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 cold energy recovery apparatus for a self-powered data centre is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a fluid storage tank having at least a pair of inlet and outlet, the inlet configured to receive a coolant; and a heat exchanger arranged in the tank, the heat exchanger having a pair of inlet and outlet, the inlet configured to receive liquefied natural gas. The apparatus is operable to permit the coolant to flow from the inlet to the outlet of the tank causing the coolant to be in fluid contact with the heat exchanger, in which the coolant is progressively cooled to a lower temperature by heat transfer to the liquefied natural gas via fluid contact with the heat exchanger. The liquefied natural gas is vaporized into natural gas due to the heat transfer and is directed out from the outlet of the heat exchanger.

A skid for capturing refrigeration from liquefied natural gas vaporization is disclosed comprising a first heat exchanger mounted on the skid, the first heat exchanger having a natural gas inlet, a natural gas outlet, a process fluid inlet, and a process fluid outlet. The process fluid is configured to flow from the process fluid inlet through the first heat exchanger to the process fluid outlet and then to the process fluid inlet. Other embodiments of the system for capturing refrigeration from vaporization of liquid natural gas, and methods for its use, are described herein.

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 fluid pumping system may include an engine, an electric generator, an electrically driven pump, and a first electrical resistance heating element. The engine may drive the generator, and the generator may supply power to the electrically driven pump and the electrical resistance heating element. The first electrical resistance heating element may be positioned to apply heat to fluid pumped by the electrically driven pump.

A controlled ambient temperature vaporization system including a source of liquid carbon dioxide at a supply pressure, a pressure reduction valve is provided. The system is configured to reduce the liquid carbon dioxide from the supply pressure to a delivery pressure, a heat exchange device. The system is also configured to exchange heat between a stream of ambient temperature air and the carbon dioxide at delivery pressure, thereby producing a vaporized carbon dioxide stream. The system also includes a backpressure regulator, configured to maintain the vaporized carbon dioxide above a minimum delivery pressure.

Heat is transferred from a first portion of liquid hydrogen to a flow of a heat transfer fluid at a first heat exchanger through heat exchange with a heat transfer fluid to produce a flow of vaporized hydrogen and a warmed flow of heat transfer fluid. The flow of vaporized hydrogen is combined with a second portion of liquid hydrogen in amounts designed to produce a combined flow with a desired temperature, the combined flow being used to fill one or more buffer vessels. Heat is also transferred at a second heat exchanger from a stream of pressurized hydrogen from the at least one buffer vessel to the cooled flow of heat transfer fluid to produce a cooled flow of pressurized hydrogen that is used to fill tanks of fuel cell electric vehicles.

Heat is transferred from a first portion of liquid hydrogen to a flow of a heat transfer fluid at a first heat exchanger through heat exchange with a heat transfer fluid to produce a flow of vaporized hydrogen and a warmed flow of heat transfer fluid. The flow of vaporized hydrogen is combined with a second portion of liquid hydrogen in amounts designed to produce a combined flow with a desired temperature, the combined flow being used to fill one or more buffer vessels. Heat is also transferred at a second heat exchanger from a stream of pressurized hydrogen from the at least one buffer vessel to the cooled flow of heat transfer fluid to produce a cooled flow of pressurized hydrogen that is used to fill tanks of fuel cell electric vehicles.

Systems and methods for recovery, storing and utilizing heat energy during compressed gas energy storage are disclosed. In an example, a system for storing energy in a form of compressed gas, comprising: one or more energy storage vessels for storing compressed gas, said energy storage vessels each comprising: a wellbore provided in a subsurface; and a casing placed within the wellbore and cemented to a surrounding geological medium, the casing defining a volumetric space for storing the compressed gas; and a geothermal reservoir formed at the surrounding geological medium of the one or more energy storage vessels for underground thermal energy storage, wherein a portion of thermal energy of the compressed gas stored in the one or more storage vessels is conductively transferred to, via the one or more storage vessels, the surrounding geological medium, and stored in the surrounding geological medium.

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.