Abstract: A cryogenic energy storage system comprises at least one cryogenic fluid storage tank having an output; a primary conduit through which a stream of cryogenic fluid may flow from the output of the fluid storage tank to an exhaust; a pump within the primary conduit downstream of the output of the tank for pressurising the cryogenic fluid stream; evaporative means within the primary conduit downstream of the pump for vaporising the pressurised cryogenic fluid stream; at least one expansion stage within the primary conduit downstream of the evaporative means for expanding the vaporised cryogenic fluid stream and for extracting work therefrom; a secondary conduit configured to divert at least a portion of the cryogenic fluid stream from the primary conduit and reintroduce it to the fluid storage tank; and pressure control means within the secondary conduit for controlling the flow of the diverted cryogenic fluid stream and thereby controlling the pressure within the tank.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the efficient cooling within air liquefaction processes with integrated use of cold recovery from an adjacent LNG gasification process are disclosed.

Abstract: A cryogenic energy storage system comprises at least one cryogenic fluid storage tank having an output; a primary conduit through which a stream of cryogenic fluid may flow from the output of the fluid storage tank to an exhaust; a pump within the primary conduit downstream of the output of the tank for pressurising the cryogenic fluid stream; evaporative means within the primary conduit downstream of the pump for vaporising the pressurised cryogenic fluid stream; at least one expansion stage within the primary conduit downstream of the evaporative means for expanding the vaporised cryogenic fluid stream and for extracting work therefrom; a secondary conduit configured to divert at least a portion of the cryogenic fluid stream from the primary conduit and reintroduce it to the fluid storage tank; and pressure control means within the secondary conduit for controlling the flow of the diverted cryogenic fluid stream and thereby controlling the pressure within the tank.

Abstract: A system comprising a cryogenic storage tank for storing cryogen, a pump in fluid communication with the cryogenic storage tank for pumping cryogen from the cryogenic storage tank to a high pressure, an evaporator in fluid communication with the pump for evaporating the high-pressure cryogen from the pump to form a high-pressure gas, a power recovery apparatus comprising a drive shaft for transmitting mechanical power, and an electrical machine mechanically coupled to the drive shaft of the power recovery apparatus for converting the mechanical power recovered by the power recovery apparatus into electrical energy. The system is operable in a power recovery mode in which the power recovery apparatus is driven by and recovers mechanical power from high-pressure gas supplied by the evaporator, and a motored mode in which the power recovery apparatus is driven by a driving means other than high-pressure gas supplied by the evaporator.

Abstract: A power recovery system for recovering power from a working fluid, comprising a heat exchanger that is configured to receive a first stream of the working fluid, one or more expansion stages for expanding the working fluid to recover power from the working fluid, wherein one or more of the expansion stages is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between the first stream of the working fluid and another stream of the working fluid that is received from one or more of the expansion stages.

Abstract: A liquid air energy storage system comprises an air liquefier, a storage facility for storing the liquefied air, and a power recovery unit coupled to the storage facility. The air liquefier comprises an air input, an adsorption air purification unit for purifying the input air, and a cold box for liquefying the purified air. The power recovery unit comprises a pump for pressurising the liquefied air from the liquid air storage facility, an evaporator for transforming the high-pressure liquefied air into high-pressure gaseous air, an expansion turbine capable of being driven by the high-pressure gaseous air, a generator for generating electricity from the expansion turbine, and an exhaust for exhausting low-pressure gaseous air from the expansion turbine. The exhaust is coupled to the adsorption air purification unit such that at least a portion of the exhausted low-pressure gaseous air is usable to regenerate the adsorption air purification unit.

Abstract: A cryogenic energy storage system comprising a liquefaction apparatus for liquefying a gas to form a cryogen, wherein the liquefaction apparatus is controllable to draw power from an external power source to liquefy the gas, a cryogenic storage tank in fluid communication with the liquefaction apparatus for storing cryogen produced by the liquefaction apparatus, a power recovery apparatus in fluid communication with the cryogenic storage tank for recovering power from cryogen from the cryogenic storage tank by heating the cryogen to form a gas and expanding said gas, a hot thermal store for storing hot thermal energy, wherein the hot thermal store and the power recovery apparatus are arranged so that hot thermal energy from the hot thermal store can be transferred to the gas before and/or during expansion in the power recovery apparatus, and a charging apparatus which is controllable to draw power from the external power source when the power drawn by the liquefaction apparatus is below a threshold value, and

Abstract: Cryogenic energy storage systems, and particularly methods for capturing cold energy and re-using that captured cold energy, are disclosed. The systems allow cold thermal energy from the power recovery process of a cryogenic energy storage system to be captured effectively, to be stored, and to be effectively utilised. The captured cold energy could be reused in any co-located process, for example to enhance the efficiency of production of the cryogen, to enhance the efficiency of production of liquid natural gas, and/or to provide refrigeration. The systems are such that the cold energy can be stored at very low pressures, cold energy can be recovered from various components of the system, and/or cold energy can be stored in more than one thermal store.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for storing thermal energy are disclosed. The thermal energy may be hot or cold. The methods and apparatus allow the thermal store to be charged and discharged at different rates. The methods and apparatus also allow the thermal store to be charged and discharged with multiple and/or interrupted phases.

Abstract: Cryogenic energy storage systems, and particularly methods for capturing cold energy and re-using that captured cold energy, are disclosed. The systems allow cold thermal energy from the power recovery process of a cryogenic energy storage system to be captured effectively, to be stored, and to be effectively utilized. The captured cold energy could be reused in any co-located process, for example to enhance the efficiency of production of the cryogen, to enhance the efficiency of production of liquid natural gas, and/or to provide refrigeration. The systems are such that the cold energy can be stored at very low pressures, cold energy can be recovered from various components of the system, and/or cold energy can be stored in more than one thermal store.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device and method for the generation of zero emission electricity that can be used to provide load balancing and emergency support to a electricity distribution network or back up electricity to a critical consumer such as a hospital or data center. The system uses a cryogenic fluid and a source of low grade waste heat. A cryogenic fluid is first evaporated by an evaporator (3) heated by a superheater (4) before entering an expansion turbine (10) to produce electricity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of integrating one or more thermal processes with one another, wherein the thermal processes to be integrated have different supply and demand criteria for thermal energy. The method involves the use of one or more thermal stores.

Abstract: Cryogenic energy storage systems, and particularly methods for capturing cold energy and re-using that captured cold energy, are disclosed. The systems allow cold thermal energy from the power recovery process of a cryogenic energy storage system to be captured effectively, to be stored, and to be effectively utilised. The captured cold energy could be reused in any co-located process, for example to enhance the efficiency of production of the cryogen, to enhance the efficiency of production of liquid natural gas, and/or to provide refrigeration. The systems are such that the cold energy can be stored at very low pressures, cold energy can be recovered from various components of the system, and/or cold energy can be stored in more than one thermal store.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device and method for the generation of zero emission electricity that can be used to provide load balancing and emergency support to a electricity distribution network or back up electricity to a critical consumer such as a hospital or data centre. The system uses a cryogenic fluid and a source of low grade waste heat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of integrating one or more thermal processes with one another, wherein the thermal processes to be integrated have different supply and demand criteria for thermal energy. The method involves the use of one or more thermal stores.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for storing thermal energy are disclosed. The thermal energy may be hot or cold. The methods and apparatus allow the thermal store to be charged and discharged at different rates. The methods and apparatus also allow the thermal store to be charged and discharged with multiple and/or interrupted phases.

Abstract: The present invention concerns systems for storing energy and using the stored energy to generate electrical energy or drive a propeller (505). In particular, the present invention provides a method of storing energy comprising: providing a gaseous input, producing a cryogen from the gaseous input; storing the cryogen; expanding the cryogen; using the expanded cryogen to drive a turbine (320) and recovering cold energy from the expansion of the cryogen. The present invention also provides a cryogenic energy storage system comprising: a source of cryogen; a cryogen storage facility (370); means for expanding the cryogen; a turbine (320) capable of being driven by the expanding cryogen; and means (340, 350) for recovering cold energy released during expansion of the cryogen.

Abstract: An engine has a chamber (3) accommodating a rotor (5) providing shaft power from the expansion in the chamber (3) of a refrigerated or compressed drive fluid admitted to the chamber (3). A heat-exchange liquid is also admitted to the chamber (3). The heat-exchange liquid gives up heat energy to the expanding drive fluid in the chamber (3), and the cooled heat-exchange fluid is withdrawn from the chamber by a return pipe (16), passed through a heat exchanger (20) to raise its temperature to ambient and then reintroduced into the chamber (3).