Systems and methods for compressing and/or expanding a gas utilizing a bi-directional piston and hydraulic actuator

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for optimizing bi-directional piston movement within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. In some embodiments, a compressed air device and/or system can include a first pneumatic cylinder, a second pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic actuator, and a hydraulic controller. The first pneumatic cylinder has a first working piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement in the first pneumatic cylinder and the hydraulic actuator is coupled to the first working piston. The second pneumatic cylinder has a second working piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement in the second pneumatic cylinder. The hydraulic controller is fluidically coupleable to the hydraulic actuator and is operable in a compression mode and an expansion mode.

1 .- 74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . A compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery system comprising:
 a first cylinder having a first piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement, the first piston separating a first chamber and a second chamber, the first and second chambers each adapted to contain at least one of a liquid and a gas;   a second cylinder having a second piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement, the second piston separating a third chamber and a fourth chamber, the third and fourth chambers each adapted to contain at least one of a liquid and a gas;   a first hydraulic actuator coupled to the first piston, wherein the first hydraulic actuator is adapted to move the first piston: a) in a first direction to discharge compressed gas from the first chamber to the third chamber, and b) in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to discharge compressed gas from the second chamber to the fourth chamber; and   a second hydraulic actuator coupled to the second piston, wherein the second hydraulic actuator is adapted to move the second piston: a) in a third direction to discharge compressed gas from the third chamber to storage, and b) in a fourth direction to discharge compressed gas from the fourth chamber to the storage.   
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are fluidly coupled to a gas source. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 76 , wherein the first chamber is adapted to receive gas from the gas source, and wherein the first hydraulic actuator causes the received gas to be discharged from the first chamber to the third chamber at a higher pressure than when entering the first chamber from the gas source. 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 76 , wherein the second chamber is adapted to receive gas from the gas source, and wherein the first hydraulic actuator causes the received gas to be discharged from the second chamber to the fourth chamber at a higher pressure than when entering the second chamber from the gas source. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein the first piston is adapted to move: a) in the first direction to discharge expanded gas from the first chamber, and b) in the second direction to discharge expanded gas from the second chamber. 
     
     
         80 . The system of  79 , wherein the second piston is adapted to move: a) in the third direction to discharge expanded gas from the third chamber to the first chamber, and b) in the second direction to discharge expanded gas from the fourth chamber to the second chamber. 
     
     
         81 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein the third chamber is adapted to receive gas from the storage, and wherein the received gas is discharged from the third chamber to the first chamber at a lower pressure than when entering the third chamber from the storage. 
     
     
         82 . The system of  claim 81 , wherein the fourth chamber is adapted to receive gas from the storage, and wherein the received gas is discharged from the fourth chamber to the second chamber at a lower pressure than when entering the fourth chamber from the storage. 
     
     
         83 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein at least one of the chambers is adapted to receive a liquid to compress gas in that chamber. 
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein at least one of the chambers is adapted to discharge a liquid to expand gas in that chamber. 
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 75 , further comprising a liquid management system fluidly coupled to the first cylinder, the liquid management system being adapted to receive heat energy from gas being compressed. 
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the liquid management system is further adapted to release heat energy to gas being expanded. 
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein the first piston is adapted to move in the first direction concurrently with the second piston moving in the fourth direction. 
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein a combined volume of the first and second chambers is greater than a combined volume of the third and fourth chambers. 
     
     
         89 . A method for compressed gas-based energy storage and recovery comprising:
 providing a compressed air energy storage system, the system comprising:
 a first cylinder having a first piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement, the first piston separating a first chamber and a second chamber, the first and second chambers each fluidly coupled to a gas source and adapted to contain at least one of a liquid and a gas; 
 a second cylinder having a second piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement, the second piston separating a third chamber and a fourth chamber, the third and fourth chambers each adapted to contain at least one of a liquid and a gas; 
 a first hydraulic actuator coupled to the first piston; and 
 a second hydraulic actuator coupled to the second piston; 
   moving the first piston, by the first hydraulic actuator: a) in a first direction to discharge compressed gas from the first chamber to the third chamber, and b) in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to discharge compressed gas from the second chamber to the fourth chamber; and   moving the second piston, by the second hydraulic actuator: a) in a third direction to discharge compressed gas from the third chamber to storage, and b) in a fourth direction to discharge compressed gas from the fourth chamber to the storage.   
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising:
 receiving, in the first chamber, gas from the gas source;   discharging the gas from the first chamber to the third chamber at a higher pressure than a pressure of the gas when entering the first chamber from the gas source;   receiving, in the second chamber, gas from the gas source; and   discharging the gas from the second chamber to the fourth chamber at a higher pressure than a pressure of the gas when entering the second chamber from the gas source.   
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising:
 moving the first piston: a) in the first direction to discharge expanded gas from the first chamber, and b) in the second direction to discharge expanded gas from the second chamber; and   moving the second piston: a) in the third direction to discharge expanded gas from the third chamber to the first chamber, and b) in the second direction to discharge expanded gas from the fourth chamber to the second chamber.   
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising:
 receiving, in the third chamber, gas from the storage;   discharging the gas from the third chamber to the first chamber at a lower pressure than a pressure of the gas when entering the third chamber from the storage;   receiving, in the fourth chamber, gas from the storage; and   discharging the gas from the fourth chamber to the second chamber at a lower pressure than a pressure of the gas when entering the fourth chamber from the storage.   
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising receiving a liquid in at least one of the chambers to compress gas in that chamber. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising discharging a liquid from at least one of the chambers to expand gas in that chamber. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising fluidly coupling a liquid management system to the first cylinder to receive heat energy from gas being compressed. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 89 , further comprising fluidly coupling a liquid management system to the first cylinder to release heat energy to gas being expanded.