Author(s): Mohsen Besharat; Sandra C. Martins; Helena M. Ramos
Linked Author(s): Mohsen Besharat
Keywords: CAES system; Entrapped Air; Renewable Energy; Pressurized System
Abstract: The enhancement in renewable energy production especially in European countries needs working on appropriate solutions for some problems. The mentioned problems are related to variability of renewable energy sources over time. Hence, finding more efficient energy storage systems to diminish the demand fluctuation seems vital for the future of generating energy using renewable sources. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) systems have worked as environmentally friendly, safe and high efficient systems for energy storage and recovering the stored energy purpose. Large CAES systems require huge underground vessels, while microCAES systems with small vessels can be more adaptable solutions for low flow conditions. In this paper the main lines of a research in a micro-CAES system is presented involving the experimental modeling of energy recovery. An entrapped air experimental system is used as a CAES system for converting the kinetic energy to potential energy which is stored in a vessel. High pressure transient flow will be created in the micro-CAES system (where an air pocket is entrapped) to accumulate energy by air compression, moving it into an air vessel before the entrapped air pocket start releasing the accumulated energy with expansion, acting like a spring. An evaluation of the amount of stored and recovered energy has been presented.
Year: 2014