The present invention is a tank for storing pressurized gas. The tank comprises at least one tubular element (1) having a wall comprising a layer of prestressed concrete (6), at least one circumferential mechanical reinforcing layer (8), at least one axial mechanical reinforcing layer (7) and a sealing layer (5). The concrete from which the layer of prestressed concrete is made is chosen from ultra high performance fiber-reinforced concretes.

The present invention provides a flywheel having a high energy density, a designing method which facilitates the designing of the flywheel, and an energy storage system which can achieve both an increase in storage energy and a reduction in weight by adopting the flywheel. A flywheel A includes: a low-density disk 10 having a low average density; and a high-density outer edge section 11 which is provided on the outer circumference of the low-density disk 10, and has an average density higher than that of the low-density disk 10.

A system comprises a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine has a flow diffuser system, a combustor, a modified compressor section, and a turbine coupled to a shaft. The system includes a low pressure intercooled compressor, a high pressure intercooled compressor, a recuperator, and a compressed air storage tank. The compressed air storage tank is in selective fluid communication with the low pressure intercooled compressor via the high pressure intercooled compressor, and the recuperator. The high pressure intercooled compressor is configured to selectively receive compressed air from the low pressure intercooled compressor and is further configured to selectively compress the compressed air to a highly compressed air for storage in the compressed air storage tank. Each of the compressed air storage tank and the low pressure intercooled compressor is selectively and fluidly coupled to the gas turbine engine.

A flywheel is attached to a shaft of a turbine. As the shaft rotates, the flywheel swings outwards away from the shaft and regulates the angular velocity of the rotating shaft. In an embodiment, there are multiple flywheels attached to the shaft. In another embodiment there is a first flywheel that controls a second flywheel. In another embodiment, the flywheel has adjustable or centrifugal displacement of counterbalanced masses for effective rotational diameter with effective rotational balance. In another embodiment, a small pilot centrifugal displacement flywheel may control a clutch by rotational velocity and may include a hysteresis control. An example of a clutch may limit that degree to which the arms of the flywheel may be extended and/or retracted. In another embodiment, a small pilot centrifugal displacement flywheel controls the hysteresis of a centrifugal flywheel displacement.

An example flywheel energy storage device includes a fiber-resin composite shell having an elliptical ovoid shape. The example device also includes an axially oriented internal compressive support between the axial walls of the shell. The example device also includes an inner boss plate and an outer boss plate on each side of the shell. The example device also includes a plurality of radially oriented, fiber-resin composite helical wraps forming the shell and coupling the shell to the inner and outer boss plates for co-rotation and torque transfer. The example device also includes boss plate attachments on internal boss plate supports to mount the shell for co-rotation and torque transfer via resin bonding, friction, and compression between the inner and outer boss plates.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for operating a machine using energy stored in a compress gas are disclosed. Energy stored in the compressed gas may be used to pressurize a fluid, such as transmission fluid, and the pressurized fluid may be used to effectuate an operation of the machine, such as a transmission, and the operation of the machine may involve shifting of a transmission. The gas may be compressed with another fluid that is different from the fluid used to operate the machine, and the two fluid may be prevented from being mixed together.

A flywheel system includes a fixture providing a base and a stator, rotor having a cavity to receive the stator, a generator/motor module having a plurality of permanent magnets mechanically coupled to the rotor and an active magnetic bearing module. The active magnetic bearing module includes a plurality of magnetizable elements mechanically coupled to or integrated in the rotor, and a plurality of electromagnets mechanically coupled to a shaft and configured to magnetically couple with the plurality of first magnetizable elements to actively stabilize the rotor relative to the fixture. The windings of the generator/motor module are arranged around the rotation axis of the rotor at a first distance from the rotation axis of the rotor, the electromagnets of the active magnetic bearing module are arranged around the rotation axis of the rotor at a second distance, and the first distance is greater than or equal to the second distance.

In an embodiment, a method of modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine is provided. The gas turbine has a combustor, a compressor section, and a turbine section. The method comprises the step of modifying the compressor section of the gas turbine to form the storage engine. Air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a remote source of air. Modifying the compressor section includes removing at least some of a plurality of rotatable airfoils of a compressor of the compressor section and introducing an increased capacity thrust bearing on a shaft line.

This invention relates to hydraulic energy storage and management systems. In particular, this invention relates to a hydraulic energy management system that has a reconfigurable energy storage and release capability that adjusts to varying available energy input and power demand output requirements. The hydraulic energy management system can be resized by a hydraulic bridge circuit to permit hydraulic power units to be added or removed, both physically and operationally, to capture available energy over time, adjust to peak demand cycles, and maintain power output in the event of a failure of a portion of the system.

A method of processing a stream of compressed air travelling between a gas compressor/expander subsystem and an underground accumulator in a compressed air energy storage system may include directing a thermal storage liquid through the first liquid flow path in a liquid charging flow direction from a thermal source reservoir toward a thermal storage reservoir whereby at least a portion of the thermal energy in the compressed air is transferred from the compressed air into the thermal storage liquid within the first reversible heat exchanger; including redirecting the compressed air through the first gas flow path in a gas discharging flow direction that is opposite the gas charging flow direction and redirecting the thermal storage liquid through the first liquid flow path in a liquid discharging flow direction whereby at least a portion of the thermal energy in the thermal storage liquid is returned into the compressed air.