System and method for secondary energy production in a compressed air energy storage system

A compressed air energy storage (CAES) system comprising:

• a compression train comprising:
• a first compressor configured to compress air;
• a second compressor configured to further compress air;
• and
• a compressor path configured to provide passage of compressed air from the first compressor to the second compressor;
• a storage volume configured to store compressed air egressing from the compression train;
• a compressed air path coupled to the compression train and the storage volume, the compressed air path configured to provide passage of compressed air egressing from the compression train to the storage volume;
• and
• a heat recovery system comprising:
• a first heat transfer path coupled to the compressor path;
• and
• a second heat transfer path thermally coupled to the compressed air path;
• wherein the first heat transfer path is configured to draw heat from both the compressor path and the second heat transfer path;
• and
• wherein the first heat transfer path comprises a first liquid and a first energy production unit;
• and
• wherein the second heat transfer path comprises a second liquid and a second energy production unit;
• and
• wherein the first and second energy production units are configured to generate electricity by evaporating and expanding the first liquid within the first heat transfer path, and the second liquid within the second heat transfer path.

An adiabatic compressed air energy storage (CAES) system comprising:

• a compressed air storage volume;
• a compression train coupled to the compressed air storage volume, the compression train comprising:
• a plurality of compressors in series configured to serially compress ambient air passing therethrough;
• and
• a compressor path configured to provide passage of air from a first compressor of the plurality of compressors to a last compressor of the plurality of compressors;
• a compressed air path coupled to the compression train and configured to allow passage of the ambient air compressed by the plurality of compressors to the compressed air storage volume;
• a thermal energy storage (TES) system coupled to the compressed air path and configured to remove and store heat from compressed air passing through the compressed air path prior to storage of the compressed air in the compressed air storage volume;
• a primary energy production system configured to generate electricity based on expansion of compressed air passed from the compressed air storage volume;
• and
• a heat recovery system comprising:
• a first heat transfer path coupled to the compressor path;
• and
• a second heat transfer path thermally coupled to the compressed air path;
• wherein the first heat transfer path is configured to draw heat from both the compressor path and the second heat transfer path;
• and
• wherein the first heat transfer path comprises a first liquid and a first energy production unit;
• and
• wherein the second heat transfer path comprises a second liquid and a second energy production unit;
• and
• wherein the first and second energy production units are configured to generate electricity by evaporating and expanding the first liquid within the first heat transfer path, and the second liquid within the second heat transfer path.