Patent ID: 7958731

Claim:
A combined thermal and compressed-gas energy conversion system (i) suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources and (ii) for use with a source of recovered thermal energy, the system comprising: an open-air compressed-gas energy conversion system configured for substantially isothermal storage and recovery of energy and comprising: at least one cylinder assembly for the storage and recovery of energy via compression and expansion of gas therewithin, selectively fluidly connected to the at least one cylinder assembly, means for storage of compressed gas after compression and supply of compressed gas for expansion thereof, and selectively fluidly connected to the at least one cylinder assembly, a vent for exhausting expanded gas to atmosphere after expansion and supply of gas for compression thereof; and a heat-exchange subsystem (i) configured for fluid communication with the compressed-gas energy conversion system and the source of recovered thermal energy, and (ii) comprising, disposed in at least one said cylinder assembly, a spray mechanism for introducing a heat-exchange fluid therein.