Experimental Investigation of Novel Configuration of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)

Abstract

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a technology that harnesses the power of compressed air to store energy for future use. However, a drawback of compressed air energy storage lies in the relatively inefficient nature of the expanders used. To tackle this challenge, a novel configuration is proposed and thoroughly investigated through experimentation. The core concept of the system revolves around introducing compressed air into a water-filled cylinder, which then propels an oscillating mass back and forth. Magnets, generating a magnetic field, are strategically positioned around the cylinder. As the oscillating mass moves to and fro inside the main cylinder, it triggers specific valves at predetermined intervals, resulting in the generation of voltage. The peak voltage produced is used to calculate the power output and efficiency of the system. The calculated electrical power efficiency of the proposed configuration is determined to be 5.33%. This relatively low efficiency can primarily be attributed to the lower frequency of oscillations and the presence of resistance effects. However, the results also indicate that when considering mechanical efficiency, the concept achieves a significantly higher value of 52.14%. This finding suggests that the configuration holds greater potential for sustainable mechanical output. While this mechanism demonstrates promising capabilities as an air expander, the induction of voltage through this method proves to be inefficient for energy utilization.