The present disclosure relates to energy storage. The teachings thereof may be embodied in a device and/or a method for storing electricity. For example a device for storing energy may include: a first vessel having a first holding space; a separating apparatus dividing the first holding space into a first chamber for holding a first medium and a second chamber for holding a gas phase; the separating apparatus movable to cause a simultaneous change in volume of the first chamber and the second chamber; a second vessel with a second holding space exchanging mass transfer of the gas phase in the second chamber; a temperature-control apparatus supplying or removing heat energy to the second vessel; a conveying apparatus conveying the medium into the first chamber; and an expansion apparatus driven by the medium.

A method for extracting power from intraluminal pressure changes may comprise one or more of the following steps: (a) receiving an intraluminal pressure change; (b) converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator; and (c) storing the energy in an energy storage apparatus.

A method for extracting power from intraluminal pressure changes may comprise one or more of the following steps: (a) receiving an intraluminal pressure change; (b) converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator; and (c) storing the energy in an energy storage apparatus.

A stand-alone long-distance closed-loop heat energy capture, conveyance, and delivery system, comprises three closed-loop modules in serial communication. The first module is in communication with a first closed-loop piping infrastructure interconnected with a source of heat energy, and has a LBP liquid circulating therein whereby the LBP liquid is converted into its gas phase when flowing through the source of heat energy thereby capturing a portion of heat energy therefrom, and is converted into its liquid phase when flowing through a first heat exchanger that transfers the captured-heat energy to a second closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein also is circulating a LBP liquid. The second closed-loop module may extend for long distances. The captured-heat energy in the second module is transferred to a third closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein is also circulating a LBP liquid. The captured-heat energy is transferred from the third module to a delivery site.

Apparatus for extracting useful work or electricity from low grade thermal sources comprising a chamber, a source of heated dense heat transfer fluid in communication with the chamber, a source of motive fluid in communication with the chamber, wherein the motive fluid comprises a liquid phase, a flow control mechanism cooperating with the source of heated dense heat transfer fluid and with the source of motive fluid to deliver said fluids into the chamber in a manner that said fluids come into direct contact with each other in the chamber to effect a phase change of the motive fluid from liquid to gas to increase the pressure within the chamber to yield pressurized fluids, and a work extracting mechanism in communication with the chamber that extracts work from the pressurized fluids by way of pressure let down.

Apparatus for extracting useful work or electricity from low grade thermal sources comprising a chamber, a source of heated dense heat transfer fluid in communication with the chamber, a source of motive fluid in communication with the chamber, wherein the motive fluid comprises a liquid phase, a flow control mechanism cooperating with the source of heated dense heat transfer fluid and with the source of motive fluid to deliver said fluids into the chamber in a manner that said fluids come into direct contact with each other in the chamber to effect a phase change of the motive fluid from liquid to gas to increase the pressure within the chamber to yield pressurized fluids, and a work extracting mechanism in communication with the chamber that extracts work from the pressurized fluids by way of pressure let down.

The present disclosure relates to techniques for extracting heat energy from geothermal briny fluid. A briny fluid can be extracted from a geothermal production well and delivered to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can receive the briny fluid and transfer heat energy from the briny fluid to a molten salt. The molten salt can be pumped to a molten salt storage tank that can serve as energy storage. The briny fluid can be returned to a geothermal source via the production well. The briny fluid can remain in a closed-loop system, apart from the molten salt, from extraction through return to the geothermal production well.

The present disclosure relates to techniques for extracting heat energy from geothermal briny fluid. A briny fluid can be extracted from a geothermal production well and delivered to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can receive the briny fluid and transfer heat energy from the briny fluid to a molten salt. The molten salt can be pumped to a molten salt storage tank that can serve as energy storage. The briny fluid can be returned to a geothermal source via the production well. The briny fluid can remain in a closed-loop system, apart from the molten salt, from extraction through return to the geothermal production well.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the pressure space of the cylinder is bisected into a vacuum state and a pneumatic state to alternately form a pressure difference, it is possible to generate the kinetic energy of the piston and convert the kinetic energy into other necessary energy. To this end, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an energy conversion apparatus including an energy conversion module including a piston, a piston rod provided on one side of the center of the piston, a cylinder divided into a first pressure space and a second pressure space to be relatively varied with the piston interposed therebetween, and an external air opening/closing part selectively opening and closing the external air to the first pressure space and the second pressure space, respectively; a first bellows containing a fluid therein and provided in the first pressure space to be compressed and expanded; a second bellows containing a fluid therein and provided in the second pressure space to be compressed and expanded; a fluid movement pipe which is positioned outside the cylinder and connects the first bellows and the second bellows to each other to form a closed space, and through which the fluid accommodated therein moves by pressure; a first bellows pressing part for pressing one side of the first bellows; second bellows pressing part for pressing one side of the second bellows; a first motor transmitting a driving force to the first bellows pressing part; and a second motor transmitting a driving force to the second bellows pressing part.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the pressure space of the cylinder is bisected into a vacuum state and a pneumatic state to alternately form a pressure difference, it is possible to generate the kinetic energy of the piston and convert the kinetic energy into other necessary energy. To this end, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an energy conversion apparatus including an energy conversion module including a piston, a piston rod provided on one side of the center of the piston, a cylinder divided into a first pressure space and a second pressure space to be relatively varied with the piston interposed therebetween, and an external air opening/closing part selectively opening and closing the external air to the first pressure space and the second pressure space, respectively; a first bellows containing a fluid therein and provided in the first pressure space to be compressed and expanded; a second bellows containing a fluid therein and provided in the second pressure space to be compressed and expanded; a fluid movement pipe which is positioned outside the cylinder and connects the first bellows and the second bellows to each other to form a closed space, and through which the fluid accommodated therein moves by pressure; a first bellows pressing part for pressing one side of the first bellows; second bellows pressing part for pressing one side of the second bellows; a first motor transmitting a driving force to the first bellows pressing part; and a second motor transmitting a driving force to the second bellows pressing part.