Patent ID: 11927374
Assignee: GRIDWORTHY TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. A method of managing electrical and thermal energy, the method comprising:
providing a system comprising:
a motor-generator unit;
a plurality of cylinders each comprising a moveable piston in communication with the motor-generator unit, and wherein each of the moveable pistons are operable to receive and transmit energy to and from the motor-generator unit;
a plurality of valves associated with each cylinder, operable to control inlet and outlet of a working fluid, cylinder function as one of compression and expansion, and a ratio of inlet specific volume to outlet specific volume;
a first thermal energy reservoir;
a second thermal energy reservoir;
a first conduit extending between a first cylinder of the plurality of cylinders and a second cylinder of the plurality of cylinders wherein a fluid flow path of the first conduit extends at least partially through the first thermal energy reservoir;
a second conduit extending between the second cylinder and the first cylinder wherein a fluid flow path of the second conduit extends at least partially through the second thermal energy reservoir; and
a controller operable to receive information related to one of a working fluid property, a property of the first thermal energy reservoir, and a property of the second thermal energy reservoir and wherein the controller is operable to control an outlet pressure of the working fluid from the first cylinder in order to change a temperature at which the working fluid enters the first thermal energy reservoir or the second thermal energy reservoir;

operating the system in at least one of a heat pump mode, a heat engine mode, and an energy storage mode;
wherein the heat pump mode comprises drawing the working fluid into the first cylinder, compressing the working fluid in the first cylinder, transferring the working fluid through the first thermal energy reservoir and transferring thermal energy from the working fluid to the first thermal energy reservoir through the wall of the first conduit;
wherein transferring thermal energy from the working fluid to the first thermal energy reservoir increases the temperature of the first thermal energy reservoir; and
wherein based on at least one of the temperature of the first thermal energy reservoir and a temperature of the working fluid, the controller adjusts a temperature or pressure at which the working fluid is delivered to the first thermal energy reservoir;
transferring the working fluid to the second cylinder via the first conduit, expanding the working fluid in the second cylinder, transferring the working fluid through the second thermal energy reservoir and transferring thermal energy from the second thermal energy reservoir to the working fluid through the wall of the second conduit;
wherein the heat engine mode comprises drawing the working fluid into the first cylinder, compressing the working fluid in the first cylinder, transferring the working fluid through the first thermal energy storage reservoir and transferring thermal energy from the first thermal energy reservoir to the working fluid through the wall of the first conduit, transferring the working fluid to the second cylinder via the first conduit, expanding the working fluid in the second cylinder, transferring the working fluid through the second thermal energy reservoir and transferring thermal energy from the working fluid to the second thermal energy reservoir through the wall of the second conduit; and
wherein the energy storage mode is performed by alternately operating the heat pump mode and the heat engine mode.