Thermodynamic Analysis of Highview Power's Liquid Air Energy Storage Pilot Plant

[Introduction] Energy storage technology becomes an essential supporting technology to build a new power system with renewable energy as the main power source. Liquid air energy storage (LAES) is one of the emerging large-scale energy storage solutions, which is technically and economically feasible...

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Main Authors: Xiao SUN, Chunrong CAI, Zhibin LUO, Xiaobo WANG, Guangtao ZHU, Aiguo PEI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Energy Observer Magazine Co., Ltd. 2024-03-01
Series:南方能源建设
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.energychina.press/en/article/doi/10.16516/j.ceec.2024.2.11
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author Xiao SUN
Chunrong CAI
Zhibin LUO
Xiaobo WANG
Guangtao ZHU
Aiguo PEI
author_facet Xiao SUN
Chunrong CAI
Zhibin LUO
Xiaobo WANG
Guangtao ZHU
Aiguo PEI
author_sort Xiao SUN
collection DOAJ
description [Introduction] Energy storage technology becomes an essential supporting technology to build a new power system with renewable energy as the main power source. Liquid air energy storage (LAES) is one of the emerging large-scale energy storage solutions, which is technically and economically feasible and has a wide range of application prospects. The pilot plant built by Highview Power is the only LAES for which test data have been made public. The paper aims to explore the thermodynamic principle of LAES and seek ways to improve the cycle efficiency of LAES. [Method] A thermodynamic model was established according to the process flow of Highview Power's pilot plant. The thermodynamic model was verified by the test data of the pilot plant. Exergy analysis was carried out. The influence of key operating parameters on the charging and discharging process was studied by the control variable method. [Result] The results show that the key equipment limiting the cycle efficiency are recycle compressor and evaporator. Increasing the compression pressure and post-throttling pressure, increasing the mass flow rate and inlet temperature of the cryogenic expander, and recovering the cooling capacity of the regenerator are beneficial to improving the liquefaction rate and reducing the energy consumption of liquefaction. Moreover, increasing the high pressure and the inlet temperature of turbine expansion unit can help to improve the output power and cycle efficiency of LAES. [Conclusion] Some improvement measures are put forward to improve cycle efficiency, such as recovery of compression heat, improvement of compressor isentropic efficiency and reduction of heat transfer temperature difference of evaporator.
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spelling doaj.art-63fe824dc9a74b53b0f7c926cad3e9412024-04-08T02:35:06ZengEnergy Observer Magazine Co., Ltd.南方能源建设2095-86762024-03-0111211212410.16516/j.ceec.2024.2.112023-079Thermodynamic Analysis of Highview Power's Liquid Air Energy Storage Pilot PlantXiao SUN0Chunrong CAI1Zhibin LUO2Xiaobo WANG3Guangtao ZHU4Aiguo PEI5China Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, ChinaChina Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, ChinaChina Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, ChinaChina Energy Engineering Co., Ltd., Beijing 100022, ChinaChina Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, ChinaChina Energy Engineering Co., Ltd., Beijing 100022, China[Introduction] Energy storage technology becomes an essential supporting technology to build a new power system with renewable energy as the main power source. Liquid air energy storage (LAES) is one of the emerging large-scale energy storage solutions, which is technically and economically feasible and has a wide range of application prospects. The pilot plant built by Highview Power is the only LAES for which test data have been made public. The paper aims to explore the thermodynamic principle of LAES and seek ways to improve the cycle efficiency of LAES. [Method] A thermodynamic model was established according to the process flow of Highview Power's pilot plant. The thermodynamic model was verified by the test data of the pilot plant. Exergy analysis was carried out. The influence of key operating parameters on the charging and discharging process was studied by the control variable method. [Result] The results show that the key equipment limiting the cycle efficiency are recycle compressor and evaporator. Increasing the compression pressure and post-throttling pressure, increasing the mass flow rate and inlet temperature of the cryogenic expander, and recovering the cooling capacity of the regenerator are beneficial to improving the liquefaction rate and reducing the energy consumption of liquefaction. Moreover, increasing the high pressure and the inlet temperature of turbine expansion unit can help to improve the output power and cycle efficiency of LAES. [Conclusion] Some improvement measures are put forward to improve cycle efficiency, such as recovery of compression heat, improvement of compressor isentropic efficiency and reduction of heat transfer temperature difference of evaporator.https://www.energychina.press/en/article/doi/10.16516/j.ceec.2024.2.11liquid air energy storagethermodynamics processexergy analysisoptimal designmathematical modeling
spellingShingle Xiao SUN
Chunrong CAI
Zhibin LUO
Xiaobo WANG
Guangtao ZHU
Aiguo PEI
Thermodynamic Analysis of Highview Power's Liquid Air Energy Storage Pilot Plant
南方能源建设
liquid air energy storage
thermodynamics process
exergy analysis
optimal design
mathematical modeling
title Thermodynamic Analysis of Highview Power's Liquid Air Energy Storage Pilot Plant
title_full Thermodynamic Analysis of Highview Power's Liquid Air Energy Storage Pilot Plant
title_fullStr Thermodynamic Analysis of Highview Power's Liquid Air Energy Storage Pilot Plant
title_full_unstemmed Thermodynamic Analysis of Highview Power's Liquid Air Energy Storage Pilot Plant
title_short Thermodynamic Analysis of Highview Power's Liquid Air Energy Storage Pilot Plant
title_sort thermodynamic analysis of highview power s liquid air energy storage pilot plant
topic liquid air energy storage
thermodynamics process
exergy analysis
optimal design
mathematical modeling
url https://www.energychina.press/en/article/doi/10.16516/j.ceec.2024.2.11
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AT xiaobowang thermodynamicanalysisofhighviewpowersliquidairenergystoragepilotplant
AT guangtaozhu thermodynamicanalysisofhighviewpowersliquidairenergystoragepilotplant
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