Energy storage systems utilizing compressed air and associated systems and methods

Abstract

The present technology is generally directed to energy storage systems utilizing compressed air. The energy storage systems disclosed herein compress, cool, and dehumidify air, store the conditioned compressed air, and utilize it in various HVAC and non-HVAC applications. In HVAC applications, the compressed air can be delivered to a room at a desired temperature using an elastocaloric heat pump with nitinol wires arranged along spiraling channels. The compressed air can also be delivered at a desired rate that is tied to an air extraction rate without or with minimal use of electrical components. Heat extracted from the compressed air during a cooling stages can be used to provide domestic hot water via hydronics. In non-HVAC applications, the compressed air can be used to provide mechanical forces or generate electricity via piezoelectric elements. For example, in residential settings, the compressed air can be used to pneumatically power various household appliances.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A compressed air energy storage system for a building, the system comprising:
 an air intake configured to receive air from an environment external to the building;   a compressor operably coupled to the air intake;   a cooler operably coupled to the compressor;   an air dryer operably coupled to the cooler;   an air receiver operably coupled to the air dryer;   a heat pump operably coupled to the air receiver; and   a displacement ventilation system operably coupled between the air receiver and a room, the displacement ventilation system comprising:
 a ventilation air delivery assembly operably coupled between the air receiver and the room, wherein the ventilation air delivery assembly is fluidly coupled to the heat pump; and 
 a ventilation air extraction assembly operably coupled between the air receiver and the room, wherein the ventilation air extraction assembly is further fluidly coupled to the air intake to form a loop. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the displacement ventilation system further comprises a splitter valve positioned to selectively direct air from the air receiver to the ventilation air delivery assembly and/or the ventilation air extraction assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the displacement ventilation system further comprises a sensor operably coupled to the splitter valve, wherein the sensor comprises:
 an absorptive medium configured to increase in weight via absorption of carbon dioxide in the room; and 
 a trigger mechanism configured to actuate the splitter valve when the absorptive medium reaches a threshold weight. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the heat pump comprises:
 a channel coupled between the air receiver and the ventilation air delivery assembly; and 
 a plurality of shape-memory alloy wires extending from an interior surface of the channel, wherein the shape-memory alloy wires are configured to exchange heat with fluid flowing through the channel. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the air dryer comprises a hollow membrane air filter. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the air receiver is a first air receiver, and wherein the displacement ventilation system further comprises a second air receiver operably coupled to the first air receiver, the ventilation air delivery assembly, and the ventilation air extraction assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the displacement ventilation system further comprises one or more vortex tubes operably coupled between the air receiver and the room. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein heat recovered from the cooler and/or the vortex tubes is transferred to a domestic hot water supply. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a carbon dioxide extraction assembly operably coupled between the ventilation air extraction assembly and the air intake, wherein the carbon dioxide extraction assembly is configured to extract carbon dioxide from air flowing from the ventilation air extraction assembly to the air intake. 
     
     
         10 . An elastocaloric heat pump, comprising:
 a channel extending between a first reservoir and a second reservoir; and   a plurality of shape-memory alloy wires extending from an interior surface of the channel, wherein—
 when the elastocaloric heat pump is in a heating state, the shape-memory alloy wires are configured to release heat to fluid flowing through the channel, and 
 when the elastocaloric heat pump is in a cooling state, the shape-memory alloy wires are configured to absorb heat from the fluid flowing through the channel. 
   
     
     
         11 . The elastocaloric heat pump of  claim 10  wherein the shape-memory wires comprise Nitinol wires. 
     
     
         12 . The elastocaloric heat pump of  claim 10  wherein the channel extends along a spiral or helix. 
     
     
         13 . The elastocaloric heat pump of  claim 10  wherein the channel extends along a double-helix such that a first end portion of the channel is proximate a second end portion of the channel opposite the first end portion. 
     
     
         14 . The elastocaloric heat pump of  claim 10  wherein—
 when the elastocaloric heat pump is in the heating state, the fluid is configured to flow in a first direction through the channel, and 
 when the elastocaloric heat pump is in the cooling state, the fluid is configured to flow in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
 
     
     
         15 . The elastocaloric heat pump of  claim 10  wherein the shape-memory alloy wires are grouped in a plurality of bundles disposed along the interior surface of the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The elastocaloric heat pump of  claim 10  wherein a first subset of the shape-memory alloy wires disposed proximate to first or second end portions of the channel has a first average thickness, wherein a second subset of the shape-memory alloy wires disposed farther from the first or second end portions of the channel has a second average thickness, and wherein the first average thickness is greater than the second average thickness. 
     
     
         17 . A radiant panel system, comprising:
 a radiant panel;   a valve fluidly coupled to the radiant panel, a hot air line, and a cold air line, the valve including:
 a selector component configured to select or proportion between airflow from the hot air line and airflow from the cold air line; and 
 a pulsing component configured to pulse the selected or proportioned airflow into the radiant panel; and 
   a controller operably coupled to the valve.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the selected or proportioned airflow comprises dehumidified air. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the controller comprises a non-electrical temperature thermostat. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a mechanical humidistat configured to control a temperature of airflow through the radiant panel with dew point control. 
     
     
         21 . A compressed air electrical device, comprising:
 an air reservoir configured to store compressed air;   a valve fluidly coupled to the air reservoir;   a compressed air utilization component operably coupled to the valve;   a piezoelectric element operably coupled to the compressed air utilization component;   a capacitor electrically coupled to the piezoelectric element; and   an electrical component electrically coupled to the capacitor.   
     
     
         22 . The compressed air electrical device of  claim 21  wherein the compressed air utilization component comprises a piston. 
     
     
         23 . The compressed air electrical device of  claim 21  wherein the compressed air utilization component comprises a channel configured to allow compressed air to flow from the valve to the piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         24 . The compressed air electrical device of  claim 21  wherein the electrical component comprises a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         25 . The compressed air electrical device of  claim 21  wherein the electrical component comprises a motor.