Compressor and/or expander device

Abstract

Systems and methods for operating a hydraulically actuated device/system are described herein. For example, systems and methods for the compression and/or expansion of gas can include at least one pressure vessel defining an interior region for retaining at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas and an actuator coupled to and in fluid communication with the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a first mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved to compress and move gas out of the pressure vessel. The actuator can have a second mode of operation in which a volume of liquid disposed within the pressure vessel is moved by an expanding gas entering the pressure vessel. The system can further include a heat transfer device configured to transfer heat to or from the at least one of a volume of liquid or a volume of gas retained by the pressure vessel.

1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A compressed gas energy storage system comprising:
 a hydraulic vessel adapted to contain a heat transfer liquid and comprising a piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement;   a pressure vessel fluidically coupled to the hydraulic vessel and adapted to contain the heat transfer liquid and a gas in direct contact; and   a heat transfer device coupled to and disposed within the pressure vessel,
 wherein the piston is moveable in a first direction to displace at least some of the heat transfer liquid from the hydraulic vessel to the pressure vessel to contact a surface of the heat transfer device and compress gas in the pressure vessel. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the pressure vessel is a first pressure vessel, the system further comprising a second pressure vessel fluidically coupled to the hydraulic vessel and adapted to contain the heat transfer liquid and a gas in direct contact. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the first and second pressure vessels are coupled to the hydraulic vessel on opposite sides of the piston. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein each of the first and second pressure vessels comprises a valve adapted to introduce gas into the respective pressure vessel. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the piston is moveable to compress gas alternately in each of the first and second pressure vessels. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the piston is moveable to expand gas alternately in each of the first and second pressure vessels. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the heat transfer device is adapted to transfer heat energy between gas and heat transfer liquid in the pressure vessel by contacting a surface of the heat transfer device with heat transfer liquid in the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the pressure vessel is a low pressure vessel, the system further comprising a high pressure vessel fluidically coupled to the low pressure vessel and adapted to contain a heat transfer liquid and a gas in direct contact. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a second heat transfer device coupled to and disposed within the high pressure vessel. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the second heat transfer device is adapted to transfer heat energy between gas and heat transfer liquid in the high pressure vessel by contacting a surface of the second heat transfer device with heat transfer liquid in the high pressure vessel. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the hydraulic vessel is a low pressure hydraulic vessel comprising a low pressure piston, the system further comprising a high pressure hydraulic vessel adapted to contain a heat transfer liquid and comprising a high pressure piston disposed therein for horizontal reciprocating movement. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the low pressure vessel is configured to transfer compressed gas to the high pressure vessel. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the high pressure piston is moveable in a first direction to displace at least some of the heat transfer liquid from the high pressure hydraulic vessel to the high pressure vessel to compress the transferred gas to a higher pressure. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the low pressure piston is moveable to compress gas in the low pressure vessel and the high pressure piston is simultaneously moveable to compress gas in the high pressure vessel. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the low pressure piston is moveable to expand gas in the low pressure vessel and the high pressure piston is simultaneously moveable to expand gas in the high pressure vessel. 
     
     
         38 . A method of compressing and expanding gas using a compressed gas energy storage system, the method comprising:
 providing a hydraulic vessel adapted to contain a heat transfer liquid and comprising a piston disposed therein for reciprocating movement;   fluidically coupling a pressure vessel to the hydraulic vessel, the pressure vessel adapted to contain the heat transfer liquid and a gas in direct contact;   coupling a heat transfer device to an interior of the pressure vessel; and   moving the piston in a first direction to displace at least some of the heat transfer liquid from the hydraulic vessel to the pressure vessel to contact a surface of the heat transfer device and compress gas in the pressure vessel.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the pressure vessel is a first pressure vessel, the method further comprising fluidically coupling a second pressure vessel to the hydraulic vessel, the second pressure vessel adapted to contain the heat transfer liquid and a gas in direct contact. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the first and second pressure vessels are coupled to the hydraulic vessel on opposite sides of the piston. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the first and second pressure vessels each comprise a valve adapted to introduce gas into the respective pressure vessel. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising moving the piston to compress gas alternately in each of the first and second pressure vessels. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising moving the piston to expand gas alternately in each of the first and second pressure vessels. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising transferring heat energy between gas and heat transfer liquid in the pressure vessel by contacting a surface of the heat transfer device with heat transfer liquid in the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the pressure vessel is a low pressure vessel, the system further comprising fluidically coupling a high pressure vessel to the low pressure vessel, the high pressure vessel adapted to contain a heat transfer liquid and a gas in direct contact. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising coupling a second heat transfer device to an interior of the high pressure vessel. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising transferring heat energy between gas and heat transfer liquid in the high pressure vessel by contacting a surface of the second heat transfer device with heat transfer liquid in the high pressure vessel. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the hydraulic vessel is a low pressure hydraulic vessel comprising a low pressure piston, the method further comprising providing a high pressure hydraulic vessel adapted to contain a heat transfer liquid and comprising a high pressure piston disposed therein for horizontal reciprocating movement. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising transferring compressed gas from the low pressure vessel to the high pressure vessel. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising moving the high pressure piston in a first direction to displace at least some of the heat transfer liquid from the high pressure hydraulic vessel to the high pressure vessel to compress the transferred gas to a higher pressure. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising moving the low pressure piston to compress gas in the low pressure vessel and simultaneously moving the high pressure piston to compress gas in the high pressure vessel. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising moving the low pressure piston to expand gas in the low pressure vessel and simultaneously moving the high pressure piston to expand gas in the high pressure vessel.