# US 2019/0170026 A1 · Compressed air energy storage and power generation device and compressed air energy storage and power generation method

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- Number: US 2019/0170026 A1
- Document ID: US20190170026A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/571,672
- Filed: 2016-04-27
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-08
- Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
- Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
- Inventors: Masaki MATSUKUMA; Hiroki SARUTA; Kanami SAKAMOTO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170026A1

## CPC

- F01K 27/00: Plants for converting heat or fluid energy into mechanical energy, not otherwise provided for
- F01K 3/02: Use of accumulators and specific engine types; Control thereof
- F01K 3/12: having two or more accumulators
- F01K 27/02: Plants modified to use their waste heat, other than that of exhaust, e.g. engine-friction heat
- 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
- F28D 20/00: Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
- H02J 15/20: using storage of pneumatic energy, e.g. compressed air energy storage [CAES]
- F05D 2220/76: an electrical generator
- F05D 2260/213: by the provision of a heat exchanger within the cooling circuit
- Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage
- 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
- F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D)
- 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)
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A compressor compresses air in such a manner that a motor is driven by renewable energy. An accumulator tank stores the air thus compressed. An expander is driven by the compressed air. A generator is mechanically connected to the expander. A first heat exchanger recovers compressed heat. A heat medium tank that stores a heat medium. A second heat exchanger that heats the compressed air. A first pump adjusts an amount of the heat medium to be supplied to the first heat exchanger. A control device controls the first pump to adjust the amount of heat medium to be supplied to the first heat exchanger so as to maintain the heat medium, which is stored in the heat medium tank, at a predetermined first temperature.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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;
a first heat exchanger for heating a heat medium by performing heat exchange between the heat medium and the air compressed by the compressor;
a heat medium tank that is fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and stores the heat medium;
a second heat exchanger that is fluidly connected to the heat medium tank and serves for heating the compressed air by performing heat exchange between the heat medium supplied from the heat medium tank and the compressed air supplied to the expander;
a first flow rate adjusting means for adjusting an amount of the heat medium supplied to the first heat exchanger; and
a control device that adjusts an amount of the heat medium supplied to the first heat exchanger by the first flow rate adjusting means so as to maintain the heat medium stored in the heat medium tank at a predetermined first temperature.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 1, wherein, so as to maintain the heat medium flowing into the first heat exchanger at the first temperature, the control device controls a flow rate of the heat medium, which flows into the first heat exchanger, by the first flow rate adjusting means based on a change of an amount of power to be driven by the electric motor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 1, further comprising a second flow rate adjusting means for adjusting an amount of the heat medium supplied to the second heat exchanger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 3, wherein, so as to maintain the compressed air supplied to the expander at a predetermined second temperature, the control device adjusts an amount of the heat medium, which is supplied to the second heat exchanger, by the second flow rate adjusting means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 4, wherein, so as to maintain the compressed air flowing into the expander at the second temperature, the control device controls a flow rate of the heat medium, which flows into the second heat exchanger, by the second flow rate adjusting means based on the change of the amount of power to be generated by the generator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a heat medium return tank that is fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and stores the heat medium whose temperature has fallen by the second heat exchanger; and
a heat medium cooler for lowering a temperature of the heat medium, which is supplied from the heat medium return tank to the first heat exchanger, to a predetermined third temperature.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 1,
wherein the heat medium tank further includes:
a remaining amount sensor for measuring an amount of the stored heat medium; and
a third flow rate adjusting means for adjusting an amount of the heat medium supplied to the heat medium tank, and
when a measured value of the remaining amount sensor tells that an amount of the heat medium storable in the heat medium tank has become a predetermined value or less, the control device reduces the amount of heat medium, which is supplied to the heat medium tank, by the third flow rate adjusting means, and raises a temperature of the stored heat medium.

### Claim 8

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;
raising a temperature of the heat medium by performing heat exchange between the heat medium and the compressed air, which is compressed by the compressor, in a first heat exchanger;
storing the heat medium, whose temperature has risen by the first heat exchanger, in a heat medium tank; and
raising a temperature of the compressed air, which is supplied from the accumulator tank, by performing heat exchange between the heat medium, which is supplied from the heat medium tank, and the compressed air in a second heat exchanger, and supplying the compressed air, whose temperature has risen, to the expander,
wherein an amount of the heat medium supplied to the first heat exchanger is adjusted by a first flow rate adjusting means so as to maintain the heat medium, which is stored in the heat medium tank, at a predetermined first temperature.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation method according to claim 8, wherein, so as to maintain the heat medium flowing into the first heat exchanger at the first temperature, a flow rate of the heat medium flowing into the first heat exchanger is adjusted by the first flow rate adjusting means based on a change of an amount of power to be driven by the electric motor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation method according to claim 8, wherein, so as to maintain the compressed air flowing into the expander at a second temperature, a flow rate of the heat medium flowing into the second heat exchanger is adjusted by a second flow rate adjusting means based on the change of the amount of power to be generated by the generator.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation method according to claim 8, further comprising:
measuring an amount of the heat medium, which is stored in the heat medium tank, by a remaining amount sensor;
adjusting an amount of the heat medium, which is supplied to the heat medium tank, by a third flow rate adjusting means; and
when a measured value of the remaining amount sensor tells that an amount of the heat medium storable in the heat medium tank has become a predetermined value or less, reducing the amount of heat medium, which is supplied to the heat medium tank, by the third flow rate adjusting means, and raising a temperature of the stored heat medium.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 2, further comprising a second flow rate adjusting means for adjusting an amount of the heat medium supplied to the second heat exchanger.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 12, wherein, so as to maintain the compressed air supplied to the expander at a predetermined second temperature, the control device adjusts an amount of the heat medium, which is supplied to the second heat exchanger, by the second flow rate adjusting means.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 13, wherein, so as to maintain the compressed air flowing into the expander at the second temperature, the control device controls a flow rate of the heat medium, which flows into the second heat exchanger, by the second flow rate adjusting means based on the change of the amount of power to be generated by the generator.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 2, further comprising:
a heat medium return tank that is fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and stores the heat medium whose temperature has fallen by the second heat exchanger; and
a heat medium cooler for lowering a temperature of the heat medium, which is supplied from the heat medium return tank to the first heat exchanger, to a predetermined third temperature.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation device according to claim 2,
wherein the heat medium tank further includes:
a remaining amount sensor for measuring an amount of the stored heat medium; and
a third flow rate adjusting means for adjusting an amount of the heat medium supplied to the heat medium tank, and
when a measured value of the remaining amount sensor tells that an amount of the heat medium storable in the heat medium tank has become a predetermined value or less, the control device reduces the amount of heat medium, which is supplied to the heat medium tank, by the third flow rate adjusting means, and raises a temperature of the stored heat medium.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation method according to claim 9, wherein, so as to maintain the compressed air flowing into the expander at a second temperature, a flow rate of the heat medium flowing into the second heat exchanger is adjusted by the second flow rate adjusting means based on the change of the amount of power to be generated by the generator.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The compressed air energy storage and power generation method according to claim 9, further comprising:
measuring an amount of the heat medium, which is stored in the heat medium tank, by a remaining amount sensor;
adjusting an amount of the heat medium, which is supplied to the heat medium tank, by a third flow rate adjusting means; and
when a measured value of the remaining amount sensor tells that an amount of the heat medium storable in the heat medium tank has become a predetermined value or less, reducing the amount of heat medium, which is supplied to the heat medium tank, by the third flow rate adjusting means, and raising a temperature of the stored heat medium.