Performance Analysis of Distributed Compressed Air Energy Storage under Different Air Storage Chamber Models

Abstract

To address the challenges brought by geographical, climate, and user dispersion in regional microgrids, villages in northwest China for example, a distributed compressed air energy storage combined heat and power model considering the thermodynamic characteristics of air storage devices is proposed. Firstly, the architecture of distributed compressed air energy storage system based on regional microgrids is constructed. Then, considering the thermodynamic characteristics of the air storage device under constant volume and insulation, a cogeneration model of distributed compressed air energy storage is established. The model includes compression subsystem, air/heat storage subsystem, and expansion subsystem. Finally, the results of combined heat and power supply of distributed compressed air energy storage system are discussed by case study simulation in different air storage chamber models. The results show that constant volume insulation as the air storage device is the best choice, which improve the system efficiency by up to 25.6%. The research results provide a theoretical basis and decision-making reference for the application of distributed compressed air energy storage system in complex environment.