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.

Composite tank apparatus and methods of making and using same. An array of flat-sided co-dependent cells with relatively thin skins made of metallic or non-metallic materials. Each cell has at least two flat wall panel portions connected by radiused sections arranged such that all of the flat wall panel portions are either in flush contact with each other or in flush contact with flat supporting panels of an enclosing structure or thermal insulating material lining an interior thereof. The cells are sealed with each other around a perimeter of at least one pair of matching lightening through-wall holes provided in adjacent pairs of the wall panel portions of the cells to resist relative movement and prevent leakage of fluid therefrom. The composite tank apparatus may include an enclosing structure, and optionally, one or more layers of thermally insulating material lining the interior surface or the exterior surface of the enclosing structure.

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.

The invention is a reservoir for the storage of a pressurized fluid such as compressed air. In particular, the reservoir comprises at least one tube formed of an arrangement of concentric layers (C1, C2, C3, C4). This arrangement comprises, working from the inside toward the outside of the tube, an internal layer (C1) formed of concrete, a layer (C2) formed of steel of thickness E, at least one layer (C3) formed by a winding of steel wires (C3″) on a sublayer (C3′) of concrete, and an external layer (C4) which protects the wires against at least one of physical and chemical damage, and in which the wires are subjected to circumferential (hoop) tensile prestress with at least one of the thickness E and the prestress being rated to withstand the pressure of pressurized fluid.

Application notably to the storage and recovery of energy using compressed air.

A precast, prestressed concrete tank and method that facilitates construction of a primary inner tank within a secondary outer tank, and which permits for the construction of the primary inner tank after the secondary outer tank has been erected, but without requiring insertion through a top of the secondary outer tank, or by tunneling underneath the secondary outer tank, is disclosed. The primary inner tank has an inner wall and the secondary outer tank has an outer wall (precast, prestressed concrete) and wire windings. The primary inner tank is disposed inside of the secondary outer tank. The secondary outer tank has a plurality of first precast outer wall panels, and a temporary construction opening frame. The temporary construction opening frame defines an access doorway during construction of the tank. The temporary construction opening frame is disposed on a foundation base slab.

A method of storing hydrogen involves forming an excavation in the earth and constructing a storage tank therein comprised of integrated primary and secondary containment structures. The primary containment structure composed of a plurality of joinable cylindrical segments, or pre-fabricated sections joined to form a cylinder within the excavation. The secondary containment structure formed by pumping a curable, flowable composition into the cylinder, allowing it to flow out the bottom and up the second annulus to the earth's surface, and then hardening; thereby encasing the primary containment structure. The bottom of the cylinder is sealed with the bottom assembly. The top assembly is attached to the cylinder and tubing and packer are run into the cylinder creating a first annulus between the cylinder and tubing. Top assembly is sealed, fluids circulated out, and the tank dried. Thereafter, the tank is capable of safely storing hydrogen gas.

A precast, prestressed concrete tank and method that facilitates construction of a primary inner tank within a secondary outer tank, and which permits for the construction of the primary inner tank after the secondary outer tank has been erected, but without requiring insertion through a top of the secondary outer tank, or by tunneling underneath the secondary outer tank, is disclosed. The primary inner tank has an inner wall and the secondary outer tank has an outer wall (precast, prestressed concrete) and wire windings. The primary inner tank is disposed inside of the secondary outer tank. The secondary outer tank has a plurality of first precast outer wall panels, and a temporary construction opening frame. The temporary construction opening frame defines an access doorway during construction of the tank. The temporary construction opening frame is disposed on a foundation base slab.

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 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.