The growth of renewable power generation is experiencing a remarkable surge worldwide. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), it is projected that by 2050, the share of wind and solar in the U.S. power-generation mix will reach 38 percent, which is twice the proportion recorded in 2019. The incorporation of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) into renewable energy systems offers various economic, technical, and environmental advantages.

全球范圍內可再生能源發電的增長正在經歷顯著的增長。根據美國能源信息署（EIA）的預測，預計到 2050 年，風能和太陽能在美國發電結構中的份額將達到 38%，是 2019 年記錄比例的兩倍。可再生能源系統中的儲能（CAES）具有多種經濟、技術和環境優勢。

What is Compressed Air Energy Storage?

什么是壓縮空氣儲能？

By 2030, it is anticipated that renewable energy sources will account for 36 percent of global energy production. Energy storage systems will be instrumental in attaining this objective. Mechanical storage systems stand out among the available energy storage methods due to their reduced investment expenses, prolonged lifetimes, and increased power/energy ratings. Notably, commercialized large-scale Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) facilities have arisen as a prominent energy storage solution.

到 2030 年，預計可再生能源將占全球能源生產的 36%。儲能系統將有助于實現這一目標。機械存儲系統因其投資費用減少、使用壽命延長以及功率/能量額定值提高而在可用的能量存儲方法中脫穎而出。值得注意的是，商業化的大型壓縮空氣儲能（CAES）設施已成為一種重要的儲能解決方案。

Since the late 1970s, (CAES) technology has been commercially available. This energy storage system functions by utilizing electricity to compress air during off-peak hours, which is then stored in underground caverns. When energy demand is elevated during the peak hours, the stored compressed air is released, expanding and passing through a turbine to generate electricity.

自 20 世紀 70 年代末以來，(CAES) 技術已投入商業應用。該儲能系統的工作原理是在非高峰時段利用電力壓縮空氣，然后將空氣儲存在地下洞穴中。當高峰時段能源需求增加時，儲存的壓縮空氣會被釋放，膨脹并通過渦輪機發電。





Traditional Compressed Air Energy Storage System Configurations

傳統壓縮空氣儲能系統配置

CAES technology encompasses different types, including adiabatic systems and diabatic systems. The key distinction between these configurations lies in how they handle the heat generated during the compression process.

CAES 技術涵蓋不同類型，包括絕熱系統和非絕熱系統。這些配置之間的主要區別在于它們如何處理壓縮過程中產生的熱量。

The diabatic CAES systems are the first-generation technology. In these systems, ambient air is compressed using a compressor train. The compression process generates waste heat, which is then dissipated to the surrounding environment through intercoolers. During the discharge phase, fuel is combusted to heat the air before its expansion in the turbines. This combustion process allows for the generation of electricity during peak demand periods. The adiabatic configuration of CAES has been under development since the late 1970s, aiming to address the limitations of diabatic CAES. This particular compressed air energy storage system focuses on effectively capturing and storing the waste heat generated during compression. The stored heat is then recycled to elevate the turbine inlet temperature of the compressed air during the discharge phase. As a result, the adiabatic CAES system aims to reduce or even eliminate the reliance on fossil fuels, offering a more sustainable energy storage solution.

非絕熱 CAES 系統是第一代技術。在這些系統中，使用壓縮機組壓縮環境空氣。壓縮過程產生廢熱，然后通過中間冷卻器消散到周圍環境。在排放階段，燃料燃燒以在空氣在渦輪機中膨脹之前加熱空氣。這種燃燒過程可以在高峰需求期間發電。 CAES 的絕熱結構自 20 世紀 70 年代末以來一直在開發中，旨在解決非絕熱 CAES 的局限性。這種特殊的壓縮空氣能量存儲系統專注于有效捕獲和存儲壓縮過程中產生的廢熱。然后，儲存的熱量被回收，以在排放階段提高壓縮空氣的渦輪入口溫度。因此，絕熱 CAES 系統旨在減少甚至消除對化石燃料的依賴，提供更可持續的能源存儲解決方案。

Recent Developments in Novel Configurations of CAES

CAES 新穎配置的最新進展

In addition to the adiabatic and diabatic configurations, two other types of CAES systems have been proposed: isothermal CAES (I-CAES) and supercritical CAES. The primary objective of I-CAES is to maintain stable compression and expansion temperatures of the compressed air during the charging and discharging processes, respectively. This is achieved by implementing a quasi-isothermal process.

除了絕熱和非絕熱配置之外，還提出了另外兩種類型的 CAES 系統：等溫 CAES (I-CAES) 和超臨界 CAES。 I-CAES 的主要目標是在充電和放電過程中分別保持壓縮空氣穩定的壓縮和膨脹溫度。這是通過實施準等溫過程來實現的。

On the other hand, supercritical CAES involves compressing the air to a supercritical thermodynamic state, where the waste heat generated during compression is recovered and stored in a thermal energy storage system. The compressed air is then liquefied and stored in a dedicated cryogenic tank. During the discharge phase, the liquid air is re-gasified, heated using the stored thermal energy, and subsequently expanded through a turbine train to generate electricity, which can be supplied back to the grid. This process has an efficiency of around 68%.

另一方面，超臨界CAES涉及將空氣壓縮至超臨界熱力學狀態，其中壓縮過程中產生的廢熱被回收并存儲在熱能存儲系統中。然后壓縮空氣被液化并儲存在專用的低溫罐中。在放電階段，液態空氣被重新氣化，利用儲存的熱能進行加熱，隨后通過渦輪機組膨脹以產生電力，并可回饋電網。該過程的效率約為 68%。

Components and Operational Necessities

組件和操作必需品

The primary components of a conventional CAES plant cycle include a motor/generator with pulleys on both ends (to engage/disengage it to/from the compressor train, expander train, or both).

Multistage air compressors with intercoolers, which reduce the required power during the compression cycle, and an aftercooler, which reduces the required storage volume play a vital role in energy storage.

The next component is the control system for an expander train composed of high- and low-pressure turbo-expanders with burners between stages.

Accessories (fuel storage and management, refrigeration systems, mechanical systems, power systems, and heat exchangers).

Storage of pressurized air underground or aboveground, including piping and fixings.

傳統 CAES 設備循環的主要組件包括兩端帶有滑輪的電動機/發電機（用于將其與壓縮機組、膨脹機組或兩者接合/分離）。

帶有中間冷卻器的多級空氣壓縮機可減少壓縮循環期間所需的功率，而后冷卻器可減少所需的存儲體積，在能量存儲中發揮著至關重要的作用。

下一個組件是膨脹機組的控制系統，該膨脹機組由高壓和低壓透平膨脹機組成，各級之間帶有燃燒器。

配件（燃料儲存和管理、制冷系統、機械系統、動力系統、熱交換器）。

地下或地上壓縮空氣的儲存，包括管道和固定裝置。

Advantages

優點

CAES is utilized to improve high-demand preservation, thus decreasing the electrical grid's burden. This enables energy providers to supply adequate power for the entire service area without producing additional energy during peak demand. CAES, when implemented on a lesser scale, can reduce reliance on the electrical infrastructure, thus decreasing energy costs and maintenance costs.

CAES 用于改善高要求的保護，從而減輕電網的負擔。這使得能源供應商能夠為整個服務區域提供充足的電力，而無需在高峰需求期間產生額外的能源。當小規模實施時，CAES 可以減少對電力基礎設施的依賴，從而降低能源成本和維護成本。

It can store energy for several hours to days, assuring a consistent power supply during periods of high demand or when intermittent resources are not producing. The use of CAES as a supplementary energy source contributes to the enhancement of power grid stability during periods of excessive electrical demand. In addition, these systems require relatively little upkeep compared to other methods.

它可以儲存能量數小時至數天，確保在高需求期間或間歇性資源不生產時保持穩定的電力供應。使用CAES作為補充能源有助于在電力需求過剩期間增強電網穩定性。此外，與其他方法相比，這些系統需要的維護相對較少。

Limitations and Challenges

限制和挑戰

Despite such advantageous features, compressed air energy storage falls short owing to certain challenges and limitations. The scarcity of appropriate geological formations for underground caverns may hinder the extensive application of CAES. A viable geographical location is required for the integration of CAES with the energy production source. Additionally, compressing the air followed by the expansion processes in CAES systems leads to losses of energy due to thermal dispersion, thereby reducing overall efficiency.

盡管有這些有利的特征，但壓縮空氣能量存儲由于某些挑戰和限制而存在不足。地下洞穴缺乏合適的地質構造可能會阻礙 CAES 的廣泛應用。 CAES 與能源生產源的整合需要一個可行的地理位置。此外，CAES 系統中壓縮空氣后進行膨脹過程會因熱分散而導致能量損失，從而降低整體效率。

Even in the presence of such challenges, all over the world, CAES projects are underway. The Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Engineering Thermo-physics recently activated a 100 MW compressed air energy storage facility in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province. The facility is comprised of a multistage, high-load compressor, an expander, and a supercritical heat storage and heat exchanger with outstanding efficiency.

即使面臨此類挑戰，世界各地的 CAES 項目仍在進行中。中國科學院工程熱物理研究所近日在河北張家口啟動了100兆瓦壓縮空氣儲能設施。該設施由多級高負載壓縮機、膨脹機以及效率出色的超臨界蓄熱和熱交換器組成。

Market Assessment

市場評估

CAES appears to be a natural fit with the wind farms presently under construction. This is because CAES can operate on a brief enough time scale to balance out variations in the power grid that are triggered by wind fluctuations. The future market potential for compressed air energy storage (CAES) systems is substantial. Experts have published a report in Allied Market Research stating that the global compressed air energy storage market was worth $4 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $31.8 billion by 2031, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.6% from 2022 to 2031. This is primarily because renewable energies are anticipated to gain market influence in the foreseeable future.

CAES 似乎非常適合目前正在建設的風電場。這是因為 CAES 可以在足夠短的時間范圍內運行，以平衡風力波動引發的電網變化。壓縮空氣儲能（CAES）系統未來的市場潛力巨大。專家在聯合市場研究公司發表報告稱，2021年全球壓縮空氣儲能市場價值40億美元，預計到2031年將達到318億美元，從2022年到2022年將以23.6%的復合年增長率（CAGR）擴張。 2031年。這主要是因為可再生能源預計將在可預見的未來獲得市場影響力。

Cost and Performance Assessment of CAES

CAES 的成本和性能評估

It is anticipated that CAES will dominate the energy storage market. According to calculations done by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a 1000MW CAES plant incurs the following costs:

預計CAES將主導儲能市場。根據太平洋西北國家實驗室的計算，一座1000MW CAES電站的成本如下： 




原標題：壓縮空氣儲能，如何工作？