Development of laboratory unit of compressed air energy storage

PURPOSE. Development of a laboratory unit for a compressed air energy storage and calculation of its operating modes using Aspen HYSYS and ANSYS software packages.METHODS. The authors have developed an experimental unit of a compressed air energy storage and calculation with a capacity of 1 kW. The principle of operation of the unit consists in pumping compressed air into the receiver by a compressor, followed by the release of air from the receiver into the expander of the original design, which generates electrical energy. RESULTS. During the development of the prototype, 4 gears were made of various structural materials: AISI 304 stainless steel, LS59-1 brass and POM-S polyacetal. During assembly, lapping and running-in, it was found experimentally that the optimal solution in terms of antifriction characteristics, strength and longer service life is the use of gears made of polyacetal. To simulate the operating modes of the laboratory stand, a model was compiled in the Aspen HYSYS software package. The need for a dynamic model arose to simulate the process of unloading the receiver. A graph of the change in air flow at the inlet to the expander depending on the position of the control valve is presented.CONCLUSION. The advantages of using CAES as a method of accumulating electrical energy include high maneuverability and operation in wide ranges of temperature and pressure, which makes such power plants cheaper and more durable. The CAES accumulates energy in the form of compressed air, which then goes to generate electricity during peak loads.