The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 25, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 29, 2012
Lightsail Energy Inc., Berkeley, CA (US);
Danielle A. Fong, Oakland, CA (US);
Stephen E. Crane, Santa Rosa, CA (US);
Edwin P. Berlin, Jr., Oakland, CA (US);
AmirHossein Pourmousa Abkenar, Walnut Creek, CA (US);
Kartikeya Mahalatkar, Kharadi, IN;
Yongxi Hou, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Todd Bowers, San Jose, CA (US);
Karl E. Stahlkopf, Honolulu, HI (US);
LightSail Energy, Inc., Berkeley, CA (US);
Abstract
A 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. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the 'pressure cell') partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control.