A cryogenic fluid containment system is disclosed. The system can store a fluid such as hydrogen at a cryogenic temperature and pressure. As the fluid naturally warms, boil-off fluid is produced by the fluid and can be directed to a backup power system that is configured to consume the boil-off fluid. The boil-off fluid being extracted from the cryogenic fluid containment system causes additional boil-off fluid to be generated from the fluid and refrigerate the fluid within the cryogenic fluid containment system. Additionally, the boil-off fluid can be monitored over time such that as the boil-off fluid accumulates within the storage tank, a boil-off controller can determine whether the boil-off fluid is to be extracted from the storage tank. The boil-off controller can enable the fluid to be maintained below a pressure threshold within the storage tank.

The present invention provides a high efficiency prime mover with phase change energy storage for distributed generation and motor vehicle application. Phase change storage minimizes energy required for refrigerant liquefaction while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

A wide-area power supply system has a small impact on the environment and is highly economical, as a wide-area power supply network that uses hydrogen energy without requiring conventional transmission towers, etc., the wide-area power supply system comprising: a primary power plant; a hydrogen production facility which produces hydrogen by using electricity from the primary power plant; a primary hydrogen storage facility distributed over a wide area; a secondary hydrogen storage facility distributed for each primary hydrogen storage facility; a regional power grid which sends power to power consuming facilities or dwelling units within a residential area; a secondary power generation facility which is installed within the residential area and converts hydrogen transported via the primary hydrogen storage facility or the secondary hydrogen storage facility into electric power; and a transportation means such as a trailer for transporting hydrogen between the hydrogen production facility and the primary hydrogen storage facility, between the primary hydrogen storage facility and the secondary hydrogen storage facility, and between the primary hydrogen storage facility or the secondary hydrogen storage facility and the secondary power generation facility.

A thermal storage subsystem may include at least a first storage reservoir configured to contain a thermal storage liquid at a storage pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure. A liquid passage may have an inlet connectable to a thermal storage liquid source and configured to convey the thermal storage liquid to the liquid reservoir. A first heat exchanger may be provided in the liquid inlet passage and may be in fluid communication between the first compression stage and the accumulator, whereby thermal energy can be transferred from a compressed gas stream exiting a gas compressor/expander subsystem to the thermal storage liquid.

An energy generation system for converting combustible fluid from a nontraditional combustible fluid source to useable energy. The energy generation system including a fluid storage system including a compressor and at least one storage tank, the compressor configured to pressurize a combustible fluid from a combustible fluid source for storage in the one or more storage tanks; and an energy recovery system configured to receive the combustible fluid from the at least one storage tank, the energy recovery system including: a turboexpander configured to depressurize the combustible fluid received from the at least one storage tank; a motor-generator configured to input the combustible fluid as depressurized by the turboexpander, and generate electrical energy from the combustible fluid; and an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system configured to generate electrical energy based on a temperature differential between the combustible fluid input to the motor-generator and a waste heat produced by the motor-generator.

Compressed gas dispensing methods using cascade dispensing from a first plurality of storage vessels and a second plurality of storage vessels. A compressor is used to provide very high pressure compressed gas for the second plurality of pressure storage vessels. Various methods are described for different sources of the compressed gas. The methods are particularly suitable for dispensing hydrogen into storage vessels in vehicles.

[Object] To enable a gas supply system to be easily transported and to increase a degree of freedom when the gas supply system is installed.

[Solution] A hydrogen station includes: a filling facility for filling a tank-mounted device with a gas; and a gas supply system for supplying the gas to the filling facility. The gas supply system includes: a compressor for compressing the gas; a compressor accommodating body for accommodating the compressor; a refrigerator for cooling the gas flowed into the filling facility or the gas just before being flowed into the filling facility, the refrigerator including an evaporation part, an expansion part, and a compression part; and a cooler accommodating body for accommodating the evaporation part, the expansion part, and the compression part. The compressor accommodating body and the cooler accommodating body are detachable from each other.

Embodiments provide systems and methods for taking power from an electric power grid and converting it into higher-pressure natural gas for temporary storage. After temporary storage, the higher-pressure natural gas may be expanded through an expansion engine to drive a generator that converts energy from the expanding natural gas into electrical power, which may then be returned to the electric power grid. In this way, the disclosed systems and methods may provide ways to temporarily store, and then return stored power from the electric power grid. Preferably, the components of the system are co-located at the same natural gas storage facility. This allows natural gas storage, electrical energy storage, and electrical energy generation to take place at the same facility.

Method is for operating fluid-processing plant configured to generate and store pressurized fluid, and spaced apart from body of water. Method includes: (A) positioning variable-buoyancy assembly in body of water in such way that buoyancy force urges variable-buoyancy assembly to move toward surface of body of water; (B) positionally anchoring, at least in part, non-collapsible fluid-line assembly underground in such way that non-collapsible fluid-line assembly extends, at least in part, into body of water; (C) fluidly connecting, via non-collapsible fluid-line assembly, fluid-processing plant and variable-buoyancy assembly together in such way that non-collapsible fluid-line assembly conveys pressurized fluid between fluid-processing plant and variable-buoyancy assembly; and (D) transmitting an anchoring force, via non-collapsible fluid-line assembly, from ground to variable-buoyancy assembly in such way that anchoring force substantially counteracts buoyancy force acting on non-collapsible fluid-line assembly, and anchoring force substantially urges variable-buoyancy assembly to remain below surface of body of water.

A container-type compressed air storage power generation device (2) comprises compressors (5a-5c); a tank (8); power generators (9a-9c); a control device (12); and a container (4). The compressors (5a-5c) compress air. The tank (8) is driven by air supplied from the compressors (5a-5c). The power generators (9a-9c) are driven by air supplied from the tank (8). The control device drives and controls the compressors (5a-5c) and the power generators (9a-9c). The container (4) houses the compressors (5a-5c) and the power generators (9a-9c), and the tank (8) is disposed outside the container (4). Therefore, the container-type compressed air storage power generation device (2) is easy to transport and construct on-site.