Retrofit of simple cycle gas turbine for compressed air energy storage application having expander for additional power generation

A method of providing a Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) system from first and second combustion turbine assemblies, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first combustion turbine assembly having a debladed turbine element, a compressor, and a motor for driving the compressor,
• providing an air storage,
• providing a flow path such that compressed air from an outlet of the compressor communicates with the air storage instead of with the turbine element,
• providing a second combustion turbine assembly having a debladed compressor, a combustor, a turbine associated with the combustor, and a generator associated with the turbine,
• providing a flow path such that compressed air from the air storage communicates with the combustor and thus the turbine of the second combustion turbine assembly instead of with air from the compressor of the second combustion turbine assembly so that the turbine can expand the compressed air from the air storage to produce electrical power via the generator,
• providing an expander and an additional generator associated with the expander, and
• providing a flow path such that compressed air from the air storage can be preheated and then can communicate with the expander, in addition to selectively directly communicate with the combustor and thus the turbine of the second combustion turbine assembly and providing a flow path such that airflow from the expander can communicate with the combustor and thus the turbine of the second turbine assembly, so that the expander can expand the preheated compressed air to produce electrical power via the additional generator, in addition to the electrical power produced by the generator of the second combustion turbine assembly.