Method and system for periodic cooling, storing, and heating with multiple regenerators

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and system involving pressurizing an atmospheric gas stream to form at least a compressed atmospheric gas stream, directing the compressed atmospheric gas stream to a first regenerator for cooling, pressurizing to above a second predetermined pressure to form at least a supercritical atmospheric gas stream, directing the supercritical atmospheric gas stream to a second regenerator for cooling, reducing pressure to form at least a liquefied atmospheric gas stream, selectively storing the liquefied atmospheric gas stream, pressurizing the liquefied atmospheric gas stream to form at least a pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream, heating the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream in the second regenerator to form at least a heated stream, expanding the heated stream to form at least a medium pressure atmospheric gas stream, directing the medium pressure atmospheric gas stream to the first regenerator, and heating the medium pressure atmospheric gas stream in the first regenerator.

1 . A regeneration process for periodic cooling, storing, and heating, the process comprising:
 pressurizing an atmospheric gas stream to above a predetermined pressure to form at least a compressed atmospheric gas stream, the predetermined pressure being about 2 bara;   directing the compressed atmospheric gas stream to a first regenerator for cooling to form at least a first cooled stream;   directing the first cooled stream from the first regenerator;   pressurizing the first cooled stream to above a second predetermined pressure to form at least a supercritical atmospheric gas stream, the second predetermined pressure being about the critical pressure of the first cooled stream;   directing the supercritical atmospheric gas stream to a second regenerator to form at least a second cooled stream;   directing the second cooled stream from the second regenerator;   reducing the pressure of the second cooled stream to form at least a liquefied atmospheric gas stream;   selectively storing 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 third predetermined pressure to form at least a pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream, the third predetermined pressure being about the critical pressure of the stored liquefied atmospheric gas;   heating the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream in the second regenerator to form at least a heated stream;   directing the heated stream from the second regenerator;   expanding the heated stream to form at least a medium pressure atmospheric gas stream;   directing the medium pressure atmospheric gas stream to the first regenerator; and   heating the medium pressure atmospheric gas stream in the first regenerator.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing of the atmospheric gas stream is performed by a compressor having no intercoolers. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing of the first cooled stream is performed by a compressor having no intercoolers. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising further cooling the first cooled stream directed from the first regenerator by an aftercooler. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising further heating at least a portion of the pressurized atmospheric gas by an external heat source. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the external heat source is exhaust gas from a gas turbine. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the external heat source is a solar heat collector. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the atmospheric gas is substantially air. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the atmospheric gas is substantially nitrogen. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising directing the heated pressurized atmospheric gas or the heated medium pressure stream to a gas turbine. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising expanding the heated pressurized atmospheric gas or the heated medium pressure stream to a fourth predetermined pressure to form an expanded atmospheric gas, the fourth predetermined pressure being about the atmospheric pressure of the environment. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , further comprising directing the expanded atmospheric gas to a gas turbine. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the second cooled stream is formed in the second regenerator by external cooling provided by a non-combustible fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising providing additional heating or cooling to the system with an indirect regenerator. 
     
     
         15 . A system for performing the process of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A regeneration system for periodic cooling, storing, and heating, the process comprising:
 a first compressor for pressurizing an atmospheric gas stream to above a predetermined pressure to form at least a compressed atmospheric gas stream, the predetermined pressure being about 2 bara;   a first regenerator configured for cooling the compressed atmospheric gas stream to form at least a first cooled stream;   a second compressor configured for pressurizing the first cooled stream to above a second predetermined pressure to form at least a supercritical atmospheric gas stream, the second predetermined pressure being about the critical pressure of the first cooled stream;   a second regenerator configured to cool the supercritical atmospheric gas stream to form at least a second cooled stream;   a pressure reducing device configured for expanding the second cooled stream to form at least a liquefied atmospheric gas stream;   a storage container configured for selectively storing the liquefied atmospheric gas stream as a stored liquefied atmospheric gas;   a pump configured for pressurizing the stored liquefied atmospheric gas to above a third predetermined pressure to form at least a pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream, the third predetermined pressure being about the critical pressure of the stored liquefied atmospheric gas; and   an expander configured for expanding a heated stream to form at least a medium pressure atmospheric gas stream, the heat stream being formed by heating of the second regenerator;   wherein the second regenerator is configured to heat the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream to form at least the heated stream;   wherein the first regenerator is configured for heating the medium pressure atmospheric gas stream.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising an indirect regenerator, the indirect regenerator being configured to provide additional heating or cooling to the system. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a gas turbine, the gas turbine positioned to heat at least a portion of the heated pressurized atmospheric gas or the medium pressure atmospheric gas. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a solar heat collector, the solar heat collector positioned to heat at least a portion of the heated pressurized atmospheric gas or the medium pressure atmospheric gas. 
     
     
         20 . A regeneration process for periodic cooling, storing, and heating, the process comprising:
 pressurizing an atmospheric gas stream to above a predetermined pressure to form at least a compressed atmospheric gas stream, the predetermined pressure being about 2 bara;   directing the compressed atmospheric gas stream to a first regenerator for cooling to form at least a first cooled stream;   directing the first cooled stream from the first regenerator;   further cooling the first cooled stream directed from the first regenerator by an aftercooler to form a further cooled stream;   pressurizing the further cooled stream from the aftercooler to above a second predetermined pressure to form at least a supercritical atmospheric gas stream, the second predetermined pressure being about the critical pressure of the first cooled stream;   directing the supercritical atmospheric gas stream to a second regenerator to form at least a second cooled stream;   directing the second cooled stream from the second regenerator;   reducing the pressure of the second cooled stream to form at least a liquefied atmospheric gas stream;   selectively storing 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 third predetermined pressure to form at least a pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream, the third predetermined pressure being about the critical pressure of the stored liquefied atmospheric gas;   heating the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream in the second regenerator to form at least a heated stream;   directing the heated stream from the second regenerator;   expanding the heated stream to form at least a medium pressure atmospheric gas stream;   directing the medium pressure atmospheric gas stream to the first regenerator;   heating the medium pressure atmospheric gas stream in the first regenerator;   further heating at least a portion of the medium pressure atmospheric gas by an external heat source;   expanding the heated medium pressure atmospheric gas to a fourth predetermined pressure to form an expanded atmospheric gas, the fourth predetermined pressure being about the atmospheric pressure of the environment; and   directing the expanded atmospheric gas to a gas turbine.