CAES Compensation Liquid Dilution for Champagne Effect Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage systems are prone to the champagne effect, which occurs when dissolved gas in the compensation liquid forms bubbles, leading to pressure imbalances and potential cavern blowouts, as the system charges and discharges.
Innovation Solution
A hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system with a dilution system that introduces a dilution liquid with lower dissolved gas concentration to reduce the average dissolved gas concentration in the compensation liquid, using a dilution flow path and backflow limiter to maintain system pressure and prevent champagne effect conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If compressed air is stored in a hydrostatically compensated system, then energy storage capacity is improved, but dissolved gas forms bubbles causing pressure imbalances and potential cavern blowouts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes dissolved gas from the compensation liquid using a degassing system that includes a degasser and gas-liquid separator. This prevents the accumulation of dissolved gas that would otherwise form bubbles and cause the champagne effect, thereby maintaining system reliability while preserving energy storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a compensation liquid circulation system that acts as an intermediary between the compressed air storage and the pressure control mechanism. This circulation system includes pumps, heat exchangers, and degassing equipment that actively manage the compensation liquid to prevent gas dissolution and bubble formation, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and system stability.
2Stress or pressure
If compensation liquid circulates during charging and discharging, then pressure control is improved, but dissolved gas concentration increases leading to champagne effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous compensation liquid circulation through pumps and piping systems that operate during charging and discharging cycles. This continuous circulation maintains pressure control while preventing gas dissolution by keeping the liquid in constant motion, reducing the time available for gas to dissolve into the compensation liquid.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the compensation liquid by controlling temperature through heat exchangers and maintaining flow velocity through pumping. These parameter changes reduce the solubility of gas in the compensation liquid and prevent bubble formation, allowing effective pressure control without increasing dissolved gas concentration.
3Reliability
If dilution liquid is introduced to reduce dissolved gas concentration, then champagne effect prevention is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the dilution function with the existing compensation liquid circulation system. The dilution liquid is introduced through the same piping and pumping infrastructure used for compensation liquid circulation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated dilution equipment and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective champagne effect prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation liquid circulation system serves multiple functions: pressure control during charging/discharging, heat exchange through integrated heat exchangers, and dilution of dissolved gas through continuous circulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and minimizes overall device complexity while achieving reliable champagne effect prevention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively inhibits the champagne effect by maintaining system pressure and preventing gas escape, ensuring stable operation and efficient energy storage and retrieval.
Implementation Method 1
A hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system with a dilution system that introduces a dilution liquid with lower dissolved gas concentration to reduce the average dissolved gas concentration in the compensation liquid
Implementation Method 2
A compressed gas energy storage system that may include an accumulator for containing a layer of compressed gas atop a layer of liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system comprising to inhibit champagne effect conditions, can include charging the system; changing the system into a storage mode; and before a dissolved gas concentration in a layer of compensation liquid exceeds a champagne effect saturation threshold, operating the system in a dilution cycle mode that can include i) discharging at least a portion of the compressed air from the accumulator thereby drawing additional compensation liquid having a lower dissolved gas concentration than the liquid in the layer of compensation liquid into the accumulator, and ii) re-charging the system by conveying additional compressed air into the layer of compressed air in the accumulator thereby displacing a corresponding amount of compensation liquid from the layer of compensation liquid into a compensation liquid flow path and returning the system to the storage mode.