Gas-Pressurized Liquid Storage for Continuous Turbine Energy Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage and recovery systems face challenges such as high space requirements for water storage tanks, contamination issues, the need for expensive high-pressure pumps, energy- and time-consuming recharging processes, and dynamic load complications leading to costly implementation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising at least two liquid containers positioned at the same level, connected by a turbine unit for power generation, and a working gas supply unit providing a constant working gas pressure to convey liquid through the turbine, eliminating the need for high-pressure liquid pumps and allowing continuous energy supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a water storage tank is used to store liquid for energy recovery, then energy can be stored and recovered, but the system requires a lot of space and is exposed to environmental contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible liquid containers (bladders or membranes) that can be collapsed as liquid is discharged. This allows the storage system to adapt its volume dynamically, reducing the required fixed space while maintaining adequate liquid storage capacity for energy recovery operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic liquid storage where the container volume changes with the liquid level. As liquid is discharged through the turbine, the container collapses inward, automatically reducing its volume. This dynamic adaptation eliminates the need for large fixed-space reservoirs while maintaining sufficient storage for complete energy discharge cycles.
2Stress or pressure
If a high-pressure water pump is used to pump liquid into the storage tank, then liquid can be pressurized and stored, but expensive and wear-prone components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical high-pressure pumps with a gas pressurization system. Compressed gas (air or nitrogen) is introduced into the liquid container to apply pressure directly to the liquid, forcing it through the turbine. This substitution eliminates wear-prone mechanical pumping components while achieving the required liquid pressure for turbine operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Compressed gas serves as an intermediary medium between the energy storage system and the liquid. Instead of directly mechanically pressurizing the liquid with a pump, the system uses compressed gas to transmit pressure to the liquid, which then drives the turbine. This intermediary approach simplifies the system by eliminating complex high-pressure pumping machinery.
3Productivity
If the pressurised water tank is reloaded with water before a new energy supply cycle, then the system can operate again, but the recharging process is energy- and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous operation by implementing a dual-container system or rapid repressurization capability. While one container is discharging liquid through the turbine, another container can be simultaneously refilled or repressurized. This ensures that when one container is empty, another is ready to immediately take over, eliminating downtime between energy supply cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary repressurization of liquid containers using stored compressed gas before complete discharge occurs. By gradually introducing compressed gas to maintain pressure as liquid level drops, the system prepares the container for immediate reuse without requiring a full recharging cycle, thereby reducing idle time between energy supply operations.
4Stress or pressure
If permanent pressure differences are maintained in containers and pipes, then liquid can be conveyed through the turbine, but extremely dynamic load results in expensive implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions liquid containers at the same elevation level, creating equipotential conditions that eliminate the need for complex pressure compensation structures. By maintaining equal gravitational potential, the system reduces dynamic pressure fluctuations in connecting pipes and containers, allowing for simpler, less expensive structural design while still achieving the necessary pressure differential through gas pressurization.
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
The system reduces investment and operating costs, enhances reliability by minimizing highly loaded components, and enables continuous energy supply without being limited by the volume of liquid stored, with the added benefit of reduced environmental impact and simplified maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a working gas supply unit for supplying a working gas, in particular air, with a substantially constant working gas pressure, wherein the working gas supply unit is connected to the two liquid containers and is designed in such a way that the working gas with said constant working gas pressure conveys the liquid from one liquid container through the turbine unit into the other liquid container
Implementation Method 2
a turbine unit for power generation, which connects the two liquid containers to each other and is designed in such a way that the liquid can flow from one liquid container through the turbine into the other liquid container, thereby driving the turbine
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for storing and recovering energy, comprising at least two liquid containers for storing a liquid, the two liquid containers being preferably located at substantially the same level and/or preferably having a substantially identical volume, and a turbine unit for power generation, which connects the two liquid containers to one another and is designed in such a way that the liquid can flow from the one liquid container through the turbine and into the other liquid container and thereby drives the turbine, and a working gas provision unit for providing a working gas, in particular air, having a substantially constant working gas pressure, the working gas provision unit being connected to the two liquid containers and designed in such a way that the working gas having said constant working pressure conveys the liquid from the one liquid container, via the turbine unit and into the other liquid container.