Compressed Air Storage for Gas Turbine Peak Power Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage systems, such as thermal storage using inlet chilling, are limited by long charging times and are not capable of shifting power output to match peak renewable energy generation periods, which are out of phase with conventional generation needs.
Innovation Solution
A direct injection air system that compresses and stores ambient air, allowing for multiple daily charge and discharge cycles, and can generate power during peak usage periods using a gas turbine or air turbine, with independent discharge modes that do not require the gas turbine to be running.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If thermal storage using inlet chilling is used to shift power output, then power can be shifted to morning and evening peak periods, but charging time takes 15-18 hours and can only discharge once per day
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical state parameter of air from compressed to heated compressed state. By heating the compressed air before injection into the gas turbine, the system enables faster charge-discharge cycles without requiring 15-18 hour charging periods, allowing multiple daily cycles while maintaining peak load shifting capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary compression of air during off-peak hours and stores it in tanks. When peak demand occurs, the pre-compressed air is quickly heated and injected into the gas turbine. This preliminary action eliminates the need for long real-time charging during peak periods, enabling rapid response to load demands
2Productivity
If thermal storage using inlet chilling is used, then power output can be shifted, but the system adds considerable expense for larger chilling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and stores compressed air in separate tanks during off-peak hours, separating the storage function from the power generation function. This allows the gas turbine to be a simple, existing unit while the air storage system handles the load shifting, eliminating the need for expensive large-scale chilling systems and enabling multiple daily charge-discharge cycles
3Power
If chillers are used to cool inlet temperature of gas turbine, then power generation can be optimized, but peak power output is required between 5 am-9 am and 6 pm-10 pm which are out of phase with hot part of the day
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs air compression and storage during off-peak hours (including hot afternoons when solar energy is abundant). The pre-compressed air is then quickly heated and used during peak demand periods in the morning and evening. This preliminary action decouples the charging time from the discharge time, allowing the system to capture both energy peaks and troughs on any given day without being constrained by the hot part of the day
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
Enables efficient capture of energy peaks and troughs, adding 10-20 MW of energy storage per module, and returning 10-20 MW to the grid during peak periods when the gas turbine is running, and 5 MW when it is not, effectively addressing the limitations of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
compressing an ambient air supply, storing the compressed air
Implementation Method 2
heating air taken from the air storage
Implementation Method 3
directing the heated air through an air turbine and/or a gas turbine engine for power generation
Implementation Method 4
directing the heated air through an air turbine and/or a gas turbine engine for power generation
Data Source
AI summary
Electrical power systems, including generating capacity of a gas turbine, where additional power is generated from an air expander and gas turbine simultaneously from a stored compressed air and thermal system.