Patents by Inventor Masaki Matsukuma

Masaki Matsukuma has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11952941
    Abstract: A CAES power generation device includes: a compressor/expander combined machine that is of displacement type and has a function as a compressor for compressing air and a function as an expander for expanding compressed air; a motor/generator combined machine that is mechanically connected to the compressor/expander combined machine and has a function as an electric motor for driving the compressor/expander combined machine and a function as a generator driven by the compressor/expander combined machine; and a pressure accumulation tank that is fluidly connected to the compressor/expander combined machine and stores compressed air generated by the compressor/expander combined machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOBE STEEL, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Matsukuma
  • Publication number: 20220220894
    Abstract: A CAES power generation device includes: a compressor/expander combined machine that is of displacement type and has a function as a compressor for compressing air and a function as an expander for expanding compressed air; a motor/generator combined machine that is mechanically connected to the compressor/expander combined machine and has a function as an electric motor for driving the compressor/expander combined machine and a function as a generator driven by the compressor/expander combined machine; and a pressure accumulation tank that is fluidly connected to the compressor/expander combined machine and stores compressed air generated by the compressor/expander combined machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventor: Masaki MATSUKUMA
  • Patent number: 11319876
    Abstract: A compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus includes a power demand receiving unit that receives a power demand value of a consumer facility. The apparatus includes a first air supply valve that adjusts a flow rate of compressed air to be supplied from a low-pressure tank to an expander, a second air supply valve that adjusts a flow rate of compressed air to be supplied from a high-pressure tank to the expander, and a control device configured to open the first air supply valve according to the power demand value in a state where the second air supply valve is closed when the power demand value is less than a predetermined threshold, and to open the second air supply valve according to the power demand value when the power demand value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KOBE STEEL, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Matsukuma, Ayaka Nagahira
  • Patent number: 11319948
    Abstract: A CAES generator includes a plurality of motors, a plurality of compressors, a pressure accumulator, an expander, a generator, an electric-motor inverter that changes a rotation speed of each of the motors, a feed command receiver that receives input power as a feed command value before feeding the input power, and a controller. The controller includes a compressor number calculation unit that calculates a maximum number of motors that are allowed to be driven at a rating based on the feed command value, and a compressor drive control unit that drives at the rating, the motors, the number of which is the maximum number calculated by the compressor number calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Ryo Nakamichi, Masaki Matsukuma, Hiroki Saruta
  • Patent number: 11319875
    Abstract: In a main flow passage, a first heat exchanger, a first heat storage unit, a second heat exchanger, and a second heat storage unit are connected by a heating medium flow passage. The main flow passage allows a heating medium to be circulated. A sub flow passage includes a shortened flow passage which is a part of the heating medium flow passage and branches from the heating medium flow passage between the second heat exchanger and the second heat storage unit and extends to the first heat storage unit. The sub flow passage allows circulation of the heating medium between the first heat storage unit and the second heat exchanger. A first heating means in a middle of the shortened flow passage, the first heating means heating a passing heat medium, and a switching means conducting switching between the main flow passage and the sub flow passage are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Kubo, Masaki Matsukuma, Yuji Matsuo, Takashi Sato, Ryo Nakamichi
  • Patent number: 11268439
    Abstract: A cold-heat power generation device includes a thermal power generation device, a CAES power generation device, and an output merging part. A facility includes an LNG vaporizer, a motive power part that burns natural gas vaporized by the LNG vaporizer to convert the natural gas into motive power, and a primary generator that is driven by the motive power part. A facility includes an air compressor that compresses air cooled by the LNG vaporizer, an air tank that stores compressed air discharged from the air compressor, air heaters that heat the compressed air supplied from the air tank with heat generated when the natural gas is burned in the motive power part, an air expander that expands the compressed air heated by the air heaters, and a secondary generator that is driven by the air expander. At the output merging part, output of the primary generator and output of the secondary generator are merged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Saruta, Masaki Matsukuma, Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 11085704
    Abstract: A CAES power generation device includes a plurality of compression/expansion/combined machines, a pressure accumulation unit for storing compressed air, a plurality of heat exchangers, a heat storage unit for storing a heating medium, and a plurality of first containers 10 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape for accommodating the plurality of compression/expansion/combined machines and the plurality of heat exchangers. The plurality of first containers are arranged side by side so that long side surfaces face each other. The long side surface of the first container is provided with at least one vent being an outlet of a pipe for communicating the compression/expansion/combined machine with the outside of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Matsukuma, Hiroki Saruta, Yuji Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11079143
    Abstract: A heat pump includes an electric motor driven by input electric power, a first compressor mechanically connected to the electric motor and compresses air, a first heat exchanger performing heat exchange between compressed air produced by the first compressor and water, and a first hot water outlet through which the water heated by heat exchange in the first heat exchanger is taken out. Thus, in the air refrigerant heat pump, it is possible to use only air and water to supply heating by applying part of compressed air energy storage technology to the heat pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Matsukuma, Takao Ohama
  • Patent number: 11047302
    Abstract: A compressed air energy storage (CAES) power generation apparatus includes a motor driven by renewable energy, a compressor driven by the motor, a pressure accumulating tank storing compressed air compressed by the compressor, an expander driven by the compressed air from the pressure accumulating tank, and a generator connected to the expander. The apparatus includes a first heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the compressed air from the compressor to the pressure accumulating tank and a heat medium, cools the compressed air, and heats the heat medium, a heat accumulating tank that stores the heat medium heated by the first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the compressed air from the pressure accumulating tank to the expander, heats the compressed air, and cools the heat medium, and third heat exchangers that perform heat exchange between the exhaust heat outside a system and a fluid in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Kubo, Masatake Toshima, Hiroki Saruta, Masaki Matsukuma, Kanami Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10995664
    Abstract: In a compressed air energy storage and power generation device, a compressed air energy storage and power generation method defines, as a reference storage value, a storage value indicating that a storage amount of air in an accumulator tank is in a predetermined intermediate state. At the reference storage value, at least one of a motor and a generator rotates at a rated rotation speed. When a storage value indicating a current storage amount in the accumulator tank is larger than the reference storage value, at least one of the motor and the generator is controlled to rotate at equal to or less than the rated rotation speed. When the storage value indicating the current storage amount in the accumulator tank is smaller than the reference storage value, at least one of the motor and the generator is controlled to rotate at equal to or more than the rated rotation speed and equal to or less than a maximum permissible rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Matsukuma, Hiroki Saruta, Kanami Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20210104912
    Abstract: A CAES power generation device includes a compression/expansion/combined machine, a pressure accumulation unit for storing compressed air, a low temperature water storage tank and a high temperature water storage tank, heat exchangers, and liquid maintaining units. The compression/expansion/combined machine has a function of compressing air using the electric power and a function of expanding the compressed air to generate electric power. The low temperature water storage tank and the high temperature water storage tank store liquid water and are fluidly connected to each other. The heat exchangers exchange heat between the compressed air and the water. The liquid maintaining units pressurize the water flowing through the heat exchangers and maintain the water in a liquid form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventor: Masaki MATSUKUMA
  • Patent number: 10954852
    Abstract: This compressed air storage power generation device 10 is provided with: a power demand receiving unit 60 which receives in real-time the power demand value of consumer equipment 3; a power supply adjustment device 19 which adjusts the amount of power generated by a generator 15; and a control device which has a power generation amount control unit 17a for controlling the power supply adjustment device 19 so as to supply the consumer equipment 3 in a timely fashion with power corresponding to the power demand value received by the power demand receiving unit 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Matsukuma, Ayaka Nagahira
  • Patent number: 10907542
    Abstract: A compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first heat storage unit, a pressure accumulation unit, a second heat exchanger, and a second heat storage unit are provided. The first heat storage unit and the second heat storage unit are connected by a first flow passage and a second flow passage. The first and second flow passages are connected by a third flow passage. A first on-off means is provided in a first region of the first flow passage and a second on-off means is provided in a second region. A third on-off means is provided in a third region of the second flow passage, and a fourth on-off means is provided in a fourth region. A driving means and a heating means are provided in the third flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Kubo, Masaki Matsukuma, Yuji Matsuo, Takashi Sato, Ryo Nakamichi
  • Publication number: 20210017905
    Abstract: A compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus includes a power demand receiving unit that receives a power demand value of a consumer facility. The apparatus includes a first air supply valve that adjusts a flow rate of compressed air to be supplied from a low-pressure tank to an expander, a second air supply valve that adjusts a flow rate of compressed air to be supplied from a high-pressure tank to the expander, and a control device configured to open the first air supply valve according to the power demand value in a state where the second air supply valve is closed when the power demand value is less than a predetermined threshold, and to open the second air supply valve according to the power demand value when the power demand value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Masaki MATSUKUMA, Ayaka NAGAHIRA
  • Patent number: 10892642
    Abstract: A compressed air storage power generation apparatus is provided with a motor, a compressor, a pressure accumulation tank, an expander, a generator, a first heat exchanger and a cold heat extracting unit. The motor is driven by input power generated using renewable energy. The compressor is mechanically connected to the motor and compresses air. The pressure accumulation tank accumulates the compressed air compressed by the compressor. The expander is driven by the compressed air supplied from the pressure accumulation tank. The generator is mechanically connected to the expander. The first heat exchanger exchanges heat between the compressed air supplied from the compressor and a heat medium and cools the compressed air to room temperature. The cold heat extracting unit extracts air serving as working fluid as cold air of the room temperature or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Matsukuma, Hiroki Saruta, Takashi Sato, Kanami Sakamoto, Masatake Toshima, Yohei Kubo
  • Publication number: 20200408469
    Abstract: A CAES power generation device includes a plurality of compression/expansion/combined machines, a pressure accumulation unit for storing compressed air, a plurality of heat exchangers, a heat storage unit for storing a heating medium, and a plurality of first containers 10 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape for accommodating the plurality of compression/expansion/combined machines and the plurality of heat exchangers. The plurality of first containers are arranged side by side so that long side surfaces face each other. The long side surface of the first container is provided with at least one vent being an outlet of a pipe for communicating the compression/expansion/combined machine with the outside of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Masaki MATSUKUMA, Hiroki SARUTA, Yuji MATSUO
  • Patent number: 10868440
    Abstract: A compressed air energy storage generator includes a motor, a compressor, a pressure accumulator, an expander, a generator, an electric-motor inverter, a generator inverter, a feed command receiver, a discharge command receiver, and a controller. The controller includes a feed determination unit, a discharge determination unit, and an input and output adjustment unit, the feed determination unit being configured to determine whether a feed command value is smaller than minimum charge power, the discharge determination unit being configured to determine whether a discharge command value is smaller than minimum discharge power, the input and output adjustment unit being configured to control, when the feed determination unit determines that the feed command value is smaller than the minimum charge power or when the discharge determination unit determines that the discharge command value is smaller than the minimum discharge power, the inverters to simultaneously drive the motor and the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Ryo Nakamichi, Masaki Matsukuma, Hiroki Saruta
  • Publication number: 20200340399
    Abstract: In a main flow passage, a first heat exchanger, a first heat storage unit, a second heat exchanger, and a second heat storage unit are connected by a heating medium flow passage. The main flow passage allows a heating medium to be circulated. A sub flow passage includes a shortened flow passage which is a part of the heating medium flow passage and branches from the heating medium flow passage between the second heat exchanger and the second heat storage unit and extends to the first heat storage unit. The sub flow passage allows circulation of the heating medium between the first heat storage unit and the second heat exchanger. A first heating means in a middle of the shortened flow passage, the first heating means heating a passing heat medium, and a switching means conducting switching between the main flow passage and the sub flow passage are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Yohei KUBO, Masaki MATSUKUMA, Yuji MATSUO, Takashi SATO, Ryo NAKAMICHI
  • Publication number: 20200332709
    Abstract: A cold-heat power generation device includes a thermal power generation device, a CAES power generation device, and an output merging part. A facility includes an LNG vaporizer, a motive power part that burns natural gas vaporized by the LNG vaporizer to convert the natural gas into motive power, and a primary generator that is driven by the motive power part. A facility includes an air compressor that compresses air cooled by the LNG vaporizer, an air tank that stores compressed air discharged from the air compressor, air heaters that heat the compressed air supplied from the air tank with heat generated when the natural gas is burned in the motive power part, an air expander that expands the compressed air heated by the air heaters, and a secondary generator that is driven by the air expander. At the output merging part, output of the primary generator and output of the secondary generator are merged with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Hiroki SARUTA, Masaki MATSUKUMA, Takashi SATO
  • Publication number: 20200325891
    Abstract: A CAES generator includes a plurality of motors, a plurality of compressors, a pressure accumulator, an expander, a generator, an electric-motor inverter that changes a rotation speed of each of the motors, a feed command receiver that receives input power as a feed command value before feeding the input power, and a controller. The controller includes a compressor number calculation unit that calculates a maximum number of motors that are allowed to be driven at a rating based on the feed command value, and a compressor drive control unit that drives at the rating, the motors, the number of which is the maximum number calculated by the compressor number calculation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Takashi SATO, Ryo NAKAMICHI, Masaki MATSUKUMA, Hiroki SARUTA