Method and system for periodic cooling, storing, and heating of atmospheric gas

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and a system. The method and system involve compressing an atmospheric gas stream to form a supercritical atmospheric gas stream, forming at least a first stream from the supercritical atmospheric gas stream, directing the first stream to a regenerator for cooling to form a first cooled stream, directing the first cooled stream from the regenerator, expanding the first cooled stream to form a liquefied atmospheric gas stream, storing at least a portion of the liquefied atmospheric gas stream, pressurizing at least a portion of the stored portion of the liquefied atmospheric gas stream, and heating at least a portion of a pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream in the regenerator. In the method and system, refrigeration below the critical temperature of the atmospheric gas is directly or indirectly provided to at least one portion of the system from a non-combustible source.

1 . A regeneration method for periodic cooling, storing, and heating of atmospheric gas, the method comprising:
 compressing an atmospheric gas stream to above a predetermined pressure to form at least a supercritical atmospheric gas stream, the predetermined pressure being about the critical pressure for the atmospheric gas stream;   forming at least a first stream from the supercritical atmospheric gas stream;   directing the first stream to a regenerator for cooling to form at least a first cooled stream;   directing the first cooled stream from the regenerator;   expanding the first cooled stream to form at least a liquefied atmospheric gas stream;   storing at least a portion of the liquefied atmospheric gas stream as a stored liquefied atmospheric gas;   pressurizing at least a portion of the stored liquefied atmospheric gas to above a second predetermined pressure to form a pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream, the second predetermined pressure being about the critical pressure of the liquefied atmospheric gas; and   heating at least a portion of the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream in the regenerator;   wherein refrigeration below the predetermined temperature is directly or indirectly provided from an external non-combustible source to one or more of the atmospheric gas stream, the supercritical atmospheric gas stream, the first stream, the first cooled stream, the liquefied atmospheric gas stream, and the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream, the predetermined temperature being about the critical temperature of the liquefied atmospheric gas stream.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 dividing the supercritical atmospheric gas stream into at least the first stream and a second stream;   directing the second stream to an indirect heat exchanger and cooling at least a portion of the second stream to form at least a second cooled stream;   combining the first cooled stream and the second cooled stream.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dividing occurs during a first operational period, the first operational period being during off-peak operation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the heating of the portion of the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream in the regenerator occurs during a second operational period, the second operational period being during peak operation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the dividing occurs during the first operational period and the second operational period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second operational period has a briefer duration than the first operational period. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising directing at least a portion of the second supercritical atmospheric gas stream from the indirect heat exchanger to an expander. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 directing an exhaust stream from the indirect heat exchanger to a phase separator;   directing a vapor stream from the phase separator to the indirect heat exchanger;   heating the vapor stream to form a heated atmospheric gas stream; and   recycling the heated atmospheric gas stream to a booster compressor, the booster compressor being arranged and disposed for compressing the atmospheric gas stream.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the refrigeration is provided by a liquid air or liquid nitrogen stream. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising dividing the supercritical atmospheric gas into a third stream and directing the third stream to an expander. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooled stream is expanded by a dense fluid expander. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing the heated portion of the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream to a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being configured to transfer heat from an exhaust stream of a gas turbine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing a regenerator-heated atmospheric gas stream to an expander to form an expanded stream, and directing the expanded stream to an air separation system, the regenerator-heated atmospheric gas stream being a pressurized atmospheric gas stream heated by the regenerator. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing a regenerator-heated atmospheric gas stream to an expander to form at least an expanded stream, and directing the expanded stream to a data center for cooling, the regenerator-heated atmospheric gas stream being a pressurized atmospheric gas stream heated by the regenerator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing a regenerator-heated atmospheric gas stream to a heat exchanger of a cryogenic air separation plant, the regenerator-heated atmospheric gas stream being a pressurized atmospheric gas stream heated by the regenerator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising heating a regenerator-heated atmospheric gas stream by an exhaust stream of a gas turbine, the regenerator-heated atmospheric gas stream being a pressurized atmospheric gas stream heated by the regenerator. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream heated in the regenerator is formed from the stored portion of the liquefied atmospheric gas stream. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream heated in the regenerator is formed from a source other than the stored portion of the liquefied atmospheric gas stream. 
     
     
         19 . A system operably configured to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A system for periodic cooling, storing, and heating of atmospheric gas, the system comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress an atmospheric gas stream to above a predetermined pressure to form at least a supercritical atmospheric gas stream, the predetermined pressure being about the critical pressure for the atmospheric gas stream;   a regenerator configured to receive a first stream formed by the supercritical gas stream and form a first cooled stream;   a pressure reducing device configured to reduce pressure of the first cooled stream and disposed to form at least a liquefied atmospheric gas stream;   a container for storing at least a portion of the liquefied atmospheric gas stream as stored liquefied atmospheric gas;   a pressure raising device configured to pressurize the stored liquefied atmospheric gas to above a predetermined pressure, the predetermined pressure being about the critical pressure of the atmospheric gas; and   a non-combustible external refrigeration source configured to provide refrigeration below a predetermined temperature to at least one portion of the system, the predetermined temperature being about the critical temperature of the liquefied atmospheric gas stream.