Does the compressed air energy storage cave need to be very large

How much energy can a cavern store?

Thus, over a 24 h period, we can store about 2000 W per meter drift. However, note that our analysis is focused on air tightness and energy balance of the underground cavern, whereas additional energy transfer will also occur during the compression and cooling of the air at the ground surface facility.

What is compressed air energy storage (CAES)?

1. Introduction Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) has emerged as one of the most promising large-scale energy storage technologies for balancing electricity supply and demand in modern power grids. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, despite their many benefits, are inherently intermittent.

How does a underground cavern work?

In underground CAES, off-peak or excess power is taken from the grid at low cost and used to compress and store air within an underground storage cavern. When needed, this high-pressure compressed air is then released, pre-heated in a recuperator, and expanded in a gas turbine to produce electricity during peak demand hours.

What is caesc (compressed air energy storage in caverns)?

The of CAESC (compressed air energy storage in caverns) have been studied by many researchers , , , , , , , . Kushnir et al. discussed the solutions for air temperature and pressure variations in the cavern and conducted sensitivity analyses to identify the dominant parameters that affect the storage temperature and pressure fluctuations.

How is compressed air stored?

This compressed air is then stored in large underground caverns, aquifers, or above-ground tanks. The compression process generates heat, which can also be captured and stored using heat exchangers to improve the system's overall efficiency. When electricity demand is high, the compressed air is released from the storage reservoir and heated.

Can underground caverns reduce air leakage during decompression?

We carried out coupled thermodynamic, multiphase fluid flow and heat transport analysis. ► Coupled behavior associated with underground lined caverns for CAES was investigated. ► Air leakage could be reduced by controlling the permeability of concrete lining. ► Heat loss during compression would be gained back at subsequent decompression phase.