Cycle performance investigation in compressed air energy storage in aquifers

Lichao  Yang; Cai  Li; Chaobin Guo; Kai  Liu; Qingcheng He

Authors

Lichao Yang Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Cai Li Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Chaobin Guo Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Kai Liu Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Qingcheng He Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China

Keywords:

aquifers, compressed air energy storage, cycles, numerical model

Abstract

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is one of the promising technologies to store the renewable energies such as surplus solar and wind energy in a grid scale. Due to the widespread of aquifers in the world, the compressed air energy storage in aquifers (CAESA) has advantages compared to the conventional CAES technologies, which store the compressed air in caverns. In this study, numerical modeling by TOUGH3/EOS3 was conducted to simulate a field-scale application of a novel CAES by storing the compressed air in an aquifer. Four types of cycles, namely daily cycle, weekly cycle, monthly cycle and seasonal cycle, were designed to study their performances. The simulation results demonstrated that the air temperature in CAESA system increases as the cycle continues. The seasonal cycle can be achieved under appropriate conditions. The air recharge should be taken to continue the seasonal cycle. The simulation results can provide references for engineering application in future.

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