• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.178-184
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• 2011

Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) is a combination of energy storage and generation by storing compressed air using off-peak power for generation at times of peak demand. In general, both charging and discharging of high-pressure vessel are unsteady processes, where the pressure is varying. These varying conditions result in low efficiencies of compression and expansion. In this paper, a new constant-pressure CAES system to overcome the current problem is proposed. An energy analysis of the system based on the concept of exergy was performed to evaluate the energy density and efficiency of the system in comparison with the conventional CAES system. The new constant-pressure CAES system combined with pumped hydro storage requires the smaller cavern with only half of the storage volume for variable-pressure CAES and has a higher efficiency of system.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2009

Flexible and lined segment air-tight tunnelling technology for Compressed Air Energy Storage-Gas Turbine(CAES-G/T) power generation was introduced. The distinguished characteristics of the air-tight tunnel system can be summarized by two facts. One is that the high inner pressure due to compressed air is sustained by surrounding rock mass with allowing sufficient displacement of lining segment. The other is that the air-tightness of storage tunnel was enhanced by adopting a specially designed rubber sheet. The flexible lined air-tight underground tunnel can be constructed at a comparatively shallow depth and near urban area so that the locally distributed CAES-G/T power generation can be accomplished. In addition, this air-tight tunnelling technology can be applied to a variety of energy underground storage tunnels such as Compressed Natural Gas(CNG), Liquifed Petroleum Gas(LPG), DeMethyl Ether(DME) etc.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.446-454
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• 2010

CAES-G/T (Compressed Air Energy Storage - Gas Turbine) power generation is a likely option for the buffer facility stabilizing the fluctuation of the renewable powers, such as wind and solar powers. Considering the geological conditions, the underground CAES facility is most probable if the CAES-G/T generation is planed in Korea. In this kind of facility, a concrete plug is installed to seal the compressed air in the container, so that the selection of the shape and dimension of concrete plug could be a critical design factor. The stability evaluation of two types of plug was carried out by investigating the distribution of the factor of safety in the plugs and the distribution of contact pressure over the contact surface. The analysis result shows that the taper-shaped plug is more structurally stable than the wedge-shaped plug for the given geological condition. Possible separation of the rock-concrete interface around the spring line of the wedge-shaped plug is anticipated, which means the possible leakage of compressed air through the side wall and also means the poor mobilization of frictional resistance on that area.