Systems, methods, and devices for power storage, recovery, and balancing

Abstract

An energy processing apparatus includes an energy input unit, a bulk storage unit, an auxiliary unit, and an energy output unit. The energy input unit can include conduits/devices for the input of electrical/thermal energy sources. The bulk storage unit can include a system, conduits/devices for electrical/thermal energy storage/release. The auxiliary unit can include a system, conduits/devices for the production of material products. The energy output unit can contain conduits/devices for the output of electrical energy. The energy input unit can be connected to the bulk storage unit, auxiliary unit, and energy output unit by conduits/devices for the transfer of electrical/thermal energy. The bulk storage unit and auxiliary unit can be connected by conduits/devices for the transfer of material products and/or thermal energy. The energy output unit can be connected to the energy input unit and/or bulk storage unit by conduits/devices for the transfer of electrical energy.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . An energy processing apparatus comprising:
 an energy input unit to receive input energy from an electrical and/or a thermal energy source;   a bulk storage unit to store and release electrical and/or thermal energy;   an auxiliary unit to produce one or more material products; and   an energy output unit to output electrical energy,   wherein the energy input unit is connected to the bulk storage unit, the auxiliary unit, and the energy output unit to transfer electrical and/or thermal energy,   wherein the bulk storage unit and auxiliary unit are connected to transfer the material products and/or thermal energy, and   wherein the energy output unit is connected to the energy input unit and bulk storage unit to transfer electrical energy.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the auxiliary unit is configured to produce one or more liquid air components. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 ,
 wherein the bulk storage unit is a LAES or CAES system, and   wherein thermal energy from compression of air by the auxiliary unit is transferrable to a hot thermal storage of the LAES/CAES system and/or is transferrable to a steam power generating cycle.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 ,
 wherein the bulk storage unit is a LAES or CAES system, and   wherein the liquid air products produced by the auxiliary unit are expandable during a discharge cycle of the LAES/CAES system and/or are transferrable to the LAES/CAES system.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 31 ,
 wherein the bulk storage unit is a LAES system, and   wherein a cold gas byproduct from a liquefaction process of the auxiliary unit is transferrable to a LAES cold thermal storage.   
     
     
         36 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the auxiliary unit is configured to produce one or more water components. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 ,
 wherein the auxiliary unit is a water separation unit, and wherein thermal energy from products produced by the water separation unit is transferrable to a hot thermal storage of the bulk storage unit.   
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 41 ,
 wherein the auxiliary unit is a water separation unit, and   wherein thermal energy from the products produced by the water separation unit is transferrable to a steam power generating cycle.   
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 41 ,
 wherein the auxiliary unit is a water separation unit, and   wherein water products produced by the water separation unit are combustible during a discharge cycle of the bulk storage unit.   
     
     
         45 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the auxiliary unit is an air separation unit or a water separation unit. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the bulk storage unit is a PHS system, a CAES system, or a LAES system. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , further comprising an electrical storage unit, wherein the bulk storage unit is operable in conjunction with the electrical storage unit. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein input power of the apparatus is high frequency or low frequency. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein output power differs from input power based on a use of one or more of the system's units including: the electrical storage unit, the bulk storage unit, and the auxiliary unit. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the output power's magnitude can be less than, equal to, or more than the input power's magnitude. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the output power's waveform type is different than that of the input power. 
     
     
         56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the bulk energy storage unit and the auxiliary unit share at least one shared component of:
 a shared compressor;   a shared expander;   a shared high temperature thermal energy storage unit; and/or a shared low temperature thermal energy storage unit.   
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the at least one shared component is shared during at least one period of time including simultaneously and/or separately. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the at least one shared component is shared simultaneously during at least one period of time. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the at least one shared component is shared separately during at least one period of time.