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Experimental study of a PH-CAES system: proof of concept

  • Daniel Pottie
    ,
  • Tomás P.L. Camargos
    ,
  • Rafael A.M. Ferreira
    ,
  • Thales A.C. Maia
    ,
  • Matheus P. Porto
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

This article presents the experimental results of a novel energy storage system that combines CAES (Compressed Air Energy Storage) with PHES (Pumped Hydro Energy Storage) technologies. As a reference, we called this system PH-CAES. In this alternative solution two storage tanks, the first with compressed air and the second with water, are separated by a valve. When electric power is required, the valve is opened and water flows to a Pelton turbine, which is coupled to an electric generator. Water from the Pelton turbine is discharged into a third tank. To store energy and recover the initial state, water is pumped back. We built a prototype to assess the PH-CAES performance, with focus on the power generation system. Experimental conversion efficiency was 45%, whilst the rational efficiency remained close to 30%. We also presented a discussion based on the second law of thermodynamics to show that there is a compromise between tanks exergies that maximizes the system performance. We also provide an operating map of this PH-CAES system to assist authors on new studies about this novel technology.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 630-638

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Energy (Volume 165)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 15/09/2018
  • Published - 19/09/2018

Publication status

Published - 19/09/2018

ISSN

0360-5442

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/626649
  • Scopus: 85053850022

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