A methane transportation system is provided. The system may include a methane source configured to dispense methane at a first location, and an underwater vehicle. The underwater vehicle may include a propulsion system configured to transport the underwater vehicle underwater from the first location to a second location and a vessel defining a storage chamber configured to receive water and the methane from the methane source. The storage chamber of the vessel may have a pressure exceeding one atmosphere and a temperature during transport from the first location to the second location sufficient to form methane clathrate in the storage chamber. The system may further include a methane receiver configured to receive the methane released from the storage chamber at the second location. Related methods are also provided.

An air conditioning system including a condenser system and a closed-loop air-to-water system. The condenser system includes a compressor which pressurizes refrigerant and distributes the pressurized refrigerant to at least one condenser coil, which climatizes water; and a fan which exhausts heat from the pressurized refrigerant. The closed-loop air-to-water system includes a climatized liquid tank, which receives climatized water from the at least one condenser coil; and an air handler disposed within a building, the air handler having a climatized liquid coil. The air handler is disposed to receive air from inside the building; transfer thermal energy from the climatized liquid coil to ambient air, creating climatized air; and distribute the climatized air to at least a portion of the building. The climatized water may be distributed to a recycled liquid tank, which may redistribute the climatized water to the climatized liquid tank, forming a closed-loop air-to-water system.

The invention relates to a submersible system (1) comprising at least a first frame structure (2) for horizontal storage of tanks (3) with a positive buoyancy in water therein, wherein the first frame structure (1) has a negative buoyancy in water and comprises at least two storage positions (4) for supporting at least two tanks (3), wherein the storage positions (4) are arranged side by side in one level and each storage position comprises at least one cradle (4) for supporting a tank (3) from below, and wherein the system (1) comprises a fastening device (6,11) having a first and a second state, wherein: i. when in the first state, the fastening device (6,11) is configured to permit positioning of a tank (3) from above into the at least one cradle (4) and; ii. when in the second state, the fastening device (6,11) is configured to secure a tank (3) positioned in the at least one cradle (4) in a radial direction of the tank (3) preventing movement of the tank (3) in a vertical upward direction; and wherein a total buoyancy of the system (1) when submerged in water, when tanks (3) are positioned in each of the storage positions, is negative. The invention also relates to an associated method of storing tanks on a seabed using the submersible system (1).

An underwater energy storage system includes a tank for storing a compressed gas that is adapted to be stored underwater. The tank includes at least one water opening through which water from surrounding environment can flow into and out of the tank, and at least one gas opening through which the compressed gas is received. The underwater energy storage system further includes at least one duct communicating between the at least one opening for gas flow and a source of compressed gas and a compartment constructed over a roof of the tank, wherein said compartment is adapted for receiving weights at a sinking site of the tank.

Processes for forming and sequestering CO.sub.2 clathrates in a marine environment are disclosed.

A compressed fluid energy storage system includes a submersible fluid containment subsystem charged with a compressed working fluid and submerged and ballasted in a body of water, with the fluid containment subsystem having a substantially flat portion closing a domed portion. The system also includes a compressor and an expander disposed to compress and expand the working fluid. The fluid containment subsystem is at least in part flexible, and includes an upper portion for storing compressed energy fluid and a lower portion for ballast material. The lower portion may be tapered proximate the flat portion to prevent it from being collapsed by ballast materials. The region between the fluid and the ballast has exchange ports to communicate water between the inside and outside of the containment subsystem. In other embodiments, an open-bottomed fluid containment system is held in position underneath a ballast system by a tensegrity structure.

A subterranean tank can consist of at least a casing string that has a containment section disposed between first and second end regions. The containment section may have a first width while each of the first and second end regions have a second width. The first width can be greater than the second width of the respective first or second end regions. The entire casing string may be sealed to maintain a gas at 5,000 psi or more until a gas delivery assembly attached to the first end region releases gas stored in the casing string.

A novel method for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves confining the high purity hydrogen at a certain pressure in a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls. The pressure in the cavern is maintained during storage of the high purity hydrogen.

A hydrostatically compensated, compressed gas energy storage system can include an accumulator containing a layer of compressed gas at between about 20 bar and about 90 bar above a layer of compensation liquid that has a density of at least 1500 kg/m3. A compressor and expander subsystem may be configured to selectably convey compressed gas into the accumulator and to extract gas from the accumulator. The system may be operable in at least a charging mode in which the compressor and expander subsystem conveys gas into the layer of compressed gas thereby displacing a corresponding volume of compensation liquid from the layer of compensation liquid within the accumulator out of the accumulator via the compensation liquid flow path thereby maintaining the layer of compressed gas at substantially the accumulator pressure during the charging mode.

Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method, by which a gaseous chemical, e.g., hydrogen gas, can be retrieved by, stored within, and transported by, a low-cost autonomous vessel. The vessel is deployed, and operates, within a body of water. A submerged portion of the vessel is subjected to an ambient hydrostatic pressure that is used to compress the stored gases. A spar buoy that floats adjacent to a surface of the body of water regulates and stabilizes a depth of the submerged portion. A single pressure-tolerant chamber within the submerged portion is used to acquire gas from a gas provider and to equilibrate the pressure of the gas so acquired. The pressure-equilibrated and/or pressure-balanced gas is then drawn into a first gas storage tank through a venting of an approximately equal volume of another gas, e.g., air, from a second gas storage tank, resulting in a gas transfer at an approximately constant pressure. The processing and storage of acquired gases at pressures approximately equal to the ambient hydrostatic pressures permits the use of thin-walled tanks, and makes possible a low-cost gas acquisition, storage, and transportation, vessel.