Pilot-scale demonstration of advanced adiabatic compressed air energy storage, Part 1: Plant description and tests with sensible thermal-energy storage

• DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2018.02.004
• Publication Date: 2018-03-08T18:58:29Z
• Authors: L. Geissbühler; V. Becattini; G. Zanganeh; S. Zavattoni; M. Barbato; A. Haselbacher; A. Steinfeld
• Keywords: Compressed air; Bar (unit)

Experimental and numerical results from the world's first advanced adiabatic compressed air energy storage (AA-CAES) pilot-scale plant are presented. The was built in an unused tunnel with a diameter of 4.9 m which two concrete plugs delimited mostly unlined cavern 120 length. sensible thermal-energy (TES) capacity 12 MWhth placed inside cavern. pilot operated charging/discharging cycles various durations, temperatures up to 550 °C, maximum gauge pressures 7 bar. Higher could not be reached because leaks that were traced mainly plugs. Simulations using coupled model TES showed good agreement measurements. Cycle efficiencies determined lie between 76% 90%. estimated round-trip efficiency based on measured performance performances other components, yielding values 63–74%, compares favorably usually quoted 60–75% for prospective AA-CAES plants.