Why is adiabatic compressed air energy storage yet to become a viable energy storage option?

ABSTRACT: Recent theoretical studies have predicted that adiabatic compressed air energy storage (ACAES) can be an effective energy storage option in the future. However, major experimental projects and commercial ventures have so far failed to yield any viable prototypes. Here we explore the underlying reasons behind this failure. By developing an analytical idealized model of a typical ACAES design, we derive a design-dependent efficiency limit for a system with hypothetical, perfect components. This previously overlooked limit, equal to 93.6% under continuous cycling for a typical design, arises from irreversibility associated with the transient pressure in the system. Although the exact value is design dependent, the methodology we present for finding the limit is applicable for a wide range of

SUBMITTER: Barbour ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8111675 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature