Various embodiments are generally directed to a unit secured in a single subterranean bore. The unit can be configured to store compressed hydrocarbon gas in at least one of a plurality of separate vessels that are respectively attached via at least one retainer. An anchor feature may be employed to center the unit within the single subterranean bore.

A compressed gas energy storage system may include an accumulator for containing a layer of compressed gas atop a layer of liquid. A gas conduit may have an upper end in communication with a gas compressor/expander subsystem and a lower end in communication with accumulator interior for conveying compressed gas into the compressed gas layer of the accumulator when in use. A shaft may have an interior for containing a quantity of a liquid and may be fluidly connectable to a liquid source/sink via a liquid supply conduit. A partition may cover may separate the accumulator interior from the shaft interior. An internal accumulator force may act on the inner surface of the partition and the liquid within the shaft may exert an external counter force on the outer surface of the partition, whereby a net force acting on the partition is less than the accumulator force.

A method for dispensing liquefied fuel, the method including: providing a non-petroleum fuel as a liquefied fuel to a storage tank; increasing pressure of the liquefied fuel to a target pressure using a pump disposed within the storage tank, where a first portion of the liquefied fuel is bypassed around or at least partially around a heat exchanger, and a second portion of the liquefied fuel is discharged to the heat exchanger, where the heat exchanger is configured to warm the second portion of the liquefied fuel. A dispenser is provided that incorporates a control system that allows coordinated fueling of one or more vehicles simultaneously, where the heat exchanger uses only the fuel itself without external refrigeration to manage final dispensing temperature and the fueling station does not include a storage subsystem disposed between the pump and the dispenser.

Various embodiments are generally directed to a unit secured in a single subterranean bore. The unit can be configured to store compressed hydrocarbon gas in at least one of a plurality of separate vessels that are respectively attached via at least one retainer. An anchor feature may be employed to center the unit within the single subterranean bore.

A vacuum heat-insulating material includes: an outer cover material; and a core material which is sealed in a tightly closed and decompressed state on the inside of the outer cover material. Outer cover material has gas barrier properties and satisfies at least one of a condition that a linear expansion coefficient is 8010.sup.5/ C. or lower when a static load is 0.05 N within a temperature range of 130 C. to 80 C., inclusive, a condition that an average value of a linear expansion coefficient is 6510.sup.5/ C. or higher when a static load is 0.4 N within a temperature range of 140 C. to 130 C., inclusive, a condition that an average value of a linear expansion coefficient is 2010.sup.5/ C. or higher when a static load is 0.4 N within a temperature range of 140 C. to 110 C., inclusive, and a condition that an average value of a linear expansion coefficient is 1310.sup.5/ C. or higher when a static load is 0.4 N within a temperature range of +50 C. to +65 C., inclusive.

A compressed gas energy storage system may include an accumulator for containing a layer of compressed gas atop a layer of liquid. A gas conduit may have an upper end in communication with a gas compressor/expander subsystem and a lower end in communication with accumulator interior for conveying compressed gas into the compressed gas layer of the accumulator when in use. A shaft may have an interior for containing a quantity of a liquid and may be fluidly connectable to a liquid source/sink via a liquid supply conduit. A partition may cover may separate the accumulator interior from the shaft interior. An internal accumulator force may act on the inner surface of the partition and the liquid within the shaft may exert an external counter force on the outer surface of the partition, whereby a net force acting on the partition is less than the accumulator force.

A compressed gas energy storage system may include an accumulator for containing a layer of compressed gas atop a layer of liquid. A gas conduit may have an upper end in communication with a gas compressor/expander subsystem and a lower end in communication with accumulator interior for conveying compressed gas into the compressed gas layer of the accumulator when in use. A shaft may have an interior for containing a quantity of a liquid and may be fluidly connectable to a liquid source/sink via a liquid supply conduit. A partition may cover may separate the accumulator interior from the shaft interior. An internal accumulator force may act on the inner surface of the partition and the liquid within the shaft may exert an external counter force on the outer surface of the partition, whereby a net force acting on the partition is less than the accumulator force.

A system for storing air at high pressure underground or underwater includes a plurality of arrays of air tanks, each tank configured to store compressed air at a pressure of at least 40 bar. A piping system connects between an outlet of each air tank, the piping system further including at least one central port for delivering compressed air to and from a respective array. A storage receptacle surrounds the arrays and piping system, protecting the arrays and piping system from an external environment, and thermally insulating the arrays and piping system. A liquid bath is arranged within the storage receptacle. A heat exchanger is configured to maintain a temperature of the liquid bath substantially constant. The storage receptacle may be comprised of plastic pieces welded together in a modular fashion. Each piece may be a cylindrical tube configured to receive therein one or more of the arrays.

Disclosed herein is a system for storing gas at almost constant pressure, which involves the injection and withdrawal of a liquid in a process known as hydraulic compensation. This disclosure teaches a way to minimize that dissolution by ensuring that, as the gas containment is charged up, the hydraulic compensation liquid emerges from the containment at the gas storage pressure and the pressure of that liquid is caused to fall in a number of discrete steps with settling volumes present at the nodes between these steps. These settling volumes enable some gas to come out of solution at each node having lost relatively small amounts of pressure. The gas is compressed back up to storage pressure and re-injected into the main storage containment without significant use of energy.

A system for storing air at high pressure underground or underwater includes a plurality of arrays of air tanks, each tank configured to store compressed air at a pressure of at least 40 bar. A piping system connects between an outlet of each air tank, the piping system further including at least one central port for delivering compressed air to and from a respective array. A storage receptacle surrounds the arrays and piping system, protecting the arrays and piping system from an external environment, and thermally insulating the arrays and piping system. A liquid bath is arranged within the storage receptacle. A heat exchanger is configured to maintain a temperature of the liquid bath substantially constant. The storage receptacle may be comprised of plastic pieces welded together in a modular fashion. Each piece may be a cylindrical tube configured to receive therein one or more of the arrays.