Dense Compensation Liquid for High-Pressure Gas Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current compressed gas energy storage systems face limitations in achieving high energy density due to constraints in operating pressure and accumulator size, particularly when the accumulator is positioned at shallower depths, which restricts the amount of energy that can be stored effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of a hydrostatically compensated compressed gas energy storage system with a denser compensation liquid, such as a water-based slurry with suspended solids, to increase the hydrostatic pressure and thereby enhance the energy density by operating at higher pressures, up to 90 bar, even at shallower depths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the accumulator is positioned at shallower depths, then the installation complexity and infrastructure costs are reduced, but the operating pressure and energy density are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the compensation liquid from standard density to high density (at least 1500 kg/m³). This parameter change allows the system to achieve higher operating pressures (up to 90 bar) at shallower depths, resolving the contradiction between installation ease and operating pressure capability
Solution Approach 2:
The high density compensation liquid acts as an intermediary medium that transmits hydrostatic pressure more effectively. By using this intermediate substance with enhanced properties, the system can achieve the desired high operating pressures without requiring deep accumulator placement, thus reducing infrastructure complexity while maintaining high energy density
2Quantity of substance
If the accumulator size is increased, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the density parameter of the compensation liquid to at least 1500 kg/m³, the system achieves higher operating pressures within the same accumulator volume. This allows increased energy storage capacity without proportionally increasing accumulator size, thus improving energy density while controlling device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a compensation liquid with properties copied from natural high-density materials (like brine or slurry) to achieve the desired pressure transmission. This allows the system to replicate the pressure-generating effect of deep placement without actually placing the accumulator at great depths, reducing infrastructure requirements while maintaining energy storage capacity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for increased energy storage capacity within a given accumulator volume by maintaining higher operating pressures, facilitating more efficient energy storage and retrieval, while also being adaptable to various geological conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The use of a hydrostatically compensated compressed gas energy storage system with a denser compensation liquid, such as a water-based slurry with suspended solids, to increase the hydrostatic pressure and thereby enhance the energy density
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrostatically compensated, compressed gas energy storage system can include an accumulator containing a layer of compressed gas at between about 20 bar and about 90 bar above a layer of compensation liquid that has a density of at least 1500 kg/m3. A compressor and expander subsystem may be configured to selectably convey compressed gas into the accumulator and to extract gas from the accumulator. The system may be operable in at least a charging mode in which the compressor and expander subsystem conveys gas into the layer of compressed gas thereby displacing a corresponding volume of compensation liquid from the layer of compensation liquid within the accumulator out of the accumulator via the compensation liquid flow path thereby maintaining the layer of compressed gas at substantially the accumulator pressure during the charging mode.