Ralph R Greenberg

US Patent:

7464557, Dec 16, 2008

Filed:

Feb 15, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/354503

Inventors:

David Vandor - Tarrytown NY, US
Ralph Greenberg - Santa Rosa CA, US

International Classification:

F17C 9/02
F25J 1/00

US Classification:

62 502, 62614

Abstract:

A method of cold recovery in a cold compressed natural gas cycle, the method comprising: compressing air; drying air; heat exchanging air with cold compressed natural gas from a storage vessel, in a first heat exchanger, thereby forming cooled air; heat exchanging the cooled air with liquid methane, in a second heat exchanger, such that the cooled air becomes liquid air and the liquid methane becomes methane; heat exchanging the liquid air with natural gas from a pipeline, in a third heat exchanger, such that the natural gas cools to a cold compressed natural gas and the liquid air becomes air in a gaseous state; discharging the air in a gaseous state. A system of cold recovery comprising: an air dryer; an air compressor in fluid communication with the air dryer; a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the air compressor; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger; a third heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger; a methane expander valve in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger; a fourth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the methane expansion valve; a methane compressor in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger and with the fourth heat exchanger; a natural gas scrubber in fluid communication with a third heat exchanger; a natural gas pipeline in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger; the fourth heat exchanger, and the natural gas scrubber; and a storage vessel in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger, and the fourth heat exchanger.

US Patent:

8020406, Sep 20, 2011

Filed:

Nov 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/934845

Inventors:

David Vandor - Tarrytown NY, US
Ralph Greenberg - Santa Rosa CA, US

International Classification:

F25J 1/00

US Classification:

62613, 62619

Abstract:

A method and system for the small-scale production of LNG. The method comprising: configuring a prime mover to be operable communication with a multi-stage compressor; configuring the prime mover to be in fluid communication with an ammonia absorption chiller; configuring the ammonia absorption chiller to be in fluid communication with the multi-stage compressor; operating the ammonia absorption chiller using waste heat from a prime mover; pre-cooling a first stream of natural gas using cooled fluid from the ammonia absorption chiller; cooling a first portion of the first stream of natural gas, using an expansion valve, into a two-phase stream; cooling a second portion of the first stream to liquefied natural gas, using the two-phase stream as a cooling fluid; delivering the second portion of the first stream as LNG to a low-pressure LNG tank; cooling a third portion of the first stream of natural gas in a turbo-expander; separating liquid heavies out of the third portion of the first stream of natural gas; and delivering the liquid heavies to a pressure tank.

US Patent:

20060254287, Nov 16, 2006

Filed:

May 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/131122

Inventors:

Ralph Greenberg - Santa Rosa CA, US
David Vandor - Tarrytown NY, US

International Classification:

F17C 13/00
F25J 1/00

US Classification:

062050600

Abstract:

A method of transporting or storing a natural gas. The method comprises: compressing and chilling the natural gas; changing a state of the natural gas into a cold compressed state; pumping the natural gas to an appropriate transportation pressure or storage pressure and maintaining the natural gas in the cold compressed state. A system for the transportation of a cold compressed natural gas. The system comprises: a liquid natural gas source; a cryogenic pump in fluid communication with and adjacent to the natural gas source; a cold compressed natural gas pipeline in fluid communication with the first cryogenic pump; a plurality of cryogenic pumps in fluid communication with the cold compressed natural gas pipeline and interspersed along the cold compressed natural gas pipeline; a vaporizer in fluid communication with the cold compressed natural gas pipeline and located adjacent to an intersection of the cold compressed natural gas pipeline with an end user; and at least one refrigeration apparatus in communication with the cold compressed natural gas pipeline, configured to maintain the natural gas in the cold compressed natural gas pipeline at about a cold compressed state.

US Patent:

20080216510, Sep 11, 2008

Filed:

Aug 22, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/843309

Inventors:

David Vandor - Tarrytown NY, US
Ralph Greenberg - Santa Rosa CA, US

International Classification:

F25J 1/00
F02C 7/00

US Classification:

62600, 60783

Abstract:

A combined cycle power plant comprising: a first cycle comprising: a prime mover; a prime mover exhaust in fluid communication with the prime mover; a second cycle comprising: a liquid air supply; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the liquid air supply and the prime over exhaust; a turbo expander in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; wherein liquid air is heated to gaseous air by the heat exchanger, and the gaseous air is expanded in the turbo expander thereby producing work. A liquid air combined cycle method comprising: providing pressurized liquid air; heating the pressurized liquid air to pressurized gaseous air; expanding the pressurized gaseous air with a turbo expander; using work from the expansion of the pressurized gaseous air to compress ambient air; heating the expanded pressurized gaseous air; sending the heated expanded air to a turbine combustion chamber; and using waste heat from a turbine to heat pressurized liquid air. A liquid air combined cycle method comprising: providing pressurized liquid air; heating the pressurized liquid air to pressurized gaseous air; expanding the pressurized gaseous air with a turbo expander; using work from the expansion of the pressurized gaseous air to drive a generator; and using waste heat from a prime mover to heat pressurized liquid air.

US Patent:

20120038172, Feb 16, 2012

Filed:

Aug 16, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/857500

Inventors:

Ralph GREENBERG - Santa Rosa CA, US

International Classification:

F03G 7/00
F28D 15/00

US Classification:

290 1 R, 16510411

Abstract:

Machinery and methods for converting inexpensive electricity to higher value electricity. A system includes means for compressing a gas such as air, means for condensing the gas to a liquid stream, means for storing liquefied gas, means for pumping the liquefied gas, means for evaporating and heating the liquefied gas or for heating the liquefied gas to form a supercritical fluid, and introducing this stream into a means for producing electricity. The means for compressing a gas may include sources of electricity from renewable energy sources. A method of storing energy may comprise (a) compressing and liquefying air using energy from a renewable energy source; and (b) subsequently expanding vapor generated from the liquefied air through an expander to drive a generator and produce electricity. Various systems and methods disclosed herein allow electricity from renewable sources and produced during off-peak periods to be utilized during peak demand periods for electricity with low capital and installed costs.

US Patent:

20200102858, Apr 2, 2020

Filed:

Nov 22, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/691893

Inventors:

John D. Upperman - Zion Grove PA, US
Ralph Greenberg - Santa Rosa CA, US

International Classification:

F01K 25/10
F28D 20/02
F17C 9/00

Abstract:

A liquid air energy storage system, the system comprising: a liquid air storage means; an input of a first pump in fluid communication with the liquid air storage means; a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with an output of the first pump; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first pump and the first heat exchanger; a first expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first expander turbine generator; a third heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first expander turbine generator and the first heat exchanger; a second expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the third heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second expander turbine generator; the fluid stream from second expander turbine generator and first heat exchanger in fluid communication with ambient atmosphere; a mixed refrigerant stream in fluid communication with a third expander turbine generator; a fourth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the third expander turbine generator; a fourth expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the fourth heat exchanger; a fifth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fourth expander turbine generator; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fifth heat exchanger; an input of a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, and configured to receive the mixed refrigerant stream from the fifth heat exchanger and the and the first heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the output of the second pump; a sixth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, and configured to receive the mixed refrigerant stream from the output of the second pump and the first heat exchanger; and the third expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the sixth heat exchanger. A liquid air energy storage system, the system comprising: a liquid air storage means; an input of a first pump in fluid communication with the liquid air storage means; a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with an output of the first pump; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first pump and the first heat exchanger; a first expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first expander turbine generator; a third heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first expander turbine generator and the first heat exchanger; a second expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the third heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second expander turbine generator; the fluid stream from second expander turbine generator and first heat exchanger in fluid communication with ambient atmosphere; a mixed refrigerant stream in fluid communication with a third expander turbine generator; a fourth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the third expander turbine generator; a fourth expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the fourth heat exchanger; a fifth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fourth expander turbine generator; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fifth heat exchanger; a seventh heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, and configured to receive the mixed refrigerant stream from the fifth heat exchanger and the and the first heat exchanger; an input of a second pump in fluid communication with the seventh heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the output of the second pump; a phase separator in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, and configured to receive the mixed refrigerant stream from the output of the second pump and the first heat exchanger; a liquid mixed refrigerant stream exiting the phase separator and in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger; the liquid mixed refrigerant vaporizing due to the first heat exchanger and becoming a second vapor mixed refrigerant stream; a sixth heat exchanger in fluid communication second vapor mixed refrigerant stream; the third expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the sixth heat exchanger; and a first vapor mixed refrigerant stream exiting the phase separator and in fluid communication with the sixth heat exchanger. A method for liquid air energy storage, the method comprising: pumping a liquid air stream in a first pump; exchanging heat with the liquid air stream in a first heat exchanger so the liquid air becomes vapor air stream; removing energy from the vapor air stream in a second heat exchanger; driving a first expander turbine generator with the vapor air stream and generating a first amount of electricity; cooling the vapor air stream from the first expander turbine generator in the first heat exchanger; removing energy from the vapor air stream from the first heat exchanger and from the first expander turbine generator in a third heat exchanger; driving a second expander turbine generator with the vapor air stream and generating a second amount of electricity; exchanging heat with the vapor air stream from the second expander turbine generator in the first heat exchanger and then releasing the vapor air stream to the ambient atmosphere; driving a third expander turbine generator with a mixed refrigerant vapor stream and generating a third amount of electricity; removing energy from the mixed refrigerant vapor stream in a fourth heat exchanger; driving a fourth expander turbine generator with the mixed refrigerant vapor stream from the fourth heat exchanger and generating a fourth amount of electricity; removing energy from the mixed refrigerant vapor stream in a fifth heat exchanger; exchanging energy with the mixed refrigerant vapor stream in the first heat exchanger; pumping the mixed refrigerant vapor stream in a second pump; exchanging energy with the mixed refrigerant vapor stream from the second pump in the first heat exchanger; and exchanging energy with the mixed refrigerant vapor stream from the first heat exchanger and second pump in a sixth heat exchanger. A liquid air energy storage system, the system comprising: pumping a liquid air stream in a first pump; exchanging heat with the liquid air stream in a first heat exchanger so the liquid air becomes vapor air stream; removing energy from the vapor air stream in a second heat exchanger; driving a first expander turbine generator with the vapor air stream and generating a first amount of electricity; cooling the vapor air stream from the first expander turbine generator in the first heat exchanger; removing energy from the vapor air stream from the first heat exchanger and from the first expander turbine generator in a third heat exchanger; driving a second expander turbine generator with the vapor air stream and generating a second amount of electricity; exchanging heat with the vapor air stream from the second expander turbine generator in the first heat exchanger and then releasing the vapor air stream to the ambient atmosphere; driving a third expander turbine generator with a mixed refrigerant vapor stream and generating a third amount of electricity; removing energy from the mixed refrigerant vapor stream in a fourth heat exchanger; driving a fourth expander turbine generator with the mixed refrigerant vapor stream from the fourth heat exchanger and generating a fourth amount of electricity; removing energy from the mixed refrigerant vapor stream in a fifth heat exchanger; exchanging energy with the mixed refrigerant vapor stream in the first heat exchanger; exchanging energy with the mixed refrigerant vapor stream in a seventh heat exchanger; pumping the mixed refrigerant vapor stream in a second pump; exchanging energy with the mixed refrigerant vapor stream from the second pump in the first heat exchanger and creating a mixed refrigerant liquid vapor stream; separating a mixed refrigerant vapor stream and mixed refrigerant liquid stream from the mixed refrigerant liquid vapor stream in a phase separator; exchanging energy with the mixed refrigerant liquid stream from the phase separator in the first heat exchanger, changing the mixed refrigerant liquid stream to a mixed refrigerant vapor stream; exchanging energy with the mixed refrigerant vapor stream from the first heat exchanger and phase separator in a sixth heat exchanger; and exchanging energy with the mixed refrigerant vapor stream directly from the phase separator in the sixth heat exchanger.

US Patent:

20180371993, Dec 27, 2018

Filed:

Jun 21, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/014820

Inventors:

John D. Upperman - Zion Grove PA, US
Ralph Greenberg - Sebastopol CA, US

International Classification:

F02C 6/14
F28D 20/02

Abstract:

A liquid air energy storage system, the system comprising: a liquid air storage means; an input of a first pump in fluid communication with the liquid air storage means; a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with an output of the first pump; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first pump and the first heat exchanger; a first expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first expander turbine generator; a third heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first expander turbine generator and the first heat exchanger; a second expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the third heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second expander turbine generator; the fluid stream from second expander turbine generator and first heat exchanger in fluid communication with ambient atmosphere; a refrigerant stream in fluid communication with a third expander turbine generator; a fourth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the third expander turbine generator; a fourth expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the fourth heat exchanger; a fifth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fourth expander turbine generator; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fifth heat exchanger; an input of a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, and configured to receive the refrigerant stream from the fifth heat exchanger and the and the first heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the output of the second pump; a sixth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, and configured to receive the refrigerant stream from the output of the second pump and the first heat exchanger; and the third expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the sixth heat exchanger. A liquid air energy storage system, the system comprising: a liquid air storage means; an input of a first pump in fluid communication with the liquid air storage means; a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with an output of the first pump; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first pump and the first heat exchanger; a first expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first expander turbine generator; a third heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first expander turbine generator and the first heat exchanger; a second expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the third heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second expander turbine generator; the fluid stream from second expander turbine generator and first heat exchanger in fluid communication with ambient atmosphere; a refrigerant stream in fluid communication with a third expander turbine generator; a fourth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the third expander turbine generator; a fourth expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the fourth heat exchanger; a fifth heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fourth expander turbine generator; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fifth heat exchanger; a seventh heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, and configured to receive the refrigerant stream from the fifth heat exchanger and the and the first heat exchanger; an input of a second pump in fluid communication with the seventh heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the output of the second pump; a phase separator in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, and configured to receive the refrigerant stream from the output of the second pump and the first heat exchanger; a liquid refrigerant stream exiting the phase separator and in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger; the liquid refrigerant vaporizing due to the first heat exchanger and becoming a second vapor refrigerant stream; a sixth heat exchanger in fluid communication second vapor refrigerant stream; the third expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the sixth heat exchanger; and a first vapor refrigerant stream exiting the phase separator and in fluid communication with the sixth heat exchanger. A method for liquid air energy storage, the method comprising: pumping a liquid air stream in a first pump; exchanging heat with the liquid air stream in a first heat exchanger so the liquid air becomes vapor air stream; removing energy from the vapor air stream in a second heat exchanger; driving a first expander turbine generator with the vapor air stream and generating a first amount of electricity; cooling the vapor air stream from the first expander turbine generator in the first heat exchanger; removing energy from the vapor air stream from the first heat exchanger and from the first expander turbine generator in a third heat exchanger; driving a second expander turbine generator with the vapor air stream and generating a second amount of electricity; exchanging heat with the vapor air stream from the second expander turbine generator in the first heat exchanger and then releasing the vapor air stream to the ambient atmosphere; driving a third expander turbine generator with a refrigerant vapor stream and generating a third amount of electricity; removing energy from the refrigerant vapor stream in a fourth heat exchanger; driving a fourth expander turbine generator with the refrigerant vapor stream from the fourth heat exchanger and generating a fourth amount of electricity; removing energy from the refrigerant vapor stream in a fifth heat exchanger; exchanging energy with the refrigerant vapor stream in the first heat exchanger; pumping the refrigerant vapor stream in a second pump; exchanging energy with the refrigerant vapor stream from the second pump in the first heat exchanger; and exchanging energy with the refrigerant vapor stream from the first heat exchanger and second pump in a sixth heat exchanger. A liquid air energy storage system, the system comprising: pumping a liquid air stream in a first pump; exchanging heat with the liquid air stream in a first heat exchanger so the liquid air becomes vapor air stream; removing energy from the vapor air stream in a second heat exchanger; driving a first expander turbine generator with the vapor air stream and generating a first amount of electricity; cooling the vapor air stream from the first expander turbine generator in the first heat exchanger; removing energy from the vapor air stream from the first heat exchanger and from the first expander turbine generator in a third heat exchanger; driving a second expander turbine generator with the vapor air stream and generating a second amount of electricity; exchanging heat with the vapor air stream from the second expander turbine generator in the first heat exchanger and then releasing the vapor air stream to the ambient atmosphere; driving a third expander turbine generator with a refrigerant vapor stream and generating a third amount of electricity; removing energy from the refrigerant vapor stream in a fourth heat exchanger; driving a fourth expander turbine generator with the refrigerant vapor stream from the fourth heat exchanger and generating a fourth amount of electricity; removing energy from the refrigerant vapor stream in a fifth heat exchanger; exchanging energy with the refrigerant vapor stream in the first heat exchanger; exchanging energy with the refrigerant vapor stream in a seventh heat exchanger; pumping the refrigerant vapor stream in a second pump; exchanging energy with the refrigerant vapor stream from the second pump in the first heat exchanger and creating a refrigerant liquid vapor stream; separating a refrigerant vapor stream and refrigerant liquid stream from the refrigerant liquid vapor stream in a phase separator; exchanging energy with the refrigerant liquid stream from the phase separator in the first heat exchanger, changing the refrigerant liquid stream to a refrigerant vapor stream; exchanging energy with the refrigerant vapor stream from the first heat exchanger and phase separator in a sixth heat exchanger; and exchanging energy with the refrigerant vapor stream directly from the phase separator in the sixth heat exchanger.