Compressed ai̇r energy storage


Thesis Type: Doctorate

Institution Of The Thesis: Uludağ Üniversitesi, Turkey

Approval Date: 2015

Thesis Language: Turkish

Student: MUSTAFA MUTLU

Supervisor: MUHSİN KILIÇ

Abstract:

In recent years, energy storage systems rise in importance associated with increase market share of renewable energy sources in energy production. One of the best option to remove disadvantages of renewable energy sources, originating from it characteristics is to use energy storage systems. Nowadays, there are various storage systems and needed to be developed further. In this study, compressed air storage systems which are mechanical storage system were introduced and a small scale compressed air storage system was designed. In this design, it is aimed to compress and expand air isothermally using liquid pistons. Information about designed system performance was obtained by a mathematical model. Numerical analyses were applied in order to determine the air pressure and other air properties during the compression process in liquid pistons. For numerical analyses, commercial packaged software which is based on finite volume method was used. The system was designed, manufactured and tested under laboratory conditions. It is found that, the most important parameter that effect the performance during compression and expansion processes in the system is the liquid piston speed. System performance can be improved by using variable piston speeds. It is seen that, compression and expansion efficiencies can be enhanced by changing the liquid piston geometry. The compression performance of the energy storage system for different conditions was investigated experimentally. It is seen that designed and manufactured system can be operated with renewable energy sources and other storage applications.