Patent ID: 8234862

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: a first cylinder assembly for the storage and recovery of energy via compression and expansion of gas therewithin over a first stage of pressure, selectively fluidly connected to the first cylinder assembly, a second cylinder assembly for the storage and recovery of energy via compression and expansion of gas therewithin over a second stage of pressure different from the first stage, selectively fluidly connected to the first cylinder assembly, means for storage of compressed gas after compression and supply of compressed gas for expansion thereof, and selectively fluidly connected to the second cylinder assembly, a vent for exhausting expanded gas to atmosphere after expansion and supply of gas for compression thereof; and a heat-exchange subsystem configured for fluid communication with the compressed-gas energy conversion system and the source of recovered thermal energy.