Low pressure, modular compressed air energy storage (CAES) system for wind energy storage applications. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alami, Abdul Hai; Aokal, Kamilia; Abed, Jehad; Alhemyari, Mohammad
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 106(2017)
• Page Start: 201
• Page End: 211
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Compressed air energy storage (CAES) -- Ragone plot -- Wind energy -- Low pressure systems; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.01.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: The construction and testing of a modular, low pressure compressed air energy storage (CAES) system is presented. The low pressure assumption (5 bar max) facilitates the use of isentropic relations to describe the system behavior, and practically eliminates the need for heat removal considerations necessary in higher pressure systems to offset the temperature rise. The maximum overall system efficiency is around 97.6%, while the system physical footprint is less than 0.6 m 3 (small storage room). This provides a great option for storage in remote locations that operate on wind energy to benefit from a nonconventional storage system. The overall size and capacity of the system can be changed by changing the number of active cylinders, which in this case are off-the-shelf, small pressure vessels used for fire protection. Moreover, the system operation is automated and capable of addressing both high energy and high power density applications with an infinite number of charge-discharge cycles by augmenting the capacity with the required number of storage cylinders. The system is eco-friendly and has low maintenance costs compared to chemical storage. Highlights: The paper presents an experimental evaluation of a modular, low pressure compressed air storage system. The system is flexible and responds to systems requiring high power density and high energy density alike. The system fares well compared with a battery storage system, with less environmental and disposal cost.