a system according to any of the preceding system embodiments to perform a given step of the method according to any of the preceding method embodiments.

[0840] In the following, use embodiments are discussed. Such embodiments are abbreviated by the letter "U" followed by a number. Whenever "use embodiments" are mentioned in this specification, such embodiments are meant.

[0841] U1. Use of a method according to any of the preceding method embodiments for energy storage.

[0842] U2. Use of a method according to any of the preceding method embodiments for an energy storage unit.

[0843] U3. Use of an energy storage part of a system according to any of the aforementioned system embodiments.

[0844] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show embodiments of the invention, which are intended to be illustrative only and not limiting of the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0845] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 illustrates an additional configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates an additional configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a system with two additional expanders and one additional heat exchanger in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a system for boosting and expanding a bypass flow to a high pressure to generate cold air, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a priming module attached to and associated with an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0846] It should be noted that not all of the drawings are labeled with reference numbers. Instead, some reference numbers have been omitted from some of the drawings for brevity and ease of explanation. Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0847] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system configured to store energy according to an embodiment of the present invention. Briefly, the system includes compression / expansion stages, represented conceptually 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 potentially be mixed with other available fluid supplies, must first be prepared for further processing. This preparation step can remove any components, including moisture, that could undesirably condense or even freeze under the operating conditions of the downstream system. The dry fluid is then compressed to the intended operating pressure, which may involve multiple compression stages. After each compression stage, the heat of compression carried by the fluid is stored, as needed, in thermal storage components 130 and 140 (which may themselves include multiple subcomponents). Thus, each compression stage combined with the heat storage results in a fluid stream at high pressure and room temperature. Finally, a fluid stream at the desired pressure and room temperature is achieved and supplied to other sections of the process, such as the liquefaction module 1000. The primary purpose of the liquefaction module 1000 is to at least partially liquefy the fluid. To optimize the process, this liquefaction occurs at an intermediate pressure. Liquefaction can occur independently of or in conjunction with external heat storage components 130, 140.

[0848] If the liquefaction module 1000 is configured to allow the entire high-pressure, room-temperature fluid stream to be fed into the liquefaction module 1000, the stream will be at least partially liquefied into a two-phase stream. The two phases are separated from each other in a phase separator 150, with the liquid phase being stored and the vapor phase being fed back to the liquefaction module 1000 for use in the thermal energy management process that is the core of the liquefaction module 1000. The high-pressure, room-temperature fluid may also be split, with a portion first pre-cooled and / or partially liquefied by a thermal storage element 130, 140, shown here as "thermal storage 2" 140. Such a thermal storage element 140 is referred to as a refrigeration section because it is at a temperature below room temperature. As a result, the high-pressure, room-temperature fluid is cooled as it interacts with the refrigeration section. In this situation, the liquefaction module 1000 is assisted by a thermal storage element 130, 140 to achieve even higher liquid yields. To prepare the thermal storage components for later use in pre-cooling the high pressure, room temperature fluid, additional components can be used, or the reservoir can be prepared by creating liquid via the liquefaction module 1000 and releasing it as described below.

[0849] The so-called fill mode of the system involves consuming energy to supply fluid to the process, compressing the fluid to a desired pressure, storing the available heat of compression, at least partially liquefying the fluid (either using or independently of the refrigeration unit), and storing the liquid phase at an intermediate pressure. The accessible portion of the energy consumed in this mode is stored in the form of heat, for example, in the thermal store 1 130, and in the form of a pressurized liquid (which may be cryogenic) in a liquid storage tank. The system can remain in the fill state and transition to the discharge mode as needed. In this mode, the liquid phase is pressurized to the system's maximum pressure in the fill mode and then vaporized in the refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit, at least partially depleted during the previous fill mode, is regenerated to provide latent and sensible heat of vaporization to heat the vaporized liquid. During this process, the refrigeration unit is regenerated by providing heat and becomes colder. For example, the high pressure, room temperature gas produced as the output of the liquid phase interaction with Heat Store 2 140 is further heated by interacting with Heat Store 1 130, which stored heat of compression during the charging mode, resulting in high pressure, high temperature gas, which then expands to power a selected generator to produce energy and is then discharged.

[0850] It should be understood that the system is designed and tuned so that the cooling capacity of the refrigeration section produced during the system's discharge mode must balance the amount of heat that needs to be removed to pre-cool the portion of the flow that will interact with it in the next fill mode. To optimize use of the refrigeration section, splitting elements can be used with various split ratios to adjust the proportion of fluid that flows directly into the liquefaction module 1000 and the proportion of fluid that interacts with the refrigeration section to be pre-cooled. Thus, after each fill-drain cycle, the refrigeration section will be in the same state.

[0851] Additionally, as previously mentioned, during the fill mode, the vapor phase outlet of the phase separator, which is at intermediate pressure, is fed back to the liquefaction module 1000 in order to maximize the refrigeration capacity of this stream for use by expanding it to a lower pressure within the liquefaction module 1000. The stream is then either discharged from the liquefaction module 1000 or mixed with fresh, non-dried input fluid, thereby requiring less labor / energy for drying and preparation.

[0852] Liquefaction module 1000 includes multiple components. The goal of liquefaction, in the context of the present invention, is achieved through thermal energy management. The components of liquefaction module 1000 may include various arrangements and configurations that allow for different thermal energy management options. It should be understood that liquefaction module 1000 is designed and tuned such that the temperature and pressure of the produced liquid ensure a balance between the heat removed from the fluid interacting with the refrigeration section in a fill mode and the heat added to the fluid from the refrigeration section in a discharge mode.

[0853] The layout of the internal components of a liquefaction module 1000 compatible with the presented energy storage system is shown in the following figures. It should be understood that such layout is merely exemplary and does not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0854] 2 to 6 show a schematic configuration of a liquefaction module 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0855] Briefly, the liquefaction module 1000 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a heat exchanger 1010, expanders 1020 and 1030, and a throttle valve 1040. In FIG. 2, a portion of the high-pressure, room-temperature fluid stream after the split enters the liquefaction module 1000. Another split then occurs within the liquefaction module 1000, where a portion of the fluid is expanded and mixed with the previously expanded gas stream exiting the phase separator 150. This mixture, now at the lowest possible pressure and temperature, is used to cool the remaining portion of the unexpanded stream after the internal split. This cooling process occurs in the heat exchanger components. At this point, the cooled stream exiting the heat exchanger is mixed with another stream (another portion of the split outside the liquefaction module 1000) that has been pre-cooled by interaction with a refrigeration section. This high-pressure, low-temperature mixture is then throttled to an intermediate temperature, resulting in partial liquefaction. The two-phase stream exits the liquefaction module 1000, and the liquid phase is separated from the vapor phase and stored. The vapor phase is fed back to the liquefaction module 1000 and processed as described above. Once the designated fill mode period has expired, the accumulated liquid is held in storage and used in the next discharge mode to generate energy and set up the thermal storage components.

[0856] Briefly, the liquefaction module 1000 shown in FIG. 3 comprises heat exchangers 1050, 1060, and 1070, expanders 1080, 1090, and a throttle valve 1110. In FIG. 3, a portion of the high-pressure, room-temperature fluid stream after splitting enters the liquefaction module 1000. Another split then takes place within the liquefaction module 1000, where one portion is pre-cooled in a heat exchanger before being expanded to an intermediate pressure (the same pressure as the gas exiting the phase separator and fed back into the liquefaction module 1000). After this expansion, the stream is mixed with the phase separator gas stream and expanded to the lowest possible pressure to create the coldest possible stream of fluid for liquefaction. Another portion of the high-pressure, room-temperature fluid stream after splitting outside the liquefaction module 1000 is sent to thermal store 2 for pre-cooling. It then enters the liquefaction module 1000 and is split again. A portion of that stream is first mixed with the remaining stream of another split of the high-pressure, room-temperature stream to create an even cooler stream. The final stream is then further cooled in a heat exchanger and mixed with the remainder of the stream entering the liquefaction module 1000 from the refrigeration section. This final stream is further cooled in a heat exchanger and at least partially liquefied before passing through a throttle valve. This two-phase stream exits the liquefaction module 1000, where the liquid phase is separated from the vapor phase and stored. The vapor phase is fed back to the liquefaction module 1000 and processed as described above. After the specified fill mode period has ended, the accumulated liquid is held in storage and can be used in the next discharge mode to generate energy.

[0857] Briefly, the liquefaction module 1000 shown in FIG. 4 comprises heat exchangers 1110 and 1120 and expanders 1130 and 1140. In FIG. 4, a portion of the split high-pressure, room-temperature fluid stream enters the liquefaction module 1000. This stream is pre-cooled in the heat exchangers and then mixed with the remaining portion of the split stream, which has already been pre-cooled in thermal store 2 140 using refrigeration before being fed to the liquefaction module 1000. The mixture is expanded to an intermediate pressure, where partial liquefaction occurs. This two-phase stream is then sent to another heat exchanger for further cooling to increase the liquid yield. The resulting two-phase stream with a higher liquid fraction is discharged from the liquefaction module 1000, where the liquid phase is separated from the vapor phase and stored. The vapor phase is fed back to the liquefaction module 1000 and expanded to the lowest possible pressure, which will provide the required cooling capacity for the liquefaction module 1000. Once the specified fill mode period has expired, the accumulated liquid is retained in the reservoir and used in the next discharge mode to generate energy.

[0858] Briefly, the liquefaction module 1000 shown in FIG. 5 includes a heat exchanger 1150, an expander 1160, and a throttle valve 1170. In FIG. 5, a portion of the high-pressure, room-temperature fluid stream after splitting enters the liquefaction module 1000. This stream is pre-cooled in the heat exchanger and then mixed with the remaining split stream, which has already been pre-cooled in the thermal store 2 using a refrigeration unit and entered the liquefaction module 1000. This pre-cooled, high-pressure mixture then passes through the throttle valve, where its pressure is reduced to an intermediate level and at least partially liquefied. This two-phase stream is discharged from the liquefaction module 1000, and the liquid phase is separated from the vapor phase and stored. The vapor phase is fed back to the liquefaction module 1000 and expanded to the lowest possible pressure, providing the required cooling capacity for the liquefaction module 1000. After the designated charging mode period is over, the accumulated liquid is retained in storage and used in the next discharging mode to generate energy.

[0859] Briefly, the liquefaction module 1000 shown in FIG. 6 comprises heat exchangers 1190, 1210, and 1230, a compressor 1180, an expander 1240, a thermal storage element 1220, and a throttle valve 1200. In FIG. 6, a portion of the split high-pressure, room-temperature fluid stream enters the liquefaction module 1000. This stream serves as the primary source of refrigeration for the liquefaction module 1000. It is first compressed to a higher pressure level, and the heat of compression is stored in the thermal storage element 3. It is then pre-cooled in a heat exchanger before expanding to the lowest possible pressure. This results in a stream with the required cooling capacity for the liquefaction module 1000. The remaining portion of the split stream is sent to thermal storage element 2 and pre-cooled using a refrigeration element. Upon entering the liquefaction module 1000, this stream is further cooled in a heat exchanger before being throttled to an intermediate pressure, where it is at least partially liquefied. To increase the liquid yield to 100%, this stream flows into another heat exchanger where further liquefaction takes place. The produced liquid is then stored. After the specified charge mode period has ended, the accumulated liquid is held in storage and used in the next discharge mode to generate energy.

[0860] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising heat exchanger 160 and expanders 170 and 180. The components of Figure 7 show a method according to an embodiment of the invention for regenerating cold in thermal store 2 140 (refrigerated section), regardless of the discharge mode of the system. Along the dashed line in this diagram, the high-pressure, room-temperature stream discharged from thermal store 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 heat exchanger 160. The other part is pre-cooled (at high pressure) and, upon discharge from the heat exchanger, expands to the lowest possible pressure. This results in a stream with a cooling capacity capable of regenerating the refrigerated section in thermal store 2 140.

[0861] Although the preferred embodiment has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment is provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed in any way as limiting the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

[0862] Reference numbers and letters set forth within parentheses in the claims identifying features described in the embodiments and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are provided to assist the reader in illustrating the claimed subject matter, and the inclusion of such reference numbers and letters should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0863] When terms such as "front" and "rear" are used, they may be considered according to the direction of flow. If the direction of flow is reversed according to S4 and / or M5, features described in the embodiments should be understood to have a modified meaning, with "front" being replaced by "rear" and vice versa, only if such features are affected by the reversal of the direction of flow.

[0864] When terms such as "parallel" or "series" are used, they may be thought of according to process engineering steps in the context of the feature being described.

[0865] When using terms such as thermal energy management, the term includes, but is not limited to, system characteristics such as maximum operating pressure and liquefaction pressure, the division concept and ratio between the liquefaction module and the thermal storage components, any internal division of the liquefaction module, the arrangement of heat exchangers for continuous flow between two fluids, the arrangement of components of the liquefaction module, etc., all of which relate to the process engineering steps in the context of the feature being used.

[0866] The term "at least one of a first option and a second option" is intended to mean either the first option or the second option, or the first option and the second option.

[0867] Whenever relative terms such as "about," "substantially," or "approximately" are used in this specification, such terms should be interpreted as including the exact terms as well. That is, for example, "substantially straight" should be interpreted as including "(exactly) straight."

[0868] Whenever steps are recited above or otherwise in the appended claims, please note that the order in which the steps are recited herein may be random. That is, unless otherwise specified or apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the order in which the steps are recited may be random. That is, when this document describes, for example, a method as including steps (A) and (B), this does not necessarily mean that step (A) precedes step (B); step (A) may be performed (at least partially) simultaneously with step (B), or step (B) may precede step (A). Furthermore, when it is said that step (X) precedes another step (Z), this does not mean that there are no steps between steps (X) and (Z). That is, when step (X) precedes step (Z), it includes not only the situation in which step (X) is performed immediately before step (Z), but also the situation in which (X) is performed before one or more steps (Y1), ..., following step (Z). When using terms such as "after" or "before," corresponding considerations apply. Thus, those skilled in the art will understand that the order of features and steps is not critical to the resulting configuration and its effects unless expressly required and / or required by context. Furthermore, regardless of the order of features and steps, those skilled in the art will understand that there may or may not be a time delay between steps between some or all of the steps described.

Claims

1. An energy storage system, wherein the system is A fluid input element for inputting at least one fluid, At least two heat storage components configured to control the temperature of at least one fluid, At least two pressure control components configured to perform at least one pressure change, A system comprising: at least one liquefaction module configured to generate a liquid phase at least partially from at least one of the aforementioned at least one fluids.

2. The aforementioned system, Evaporating at least one portion of the at least one of the aforementioned fluids, and The device is configured to perform at least one of the following: condensing at least one portion of at least one of the aforementioned at least one fluids. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system has at least one flow direction, and the system is configured to reverse at least one of the at least one flow direction.

3. The aforementioned system, A fluid output element comprising at least one fluid output element configured to discharge at least one of the at least one fluids, At least one dividing element configured to divide the flow of at least one fluid and / or to divide the fluid flow with a variable dividing 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 heat storage components comprises at least one storage unit configured to store thermal energy, and 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 modules, At least one, At least one cryogenic liquid storage tank, wherein one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks is configured to contain the liquid phase of one of the at least one fluids, At least one impurity removal component configured to remove impurities from the at least one fluid, At least one electric drive component, At least one control system, At least one of the following: sensors, insulating components, piping elements, heat exchanger components, heaters, and filters. At least one auxiliary part, At least one valve, the at least one valve comprising at least one of a pressure change component, a heat storage component, a liquefaction module, a pump, a phase separator, a cryogenic liquid tank, an impurity removal component, and At least one of the following: an electrical inverter, wire, transformer, or electrical converter. The system according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the following:

4. One of the at least two heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid, and the one of the at least two heat storage components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least two pressure control components. At least one, One of the at least two heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid, and the one of the at least two heat storage components is arranged in series with at least one of the at least one liquefaction module. At least one of the above is that one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid in parallel with at least one component of the at least one liquefaction module, 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 dividing element, At least one of the above at least one liquefaction module, It is in fluid communication with at least one of the two heat storage components, and The system according to claim 3, configured to be in fluid communication with at least one of the above-mentioned phase separator components.

5. The aforementioned system, The system comprises at least four heat storage components, 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 four heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid after the second pressure control component. The system wherein two of the at least four heat 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 the at least one liquefaction module, The system is configured to operate two consecutive heat storage components under matching temperature constraints, and One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks, At least one of the two pressure control components mentioned above, At least one of the two heat storage components mentioned above, At least one of the above-mentioned liquefaction modules, It is arranged in series with at least one of the aforementioned at least one phase separator component, and One of the at least two heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid at at least two locations within the system, one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks, The system according to claim 3, comprising at least one of the following.

6. The at least one fluid includes at least one cryogenic liquid from among air, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, or any combination thereof. At least one of the 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 The aforementioned system, At least one of the at least two pressure control components configured to operate reversibly, The system is configured to store heat in at least one of the at least two heat storage components using 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 heat storage components, one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to utilize the at least one second fluid, at least one of the at least two heat storage components includes one of the at least two pressure control components configured to control the flow of the at least one second fluid, and at least one of the at least two heat storage components includes at least one heat exchanger component configured to control the thermal energy content of the at least one fluid. At least one, At least one of the at least one second fluid is used in the at least one heat exchanger component at a pressure lower than the flow of the fluid whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two heat storage components, and At least one of the at least one second fluid is used in the at least one heat exchanger component at a pressure higher than the flow of the fluid whose temperature is controlled by one of the at least two heat storage components. The at least one second fluid, which is at least one of the following: The system according to claim 4, comprising at least one of the following.

7. At least one of the first pressure control component and the second pressure control component is configured to compress the at least one fluid to a pressure exceeding the critical pressure; at least one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to at least partially change at least one phase of the at least one fluid; one of the at least one dividing element is configured to adjust the dividing ratio to balance the amount of thermal energy transferred to one of the at least two heat storage components with the amount of thermal energy obtained from the generated liquid phase; the system is configured to expand the at least one fluid; and the at least one liquefaction module is configured to increase the liquid yield by thermal energy management. The aforementioned system, The system is configured to store compression heat 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 in a state close to its thermal and mechanical equilibrium with the ambient air. One of the at least one liquefaction modules is configured to reduce the thermal energy content of at least one fluid by a different portion of the at least one fluid at an even lower temperature level, and The system includes at least one of the at least one liquefaction module configured to increase the liquid yield by a second expansion, The aforementioned system, One of the at least two pressure control components configured to generate and / or consume mechanical energy, The system is configured to balance the thermal energy extracted and stored within at least one of the at least two heat storage components. The system is configured to regenerate one of the at least one impurity removal component in release mode. One of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks configured to increase the pressure of the contained liquid, At least one of the at least two pressure control components configured to change the pressure in at least one stage, One of the at least one dividing element is configured to change the division ratio between one of the at least two heat storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction modules, One of the at least one liquefaction modules is supplied with at least one of the at least one fluids at room temperature and high pressure, and at least a portion of the at least one of the at least one fluids at an intermediate pressure, wherein the thermal energy content of the at least one portion of the at least one fluid is initially reduced only by the liquefaction module, and the at least one liquefaction module is configured to produce a liquid phase at least partially from the at least one of the at least one fluids, and The system according to claim 5, comprising at least one of the systems configured to achieve a target operating temperature of a component by at least one of the at least one fluids.

8. The aforementioned system, At least one of the at least two heat storage components is configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid by at least one temperature constraint condition or by conditions close to that condition, and The system includes at least one of the systems configured to control the temperature of the at least one fluid under at least one temperature constraint condition / condition close to that condition by acting at least two of the at least two pressure control components and at least one of the at least one heat exchanger component, The aforementioned at least one temperature constraint condition is, The highest temperature, the highest temperature being determined by the temperature of the at least one fluid after compression, The lowest temperature of one of the at least one fluids that interacts with at least one of the at least two heat storage components, The lowest temperature of at least one of the liquid phases among the at least one fluid, Temperature requirements of a component of the system located downstream of another component of the system, The phase transition temperature of the at least one fluid with respect to its pressure level, The phase transition temperature of the at least one second fluid with respect to its pressure level, A common intermediate temperature of at least one fluid between two consecutive heat storage components, wherein the common intermediate temperature is determined such that the two consecutive heat storage components reach the same internal temperature distribution before and after the continuous filling and releasing of the system over the same period. A temperature constraint determined to ensure a continuous heat flow between at least two heat exchange media, wherein the continuous heat flow is generated along the length of the components of the system by direct or indirect heat exchange, The system according to claim 6, comprising at least one of the following: or any combination thereof.

9. The system is configured to perform at least one of the following: operating in a filling mode, operating in a discharge mode, and generating and / or consuming electrical energy. The system is configured to operate in the filling mode by consuming energy and in the release mode to generate energy, the filling mode is configured to consume energy to store heat and to generate at least partially a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluids, the filling mode is configured to consume energy to generate at least partially a liquid phase of at least one of the at least one fluids by changing the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluids, The system according to claim 1, wherein the release mode is configured to generate energy by consuming heat and liquid, and the release mode is configured to generate energy by changing the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluids.

10. At least a portion of the system is configured to withstand a pressure exceeding 1 bar (0.1 MPa), preferably exceeding 10 bar (1 MPa), more preferably exceeding 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably exceeding 50 bar (5 MPa), and / or at least a portion of the system is configured to withstand a pressure of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 250 bar (25 MPa), and more preferably less than 200 bar (20 MPa), The at least one liquefaction module is configured to generate at least a partially liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure of less than 25 bar (2.5 MPa), more preferably less than 20 bar (2 MPa), and most preferably less than 18 bar (1.8 MPa), and / or the at least one liquefaction module is configured to generate at least a partially liquid phase from the at least one fluid at a pressure greater than 3 bar (0.3 MPa), more preferably greater than 5 bar (0.5 MPa), and most preferably greater than 10 bar (1 MPa), At least one, At least one of the two heat storage components has a temperature of less than 273K, preferably less than 223K, and preferably less than 183K. At least one of the two heat storage components includes a temperature of less than 150K, preferably less than 140K, and more preferably less than 120K. The pressure vessel contains a pressure of 1 to 37 bar (0.1 to 3.7 MPa), preferably 5 to 30 bar (0.5 to 3 MPa), and more preferably 10 to 20 bar (1 to 2 MPa). At least one of the at least one fluids experiences a total pressure increase of at least 20 bar (2 MPa), preferably at least 30 bar (3 MPa), more preferably at least 40 bar (4 MPa), and most preferably at least 55 bar (5.5 MPa), and / or at least one of the at least one fluids experiences a total pressure increase of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 150 bar (15 MPa), most preferably less than 100 bar (10 MPa), and most preferably less than 70 bar (7 MPa). and / or the at least one fluid undergoes a total pressure drop of at least 20 bar (2 MPa), preferably at least 30 bar (3 MPa), more preferably at least 40 bar (4 MPa), most preferably at least 55 bar (5.5 MPa), and / or the at least one fluid undergoes a total pressure drop of less than 300 bar (30 MPa), preferably less than 150 bar (15 MPa), most preferably less than 100 bar (10 MPa), most preferably less than 70 bar (7 MPa), at least one of these. At least one of the two pressure control components is configured to generate an outlet temperature To, and the outlet temperature To is different from the inlet temperature Ti. The outlet temperature To is at least 100K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 150K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 200K higher than the inlet temperature Ti. The outlet temperature To is up to 1500K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably up to 900K higher than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably up to 500K higher than the inlet temperature Ti. The outlet temperature To is at least 20K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 50K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 80K lower than the inlet temperature Ti. The system according to claim 1, wherein the outlet temperature To is at least one of the following: the outlet temperature To is at least 800K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, preferably at least 500K lower than the inlet temperature Ti, and more preferably at least 300K lower than the inlet temperature Ti.

11. A method for storing energy, wherein the method is The steps include: introducing at least one fluid into an energy storage system, The steps include controlling the temperature of at least one of the fluids, A step of performing at least one pressure change, A step of generating a liquid phase at least partially from at least one of the aforementioned at least one fluids, A method comprising the steps of storing thermal energy.

12. A method for storing energy, wherein the method comprises: The steps include: introducing at least one fluid into an energy storage system, The steps include controlling the temperature of at least one of the fluids, A step of performing at least one pressure change, A step of generating a liquid phase at least partially from at least one of the aforementioned at least one fluids, The process includes the step of storing thermal energy, and The aforementioned method, A step of evaporating at least one portion of the at least one of the aforementioned fluids, A step of condensing at least one portion of the at least one of the aforementioned fluids, A step of controlling the flow of the at least one fluid, controlling the flow direction of the at least one fluid, and / or reversing at least one of the at least one flow directions, The process includes at least one of the following steps: reducing the pressure in at least one of the at least one liquefaction module 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 aforementioned method, A step of discharging at least one of the at least one fluids and / or discharging at least a portion of the at least one fluid to near its thermal and mechanical equilibrium with the surrounding air. A step of separating the liquid phase and / or gas phase from the at least one fluid, A step of feeding back at least one portion of the at least one of the fluids to the system, and The method includes at least one of the steps of increasing the liquid yield of the at least one liquefaction module by thermal energy management, A method for an energy storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. The aforementioned method, A step of controlling the temperature of at least one fluid, wherein one of at least two heat storage components is arranged in series with at least one of at least one liquefaction module, A step of controlling the temperature of at least one fluid in front of at least one liquefaction module, A step of controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after one of the at least one liquefaction modules, and The steps include at least one of the following: controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid arranged in parallel with at least one component of the at least one liquefaction module, The aforementioned method, The steps of dividing the flow of at least one fluid, A step of dividing at least one fluid flow at least once with a variable division ratio, and The method includes at least one of the steps of changing the division ratio of the fluid flow between one of the at least two heat storage components and one of the at least one liquefaction modules, wherein the method includes controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid after the division step. The aforementioned method, A step of adjusting the division ratio so as to balance the amount of thermal energy transferred to one of the at least two heat storage components with the amount of thermal energy obtained from the generated liquid phase. A step of storing at least one of the above at least one fluids in the energy storage system, and The method according to claim 11, comprising at least one of the steps of confining at least one of the at least one fluids in at least one of the at least one cryogenic liquid storage tanks.

14. The method includes the steps of: utilizing high pressure; compressing at least one of the at least one fluid to a pressure exceeding critical pressure; storing compression heat in at least one of the at least two heat 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 heat storage components. At least one, The at least one fluid comprises at least one first fluid and at least one second fluid. The method includes the step of operating direct heat exchange and / or indirect heat exchange. The method includes a step of increasing the yield by a second expansion. The method includes the step of controlling the temperature of at least one fluid at at least two locations within the energy storage system. The method includes the step of storing heat at a temperature higher than the ambient air temperature. The method includes the step of storing heat at a temperature lower than the ambient air temperature. The method includes the step of controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid at a temperature higher than the ambient air temperature. The method includes the step of controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid at a temperature lower than the ambient air temperature. The method includes the step of controlling the temperature of the at least one fluid under at least one temperature constraint condition or under conditions close to that condition. The aforementioned temperature constraints are: The highest temperature, the highest temperature being determined by the temperature of the at least one fluid after compression, The lowest temperature of one of the at least one fluids that interacts with at least one of the at least two heat storage components, The lowest temperature of at least one of the liquid phases among the at least one fluid, Temperature requirements for a component of the energy storage system located downstream of another component of the energy storage system, The phase transition temperature of the at least one fluid with respect to its pressure level, The phase transition temperature of the at least one second fluid with respect to its pressure level, A common intermediate temperature of one of the at least one fluids between two consecutive heat storage components, wherein the common intermediate temperature is determined so that the two consecutive heat storage components reach the same internal temperature distribution before and after each of the consecutive filling and releasing of the system for energy storage over the same period. Temperature constraints determined to ensure a continuous heat flow between at least two heat-exchanging media, wherein the continuous heat flow is generated along the length of the components of the system for energy storage by either direct or indirect heat exchange, or any combination thereof, including at least one of the above, The method includes at least one of the steps of matching the temperature constraints of the at least two heat storage components, and The aforementioned method, A step of establishing at least one fluid communication between at least two components of the aforementioned system, A step of establishing at least one of the at least one fluid communication between at least one of the at least one liquefaction module and at least one of the at least two heat storage components, A step of establishing at least one of the at least one fluid communication between at least one of the at least one liquefaction modules and at least one of the at least one phase separator component, A step of balancing the thermal energy extracted and stored within at least one of the at least two heat storage components, A step of supplying only at least one of the at least one fluids to the at least one liquefaction module, wherein one of the at least one fluids is at room temperature and high pressure, at least a portion of the at least one fluid has a reduced thermal energy content and is at an intermediate pressure, the method comprising reducing the thermal energy content of the at least one portion of the at least one fluid by only the at least one liquefaction module, and the method comprising generating a liquid phase at least partially from the at least one of the at least one fluids by the at least one liquefaction module, A step of achieving a target operating temperature of the components of the energy storage system using at least one of the fluids, The step of heating at least one of the fluids, A step of reversibly operating at least one of at least two pressure control components, and The method according to claim 11, comprising at least one of the steps of removing an impurity from the at least one fluid.

15. The method includes the step of operating the system in a filling mode and a discharge mode, and the method is The system is operated in the aforementioned emission mode to generate energy, The step includes operating the system by consuming energy in the charging mode, The aforementioned filling mode is A step of consuming energy to store heat and generating at least one liquid phase of the at least one fluid, The process includes the step of generating at least one liquid phase of the at least one fluid by consuming energy to change the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluid, The aforementioned method, The steps include: generating energy by consuming heat and liquid while the system is in the release mode; The method according to claim 11, comprising the step of generating energy by changing the pressure and enthalpy of at least one of the at least one fluids while the system is in the release mode.

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