Patent ID: 8096117

Claim:
An energy storage system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising: a first pressure vessel in which at least one of a liquid or a gas can be contained; a second pressure vessel in which at least one of a liquid or a gas can be contained; a third pressure vessel in which at least one of a liquid or a gas can be contained, coupled to and in fluid communication with the first pressure vessel, the third pressure vessel configured to receive compressed gas discharged from the first pressure vessel; and an actuator coupled to and in fluid communication with the first pressure vessel and the second pressure vessel, the actuator and the first pressure vessel configured to collectively contain a first volume of liquid, the actuator and the second pressure vessel configured to collectively contain a second volume of liquid, the actuator operable in a first compression mode to move at least a portion of the first volume of liquid into the first pressure vessel to compress a gas contained therein and discharge the compressed gas out of the first pressure vessel and simultaneously to draw at least a portion of the second volume of liquid from the second pressure vessel to draw gas into the second pressure vessel, the actuator operable in a second compression mode to move at least a portion of the second volume of liquid into the second pressure vessel to compress a gas contained therein and discharge the compressed gas out of the second pressure vessel and simultaneously to draw at least a portion of the first volume of liquid from the first pressure vessel to draw gas into the first pressure vessel.