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. The secondary conduit is coupled to the primary conduit downstream of one or more of the at least one expansion stages.

Embodiments of the invention relate to vaporizer systems including two-phase heat transfer devices for vaporizing liquids and methods of using the same.

A system and a method for sensing hydrogen charge state of a fuel cell electric vehicle are provided. The system includes an infrared transmission unit that transmits a fuel door sensing infrared signal for sensing a fuel door opened while charging hydrogen and a nozzle sensing infrared signal for sensing a charging station-side hydrogen charging nozzle connected to a hydrogen charging inlet of a vehicle. An infrared reception unit receives the fuel door sensing infrared signal and thereafter, reflected on a fuel door and the nozzle sensing infrared signal transmitted from the infrared transmission unit and thereafter, reflected on the hydrogen charging nozzle. A controller determines that the vehicle is being charged with hydrogen when sensing an open state of the fuel door and a hydrogen charging inlet connection state of the hydrogen charging nozzle.

Cladding of the interior of a component part of a pressure vessel is shown. A lining which conforms to at least a portion of the interior geometry of the component is positioned in the interior of the component. The lining is then pressed into the component past its yield strength. The lining is then fused to the component.

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. The secondary conduit is coupled to the primary conduit downstream of one or more of the at least one expansion stages.

An energy storage system is provided. The system comprises an energy storage device comprising: a pressure vessel configured to store pressurised fluid; and one or more resilient elements, wherein the resilient elements comprise a plurality of filaments of resilient material braided to form the resilient elements, wherein the resilient elements are arranged within or about the pressure vessel, and wherein the energy storage device is configured such that storing pressurised fluid within the pressure vessel acts to tension or compress the resilient elements.

A hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system may include an accumulator disposed underground, a gas compressor/expander subsystem in fluid communication with the accumulator interior via an air flow path; a compensation liquid reservoir spaced apart from the accumulator and in fluid communication with the layer of compensation liquid within the accumulator via a compensation liquid flow path; and a first construction shaft extending from the surface of the ground to the accumulator and being sized and configured to i) accommodate the passage of a construction apparatus therethrough when the hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system is being constructed, and ii) to provide at least a portion of one of the air flow path and the compensation liquid flow path when the hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system is in use.

A method of transitioning a hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system from an operating mode to a dewatered maintenance state may include a) charging an accumulator to a fully charged state where the air water interface is at a charge plane by conveying compressed air at a storage pressure into the layer of compressed air using a gas compressor/expander subsystem thereby displacing a corresponding amount of compensation liquid from the layer of compensation liquid out of the accumulator into the compensation liquid flow path and from the compensation liquid flow path into the compensation liquid reservoir until the accumulator is substantially free of the compensation liquid, b) fluidly sealing the compensation liquid flow path thereby isolating a residual amount of the compensation liquid, and c) depressurizing the accumulator interior to a service pressure that is lower than the storage pressure.

Storage vessel, system and method for storing compressed gas are provided. A storage vessel for storing compressed gas comprises a wellbore provided in the subsurface; a casing placed within the wellbore and cemented to the formation, the casing defining a volumetric space within the wellbore for storing the compressed gas; and at least one flow regulator sealed at a top end of the casing for selectively injecting the compressed gas into the space or discharging the compressed gas from the space, wherein the wellbore has a volumetric capacity of at least 20 m3, and wherein the compressed gas has a pressure of at least 5 MPa.

A system and a method for sensing hydrogen charge state of a fuel cell electric vehicle are provided. The system includes an infrared transmission unit that transmits a fuel door sensing infrared signal for sensing a fuel door opened while charging hydrogen and a nozzle sensing infrared signal for sensing a charging station-side hydrogen charging nozzle connected to a hydrogen charging inlet of a vehicle. An infrared reception unit receives the fuel door sensing infrared signal and thereafter, reflected on a fuel door and the nozzle sensing infrared signal transmitted from the infrared transmission unit and thereafter, reflected on the hydrogen charging nozzle. A controller determines that the vehicle is being charged with hydrogen when sensing an open state of the fuel door and a hydrogen charging inlet connection state of the hydrogen charging nozzle.