Hydraulic Gas Compression for Higher-Density CAES Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current compressed air energy storage (CAES) technologies are inefficient, costly, and complex due to the use of multi-stage mechanical compressors, limiting their ability to effectively store and utilize renewable energy for long duration energy storage (LDES), while hydro storage systems face limitations in capacity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic gas compressor that pre-compresses gas before mixing it with liquid, allowing for increased gas mass per unit volume, integrated with hydro-power systems to enhance storage capacity and efficiency, using thermal energy from renewable sources for optimal energy conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multi-stage mechanical compressors are used in CAES, then gas compression capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex multi-stage mechanical compressors with a hydraulic compression system that uses liquid pressure to compress gas. The hydraulic system uses a liquid-filled chamber where liquid pressure, generated by a hydro-power system or pump, directly compresses the gas stored in the chamber, eliminating the need for mechanical compressor stages, intercoolers, and associated moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using liquid pressure to achieve gas compression. The system utilizes a liquid-filled chamber where hydrostatic pressure from the liquid column or pumped liquid directly compresses the gas, leveraging the incompressibility and pressure-transmission properties of liquids to achieve efficient compression without mechanical devices.
2Reliability
If multi-stage mechanical compressors with intercoolers are used, then gas conditioning is achieved, but efficiency decreases at high pressure levels
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic compression system replaces mechanical compressors that require intercooling stages, achieving gas compression through liquid pressure alone. This eliminates the energy losses associated with mechanical compression and intercooling, particularly at high pressure levels where mechanical compressor efficiency deteriorates.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional CAES systems are used, then energy storage is achieved, but cost and complexity remain high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the compression and storage functions into a single integrated hydraulic system. The liquid-filled chamber serves both as the compression medium and the storage vessel, combining what are typically separate components (compressor, intercoolers, storage tank) into one unified system that reduces overall complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid-filled chamber performs multiple functions: it acts as the compression medium, the storage vessel, and the pressure transmission mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mechanical compressors, intercoolers, and storage tanks, significantly reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining energy storage capacity.
4Quantity of substance
If hydro storage systems are used, then energy storage capacity is achieved, but efficiency and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses hydraulic principles with a liquid-filled chamber to compress and store gas, providing a flexible alternative to traditional hydro storage. The liquid pressure can be easily adjusted and controlled, allowing for efficient energy storage and retrieval without the geographical and environmental constraints of traditional hydro storage systems.
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 hydraulic compressor system increases gas mass flow rate and storage efficiency, reducing costs and complexity, enabling higher energy density and flexibility in energy storage, suitable for long duration energy storage applications.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic compression of a gas to a desired pressure
Implementation Method 2
using thermal energy from renewable sources for optimal energy conversion
Implementation Method 3
integrated with hydro-power systems to enhance storage capacity and efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic compressor configured to increase the mass of gas to be compressed for a given flow of liquid and a method of the same. The gas can be pre-compressing in a compressor arranged upstream of an inlet system such that compressed air enters the inlet system before mixing with the liquid, thereby permitting an increased mass of gas per unit volume of liquid to be compressed by the hydraulic compressor arranged upstream of the inlet system. The compressed gas can be collected and stored, which can then be used to drive an expander to produce work.