Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20110023488?dq=%22edwin+asa+markham%22
Timestamp: 2015-10-05 00:37:30
Document Index: 334312625

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'application No. 61', 'application No. 61', 'application No. 61', 'application No. 61', 'application No. 61', 'application No. 61']

Patent US20110023488 - Compressed air energy storage system utilizing two-phase flow to facilitate ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator....http://www.google.com/patents/US20110023488?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20110023488 - Compressed air energy storage system utilizing two-phase flow to facilitate heat exchangeAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20110023488 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 12/868,705Publication dateFeb 3, 2011Filing dateAug 25, 2010Priority dateJun 29, 2009Also published asCA2749975A1, CN102365458A, CN102365458B, CN104612755A, EP2449259A2, EP2449259A4, US8061132, US8065874, US8191360, US8191361, US8196395, US8201402, US8215105, US8240142, US8387374, US8393148, US8468814, US8516809, US8561399, US8756928, US8769943, US8844277, US8893486, US8893487, US8919112, US20100326075, US20100329903, US20110023977, US20110030359, US20110030552, US20110314800, US20120019009, US20120067036, US20120090314, US20120255292, US20120291989, US20130047597, US20130104533, US20130108480, US20130111895, US20130333373, US20140026549, US20150033724, WO2011008500A2, WO2011008500A3Publication number12868705, 868705, US 2011/0023488 A1, US 2011/023488 A1, US 20110023488 A1, US 20110023488A1, US 2011023488 A1, US 2011023488A1, US-A1-20110023488, US-A1-2011023488, US2011/0023488A1, US2011/023488A1, US20110023488 A1, US20110023488A1, US2011023488 A1, US2011023488A1InventorsDanielle A. FONG, Stephen E. Crane, Edwin P. Berlin, Jr., AmirHossein POURMOUSA ABKENAR, Kartikeya MAHALATKAR, Yongxi HOU, Todd BowersOriginal AssigneeLightsail Energy Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (63), Classifications (26), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetCompressed air energy storage system utilizing two-phase flow to facilitate heat exchange
US 20110023488 A1Abstract
Images(207) Claims(25)
a compressed gas storage unit; a high pressure stage in selective fluid communication with the compressed gas storage unit, the high pressure stage comprising,
a first cylinder device,
a first member moveable in response to expansion of gas within the first cylinder device, and
a first element configured to promote heat exchange between gas and liquid in the first cylinder device;
a low pressure stage in selective fluid communication with the high pressure stage through a gas-liquid separator, the low pressure stage comprising,
a second cylinder device,
a second member moveable in response to expansion of gas within the second cylinder device, and
a second element configured to promote heat exchange between gas and liquid in the second cylinder device; and
a linkage between the first member and an electrical generator. 22. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the first element comprises a bubbler configured to bubble gas through a liquid in the first cylinder device, and the second element comprises a nozzle configured to spray a liquid mist into the first cylinder device.
23. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the first member comprises a first piston, the second member comprises a second piston, and the linkage comprises a mechanical linkage.
24. An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the mechanical linkage is configured to convert reciprocating motion of the first piston into shaft torque.
25. An apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a crankshaft coupled to the first piston by a piston rod.
26. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the linkage comprises a hydraulic linkage.
27. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the hydraulic linkage comprises a hydraulic motor.
28. An apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the hydraulic motor is in physical communication with the electrical generator through a shaft.
29. An apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising valving allowing compressed gas to enter the first cylinder device.
30. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein a valve timing is controlled to admit to the first cylinder device, an amount of gas to expand by a desired expansion ratio.
31. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein a valve timing is adjusted dynamically as the storage tank depletes.
32. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein a valve timing is controlled to obtain a high work output from a volume of compressed gas.
33. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the first moveable member is configured to be driven to exhaust expanded gas from the first cylinder device to the gas-liquid separator.
34. An apparatus according to claim 33 further comprising valving allowing liquid and expanded gas to leave the cylinder device.
35. An apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the first moveable member is configured to be driven by the linkage comprising a mechanical linkage.
36. An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the mechanical linkage is configured to convert reciprocating motion into shaft torque.
the first moveable member comprises a piston; and
the mechanical linkage comprises a crankshaft connected to the piston by a piston rod.
38. An apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the piston is driven to exhaust expanded gas to the gas-liquid separator from momentum of the crankshaft and/or from motion of an out-of-phase piston.
39. An apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising a source of shaft torque configured to cause the first moveable member to compress gas within the first cylinder device.
40. An apparatus according to claim 39 further comprising valving allowing compressed gas to flow from the first cylinder device for separation of liquid from the compressed gas.
41. An apparatus according to claim 40 wherein the valving comprises a valve selected from a pilot valve, a cam-operated poppet valve, a rotary valve, a hydraulically actuated valve, and an electronically actuated valve.
42. An apparatus according to claim 40 wherein the valving comprises a valve selected from a hydraulically actuated valve, a pneumatically actuated valve, a voice coil actuated valve, an electronically actuated valve, a solenoid actuated valve, a pilot valve, a poppet valve, a rotary valve, a spool valve, a gate valve, a cylindrical valve, or a needle valve.
43. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the valving comprises a valve selected from a pilot valve, a cam-operated poppet valve, a rotary valve, a hydraulically actuated valve, and an electronically actuated valve.
44. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the valving comprises a valve selected from a hydraulically actuated valve, a pneumatically actuated valve, a voice coil actuated valve, an electronically actuated valve, a solenoid actuated valve, a pilot valve, a poppet valve, a rotary valve, a spool valve, a gate valve, a cylindrical valve, or a needle valve.
The instant patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 12/695,922 filed Jan. 28, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/221,487, filed Jun. 29, 2009. The instant patent application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 12/730,549 filed Mar. 24, 2010. The instant patent application also claims priority to the following provisional patent applications: U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/294,396 filed Jan. 12, 2010; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/306,122 filed Feb. 19, 2010; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/320,150 filed Apr. 1, 2010; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/347,312 filed May 21, 2010; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/347,056, filed May 21, 2010; and U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/348,661 filed May 26, 2010. Each of the above applications is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein for all purposes.
=R. In order for the mass flow rate through each stage to be substantially the, the lower pressure stages will need to have cylinder chambers with greater displacements. In a multi-stage system, the relative displacements of the cylinder chambers are governed by the following equation: