Patent ID: 8122718

Claim:
An energy storage and recovery system suitable for the efficient use and conservation of energy resources, the system comprising: a cylinder assembly having two sides separated by a movable boundary mechanism that transfers energy therebetween, at least one of the sides being a pneumatic side; and a heat transfer subsystem in fluid communication with the pneumatic side of the cylinder assembly, the heat transfer subsystem comprising: a circulation apparatus in fluid communication with the pneumatic side of the cylinder assembly for circulating a fluid through the heat transfer subsystem; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the circulation apparatus and the pneumatic side of the cylinder assembly; a thermal well associated with and in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, wherein the circulation apparatus circulates the fluid from the pneumatic side of the cylinder assembly, through the heat exchanger, and back to the pneumatic side of the cylinder assembly; and a second circulation apparatus for circulating a second fluid having a substantially constant temperature from the thermal well through the heat exchanger and back to the thermal well.