Analysis of diabatic compressed air energy storage systems with artificial reservoir using the levelized cost of storage method

A detailed analysis has been carried out to assess the thermodynamic and economic performance of Diabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage (D‐CAES) systems equipped with above‐ground artificial storage. D‐CAES plant arrangements based on both Steam Turbine (ST) and Gas Turbine (GT) technologies are taken into consideration. The influence of key design quantities (ie, storage pressure, turbine inlet pressure, turbine inlet temperature) on efficiency, capital and operating costs is analysed in detail and widely discussed. Finally, D‐CAES design solutions are compared with Battery Energy Storage (BES) systems on the basis of the Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS) method. Results show that the adoption of D‐CAES can lead to better economic performance with respect to mature and emerging BES technologies. D‐CAES ST based solutions can achieve a LCOS of 28 €cent/kWh, really close to that evaluated for the better performing BES system. Interesting LCOS values of 20 €cent/kWh have been attained by adopting D‐CAES plant solutions based on GT technology.     

Techno-economic analysis of compressed air energy storage power plant

压缩空气储能系统被认为是最具发展前景的大规模电力储能技术之一,具有广阔发展前景。本文建立了压缩空气储能系统的技术经济性计算模型,并针对蓄热式压缩空气储能系统应用于工业用户的情景,在有无补贴的两种计算条件下,进行了技术经济性分析。研究结果表明,在无补贴条件下,系统内部收益率为16.3%,投资回收期为9.2年;计算补贴时,系统内部收益率为23.8%,投资回收期为6.2年。同时本文还对该系统进行了盈亏平衡、敏感性等不确定性分析,找出影响系统经济性的敏感因素;并得出政策扶持对提高压缩空气储能电站的财务收益水平和抗风险能力具有重要的作用。本文的研究可以为压缩空气储能系统的研究和工程应用提供理论参考和工程指导。     

Multi‐criteria algorithm‐based methodology used to select suitable domes for compressed air energy storage

Storing energy allows both the efficiency and availability of renewable energy to be increased, thus dissociating actual from expected generation and from consumption demands. Compressed air energy storage (hereinafter ‘CAES’) enables the efficient and cost‐effective storage of large amounts of energy, achieving a capacity of over 100 MWh. There are several geological structures that can be used as CAES, among which the use and construction of salt domes are particularly noteworthy. However, there is a high exploration risk associated with subsurface exploration. To this end, it is advisable to establish a detailed schedule to select and characterize structures, with the purpose of minimizing the aforementioned risk. Multi‐criteria algorithms can be used to establish a hierarchy of the alternatives and to identify the structures with the greatest potential with an objective approach. The analytic hierarchy process method is used in this paper as the selection algorithm, which is based on identifying and assessing criteria and weighting each criterion. In accordance with the analytic hierarchy process method, the goal was divided into a series of different level criteria, defining a breakdown structure of the problem to select salt domes. This paper defines a structure hierarchization method that allows the objective establishment of the areas with the highest potential for CAES, considering both technical and socioeconomic factors. Therefore, a supporting decision‐making method may be established to reduce the exploration risk associated with underground structures. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic characteristics and operation strategy of the discharge process in compressed air energy storage systems for applications in power systems

In the context of the rapid development of large-scale renewable energy, large-scale energy storage technology is widely considered as the most effective means of improving the quality and security of electricity. In the existing energy storage technology, advanced adiabatic compressed air energy storage (AA-CAES) technology has broad application prospects because of its advantages of low pollution, low investment, flexible site selection, and large capacity. However, the lack of an in-depth understanding of the dynamic characteristics of CAES systems has severely limited the development of system design and control strategy, resulting in a lack of commercial operation of large-scale CAES systems. This paper describes the design and implementation of a CAES plant and its controller for applications in the distribution network level. The dynamic mathematical models of AA-CAES were established and a feasible control strategy for the grid-connected process was developed to analyze the dynamic characteristics of the system in the discharge stage. The work done in this study provided a data reference for the deep understanding of the dynamic characteristics of AA-CAES, system design, and control strategy in the industry.     

A compressed air energy storage system for wind power generation in western Inner Mongolia

内蒙古自治区陆上风能资源总储量达到了1380 GW,其中技术可开发量为380 GW,几乎占全国风电资源的一半.风力发电负荷已经占到内蒙古电网负荷的20%以上.针对这种情况,对大规模风电并入内蒙古电网进行了研究.在此研究基础之上,为了更有效的利用风电资源,设计了一台压缩空气储能电站.该压缩空气储能电站可以利用风电场夜晚的弃风电量进行储热,为白天的运行提供部分热源.最后,从热耗率,充电比与发电效率三方面对压缩空气储能电站进行了分析,研究结果表明,更高的储气压力和更大的储气容量能够得到更好的发电效率.     

Technical principle of compressed air energy storage system

压缩空气储能被公认为是一种比较适合大规模系统的储能技术.本文对压缩空气储能的技术原理和发展现状进行了简要讲解,包括工作原理,工作过程,关键技术,发展现状,应用领域等.     

An exergy analysis of a traditional compressed air energy storage system

压缩空气储能技术是具有较大发展前景的大规模储能技术之一,具有广阔的发展前景。使用Aspen Plus软件以传统压缩空气储能系统为例进行流程模拟,运用分析方法对模拟结果进行热力性能分析。分析结果表明,燃烧室的损失是系统各设备损失中最大的。同时还对压缩空气储能系统各个组成部件的运行效率与储能系统的损失之间的关系进行了敏感性分析,分析结果表明,对系统效率影响最大的参数为燃烧室效率,最小的参数为膨胀透平绝热效率。     

Performance investigation of a novel near-isothermal compressed air energy storage system with stable power output

As one of the grid-scale energy storage technologies, compressed air energy storage (CAES) is promising to facilitate the permeability of renewable energies. By integrating CAES into renewable sources, the fluctuation and intermittence of renewable energies could be effectively restrained. Among various CAES system configurations, isothermal CAES (I-CAES) is considered as a most competitive technology with expected high efficiency. However, most of the existing I-CAES systems have trouble in keeping a stable power output. To address this issue, a novel near-isothermal CAES system is proposed in this article to acquire a near stable power output. Imitating the concept of hydraulic accumulator, a two pressure vessels structure is employed to maintain the gas pressure stable during discharging. Besides, the turbine power output can be controlled by adjusting the liquid flow rate of the Pelton turbine under this near constant pressure condition. Based on the system transient model and economic model, the system components transient behavior, parametric analysis, off-design performance analysis and economic evaluation issues are also conducted. Results show that system round trip efficiency (RTE) with 61.42% and energy density (ED) with 0.2015 kWh/m³ can be achieved under design condition. In the discharge process, the gas pressure in vessel varies in a small range, from 68 to 72 bar, which is relatively stable. The power output from Pelton turbine can be maintained around 1 kW. Meanwhile, the initial pressure, the pipe diameter, and the spraying flow rates of circulating pumps have significant effects on system RTE and ED. Furthermore, the Pelton turbine power output level can be adjusted by adding jets number, and the higher storage pressure can make the power output unsteady.     

Research progress in compressed air energy storage system: A review

压缩空气储能系统通过压缩空气存储多余的电能,在需要时,将高压空气释放通过膨胀机做功发电,在电力的生产、运输和消费等领域具有广泛的用途,是目前大规模储能技术的研发热点。综述了压缩空气储能技术的研究与应用现状,包括工作原理、功能和应用情况,分析了压缩空气储能系统的类型和技术特点,并对压缩空气储能系统的关键部件和系统性能进行了分析比较,最后指出了压缩空气储能技术的发展趋势。     

A review on underwater compressed air energy storage

压缩空气储能技术是目前储能技术的研究热点之一。水下压缩空气储能利用水的静压特性实现压缩空气的等压存储,具有系统效率较高、受地形限制小、储能规模灵活可变的特点,尤其适合于海上风能等可再生能源的规模化存储。本文简要介绍了压缩空气储能技术的工作原理与发展,通过对比分析阐明了水下压缩空气储能所具有的优势,全面分析了水下压缩空气储能技术的研究进展,对采用柔性储能包的水下压缩空气储能技术进行了重点分析,并对水下压缩空气储能系统开发的关键技术进行了总结和展望。     

Energy,exergy, and sensitivity analyses of underwater compressed air energy storage in an island energy system

An underwater compressed air energy storage (UWCAES) system is integrated into an island energy system. Both energy and exergy analyses are conducted to scrutinize the performance of the UWCAES system. The analyses reveal that a round‐trip efficiency of 58.9% can be achieved. However, these two analyses identify different directions for further improvement. The heat exchangers, expanders, compressors, electric motors, and generators account for the most exergy destruction. A sensitivity analysis is also conducted to investigate the importance of different input parameters on the round‐trip exergy efficiency of the UWCAES system. The results of both local and global analyses show that the round‐trip exergy efficiency is most sensitive to the isentropic efficiency of the expanders and compressors, and the efficiencies of the electric motors and generators. The impacts of the heat exchangers, the self‐discharge rate of the air accumulator, the inner diameter of the pneumatic pipelines, and the insulation thickness of the hot‐oil tank on the round‐trip exergy efficiency are shown to be highly nonlinear.     

Economics of compressed air energy storage to integrate wind power: A case study in ERCOT

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) could be paired with a wind farm to provide firm, dispatchable baseload power, or serve as a peaking plant and capture upswings in electricity prices. We present a firm-level engineering-economic analysis of a wind/CAES system with a wind farm in central Texas, load in either Dallas or Houston, and a CAES plant whose location is profit-optimized. With 2008 hourly prices and load in Houston, the economically optimal CAES expander capacity is unrealistically large – 24 GW – and dispatches for only a few hours per week when prices are highest; a price cap and capacity payment likewise results in a large (17 GW) profit-maximizing CAES expander. Under all other scenarios considered the CAES plant is unprofitable. Using 2008 data, a baseload wind/CAES system is less profitable than a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plant at carbon prices less than $56/tCO₂ ($15/MMBTU gas) to $230/tCO₂ ($5/MMBTU gas). Entering regulation markets raises profit only slightly. Social benefits of CAES paired with wind include avoided construction of new generation capacity, improved air quality during peak times, and increased economic surplus, but may not outweigh the private cost of the CAES system nor justify a subsidy.     

Performance comparison of different combined heat and compressed air energy storage systems integrated with organic Rankine cycle

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is promising to enable large‐scale penetration of renewable energies (REs). However, conventional diabatic CAES (D‐CAES) depends largely on fossil fuels, while adiabatic CAES (A‐CAES) is limited in output power. To conquer these disadvantages, concept of combined heat and CAES (CH‐CAES) is proposed in this paper. The proposed system couples an electric heater with conventional A‐CAES. During charging, electricity storage transforms from pure compression to partly relying on Joule heating. The stored heat in an electric heater will be used to boost turbine inlet temperature during discharging. Consequently, system charge/discharge capacity can be improved without enlarging cavern size, raising cavern pressure, and producing greenhouse gases. This paper discusses three types of CH‐CAES systems with different electric heater installation positions. Off‐design performance analysis for each system is conducted on the basis of turbomachinery (compressors, turbines, and the pump) characteristic maps and heat exchangers off‐design models. Performance comparison is conducted between these three CH‐CAES systems (called Mode II, III, and IV for simplification) and the conventional A‐CAES system (Mode I). Control strategies are also given in this paper. Results show that the EVR (energy generated per unit volume of storage) increases with participation of an electric heater, while the RTE (system roundtrip efficiency) slightly decreases. Mode I has the highest RTE. The largest EVR appears in Mode III where the electrical heater is in series with the intercooler and after cooler. Mode II is a compromise solution to achieve both relatively high RET and EVR when the electrical heater is installed in series only with the intercooler. Mode IV with a paralleling electrical heater has great flexibility to adapt different user demands. The integration of the ORC has a positive effect on system RTE and EVR.     

Incorporating cycling costs in generation dispatch program – an economic value stream for energy storage

Increased variable generation penetration without reinforcing the power grid with additional flexibility in the form of fast responding reserves necessitates existing conventional generation fleet to undergo cycling operations that are detrimental to its economics and lifespan. This paper presents a systematic methodology to estimate cycling costs related to the ancillary service and start‐up/shutdown operations of various generators. Production costing programs are performed in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 24 bus reliability test system to quantify the cycling costs associated with system operation. Two methods are investigated to reduce system cycling costs, namely, incorporating the cycling cost components within the generation offers submitted to the dispatch programs and integration of bulk energy storage. Simulation results were also used to assess the potential of storage projects to earn economic incentive when additional cycling cost components are incorporated within generation offers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design and thermodynamic analysis of compressed air energy storage system

压缩空气储能技术具有提升风能与太阳能等可再生资源电能质量的潜力,通过此项技术实现间歇性与不稳定性可再生电力的有效储存,进而在电网负荷高峰期以优质电力的形式稳定输出.结合热力学分析方法设计了储能功率56.58 MW,释能输出功率154.76 MW的压缩空气储能系统.在释能阶段透平机组配置上,参照GE 9171E燃机布置第二级透平入口参数,并以其812.41 K高温烟气余热提供第一级透平工质所需全部热量,无需为第一级透平配备专门燃烧器.在此思路下设计的压缩空气储能系统,热耗可降低至3783.96 kJ/(kW·h),储能系统的能量转换效率也高达56.11%.     

Baseload wind energy: modeling the competition between gas turbines and compressed air energy storage for supplemental generation

The economic viability of producing baseload wind energy was explored using a cost-optimization model to simulate two competing systems: wind energy supplemented by simple- and combined cycle natural gas turbines (“wind+gas”), and wind energy supplemented by compressed air energy storage (“wind+CAES”). Pure combined cycle natural gas turbines (“gas”) were used as a proxy for conventional baseload generation. Long-distance electric transmission was integral to the analysis. Given the future uncertainty in both natural gas price and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions price, we introduced an effective fuel price, p_NGeff, being the sum of the real natural gas price and the GHG price. Under the assumption of p_NGeff=$5/GJ (lower heating value), 650 W/m² wind resource, 750 km transmission line, and a fixed 90% capacity factor, wind+CAES was the most expensive system at ¢6.0/kWh, and did not break even with the next most expensive wind+gas system until p_NGeff=$9.0/GJ. However, under real market conditions, the system with the least dispatch cost (short-run marginal cost) is dispatched first, attaining the highest capacity factor and diminishing the capacity factors of competitors, raising their total cost. We estimate that the wind+CAES system, with a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rate that is one-fourth of that for natural gas combined cycle plants and about one-tenth of that for pulverized coal plants, has the lowest dispatch cost of the alternatives considered (lower even than for coal power plants) above a GHG emissions price of $35/tC_equiv., with good prospects for realizing a higher capacity factor and a lower total cost of energy than all the competing technologies over a wide range of effective fuel costs. This ability to compete in economic dispatch greatly boosts the market penetration potential of wind energy and suggests a substantial growth opportunity for natural gas in providing baseload power via wind+CAES, even at high natural gas prices.     

基于压缩空气储能的新型冷热电联供系统性能研究

为了解决用户负荷需求在时间上的变动和传统冷热电联供（Combine Cooling, Heating & Power, CCHP）系统大部分时间处于非设计工况下运行导致系统的能源利用效率较低的问题,提出了一种耦合压缩空气储能系统（Compressed Air Energy Storage system, CAES）和蓄热装置的新型CCHP系统（CAES based CCHP system,CAES CCHP）,建立系统的热力学模型,在给定的充、放电工作条件下对CAES CCHP系统的热力学性能进行分析,并对影响该系统性能的CAES压气机压缩比、透平进气口压力、流经CAES的烟气质量流量3个关键参数进行敏感性分析。研究结果表明：CAES CCHP系统能实现冷热电灵活调控,且系统的CAES功转换效率为57.41%,一次能源利用率、一次节能率及火用效率分别为76.22%,24.84%和31.97%,比传统的CCHP系统分别提高10.97%,18.15%和7.58%。     

Economic analysis of using above ground gas storage devices for compressed air energy storage system

Above ground gas storage devices for compressed air energy storage（CAES） have three types：air storage tanks,gas cylinders,and gas storage pipelines.A cost model of these gas storage devices is established on the basis of whole life cycle cost（LCC） analysis.The optimum parameters of the three types are determined by calculating the theoretical metallic raw material consumption of these three devices and considering the difficulties in manufacture and the influence of gas storage device number.The LCCs of the three types are comprehensively analyzed and compared.The result reveal that the cost of the gas storage pipeline type is lower than that of the other two types.This study may serve as a reference for designing large-scale CAES systems.     

The value of compressed air energy storage with wind in transmission-constrained electric power systems

In this work, we examine the potential advantages of co-locating wind and energy storage to increase transmission utilization and decrease transmission costs. Co-location of wind and storage decreases transmission requirements, but also decreases the economic value of energy storage compared to locating energy storage at the load. This represents a tradeoff which we examine to estimate the transmission costs required to justify moving storage from load-sited to wind-sited in three different locations in the United States. We examined compressed air energy storage (CAES) in three “wind by wire” scenarios with a variety of transmission and CAES sizes relative to a given amount of wind. In the sites and years evaluated, the optimal amount of transmission ranges from 60% to 100% of the wind farm rating, with the optimal amount of CAES equal to 0–35% of the wind farm rating, depending heavily on wind resource, value of electricity in the local market, and the cost of natural gas.     

Techno‐economic comparison of boiler cold‐end flue gas heat recovery processes for efficient hard‐coal‐fired power generation

An important method to increase the efficiency of thermal power plants is to recover the exhaust gas heat at the boiler cold‐end with the stepwise integration of a steam turbine heat regenerative system. To this end, there are currently three typical heat recovery processes, that is, a low‐temperature economizer (LTE), segmented air heating (SAH) and bypass flue (BPF). To provide useful guidance to thermal power plants for optimal and efficient processes, the thermal economy and techno‐economic performance of the three aforementioned processes were calculated and compared using an in‐service 600‐MW hard‐coal‐fired ultra‐supercritical power unit as a reference. The results demonstrate that with the use of the LTE, SAH and BPF, respectively, to recover the exhaust heat, reducing the exhaust temperature from 122 °C to 90 °C, the net standard coal consumption rate of the 600‐MW unit can be reduced by 1.51, 1.71 and 2.81 g/(kW h). The initial costs of the three heat recovery projects are 1.69, 2.91 and 2.53 million USD. If the 600‐MW unit runs 5500 h per year at the rated load, the three processes can increase the earnings of the unit by 0.49, 0.52 and 0.94 million USD from coal savings annually, meaning that their dynamic payback periods are 4.42, 8.66 and 3.29 years, respectively. The results indicate that for a hard‐coal‐fired power unit, the coal savings achieved by exhaust heat recovery are notable. Among the three processes, SAH shows the worst techno‐economic performance because it induces a significant increase in initial costs while obtaining a limited increase in thermal economy, while BPF exhibits the best techno‐economic performance owing to the significant increase in thermal economy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.