# US 10,480,410 B2 · Compressed air energy storage and power generation method and compressed air energy storage and power generation device

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- Number: US 10,480,410 B2
- Document ID: US10480410B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/574,453
- Filed: 2016-05-02
- Published: 2018-05-10
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-18
- Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
- Applicants: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
- Inventors: Masaki Matsukuma; Hiroki Saruta; Kanami Sakamoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480410B2

## CPC

- F01D 17/08: responsive to condition of working-fluid, e.g. pressure
- F02C 1/04: the working fluid being heated indirectly {(in a fluidised-bed combustor F02C3/205)}
- F02C 1/05: characterised by the type or source of heat, e.g. using nuclear or solar energy
- F02C 6/16: for storing compressed air
- F02C 9/24: Control of the pressure level in closed cycles
- F01D 19/00: Starting of machines or engines; Regulating, controlling, or safety means in connection therewith (warming-up before starting F01D25/10; turning or inching gear F01D25/34)
- F02C 7/143: before or between the compressor stages
- F05D 2260/211: by intercooling, e.g. during a compression cycle
- F05D 2270/02: to control rotational speed (n)
- F05D 2270/301: Pressure
- F05D 2270/304: Spool rotational speed
- F05D 2270/312: Air pressure
- H02J 15/20: using storage of pneumatic energy, e.g. compressed air energy storage [CAES]
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- Y02E 60/16: Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
- Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

In a compressed air energy storage and power generation device, a compressed air energy storage and power generation method defines, as a reference storage value, a storage value indicating that a storage amount of air in an accumulator tank is in a predetermined intermediate state. At the reference storage value, at least one of a motor and a generator rotates at a rated rotation speed. When a storage value indicating a current storage amount in the accumulator tank is larger than the reference storage value, at least one of the motor and the generator is controlled to rotate at equal to or less than the rated rotation speed. When the storage value indicating the current storage amount in the accumulator tank is smaller than the reference storage value, at least one of the motor and the generator is controlled to rotate at equal to or more than the rated rotation speed and equal to or less than a maximum permissible rotation speed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A compressed air energy storage and power generation method, comprising:
driving an electric motor by fluctuating input power;
compressing air by a compressor mechanically connected to the electric motor;
storing the compressed air, which is supplied from the compressor, in an accumulator tank;
driving an expander by the compressed air supplied from the accumulator tank;
generating power by a generator mechanically connected to the expander;
defining, as a reference storage value, a storage value indicating that a storage amount of the air in the accumulator tank is in a predetermined intermediate state;
when a storage value indicating a current storage amount in the accumulator tank is at the reference storage value, controlling at least one of the electric motor and the generator to rotate at a rated rotation speed;
when the storage value indicating the current storage amount in the accumulator tank is larger than the reference storage value, controlling the generator to rotate at less than the rated rotation speed so as to maintain a rated output, and
when the storage value indicating the current storage amount in the accumulator tank is smaller than the reference storage value, controlling the generator to rotate at more than the rated rotation speed and equal to or less than a maximum permissible rotation speed so as to maintain the rated output.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation method according to claim 1, wherein,
when the storage value indicating the current storage amount in the accumulator tank is larger than the reference storage value, controlling the electric motor to rotate at less than the rated rotation speed so as to maintain a rated input, and
when the storage value indicating the current storage amount in the accumulator tank is smaller than the reference storage value, controlling the electric motor to rotate at more than the rated rotation speed and equal to or less than a maximum permissible rotation speed so as to maintain the rated input.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation method according to claim 2, wherein a maximum capacity at which the air is storable in the accumulator tank is defined as 100%, a minimum capacity at which power is generatable by the compressed air stored in the accumulator tank is defined as 0%, and the reference storage value is set within a range of 50% to 75% of the maximum capacity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation method according to claim 2, wherein
heat exchange is performed between a heat medium and the compressed air, which is compressed by the compressor, in a first heat exchanger, and a temperature of the heat medium is raised;
the heat medium whose temperature is raised in the first heat exchanger is stored in a heat medium tank; and
in a second heat exchanger, the heat exchange is performed between the heat medium supplied from the heat medium tank and the compressed air supplied from the accumulator tank, and a temperature of the compressed air is raised, and is supplied to the expander.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation method according to claim 1, wherein a maximum capacity at which the air is storable in the accumulator tank is defined as 100%, a minimum capacity at which power is generatable by the compressed air stored in the accumulator tank is defined as 0%, and the reference storage value is set within a range of 50% to 75% of the maximum capacity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation method according to claim 1, wherein
heat exchange is performed between a heat medium and the compressed air, which is compressed by the compressor, in a first heat exchanger, and a temperature of the heat medium is raised;
the heat medium whose temperature is raised in the first heat exchanger is stored in a heat medium tank; and
in a second heat exchanger, the heat exchange is performed between the heat medium supplied from the heat medium tank and the compressed air supplied from the accumulator tank, and a temperature of the compressed air is raised, and is supplied to the expander.

### Claim 7

A compressed air energy storage and power generation device comprising:
an electric motor driven by fluctuating input power;
a compressor that is mechanically connected to the electric motor and compresses air;
an accumulator tank that is fluidly connected to the compressor and stores the air compressed by the compressor;
an expander that is fluidly connected to the accumulator tank and is driven by the compressed air supplied from the accumulator tank;
a generator that is mechanically connected to the expander and generates power to be supplied to a demand destination; and
a controller that defines, as a reference storage value, a storage value indicating that a storage amount of the air in the accumulator tank is in a predetermined intermediate state, wherein
when a storage value indicating a current storage amount in the accumulator tank is at the reference storage value, the controller is configured to control at least one of the electric motor and the generator to rotate at a rated rotation speed,
when the storage value indicating the current storage amount in the accumulator tank is larger than the reference storage value, the controller is configured to control the generator to rotate at less than the rated rotation speed so as to maintain a rated output, and
when the storage value indicating the current storage amount in the accumulator tank is smaller than the reference storage value, the controller is configured to control the generator to rotate at more than the rated rotation speed and equal to or less than a maximum permissible rotation speed so as to maintain the rated output.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 7, wherein,
when the storage value indicating the current storage amount in the accumulator tank is larger than the reference storage value, the controller is configured to control the electric motor to rotate at less than the rated rotation speed so as to maintain a rated input, and
when the storage value indicating the current storage amount in the accumulator tank is smaller than the reference storage value, the controller is configured to control the electric motor to rotate at more than the rated rotation speed and equal to or less than a maximum permissible rotation speed so as to maintain the rated input.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 8, wherein the controller defines a maximum capacity at which the air is storable in the accumulator tank as 100%, defines a minimum capacity at which power is generatable by the compressed air stored in the accumulator tank as 0%, and sets the reference storage value within a range of 50% to 75% of the maximum capacity.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 8, further comprising:
a first heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between a heat medium and the compressed air compressed by the compressor, and raising a temperature of the heat medium;
a heat medium tank that stores the heat medium whose temperature is raised in the first heat exchanger; and
a second heat exchanger for performing the heat exchange between the heat medium supplied from the heat medium tank and the compressed air supplied from the accumulator tank, raising a temperature of the compressed air, and supplying the air to the expander.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 7, wherein the controller defines a maximum capacity at which the air is storable in the accumulator tank as 100%, defines a minimum capacity at which power is generatable by the compressed air stored in the accumulator tank as 0%, and sets the reference storage value within a range of 50% to 75% of the maximum capacity.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 7, further comprising:
a first heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between a heat medium and the compressed air compressed by the compressor, and raising a temperature of the heat medium;
a heat medium tank that stores the heat medium whose temperature is raised in the first heat exchanger; and
a second heat exchanger for performing the heat exchange between the heat medium supplied from the heat medium tank and the compressed air supplied from the accumulator tank, raising a temperature of the compressed air, and supplying the air to the expander.