Compressed Air Energy Storage Technology Improvements
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Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a technology that has been around for thirty years. The technology employs air compressors which forces air into a sealed cavern. The air is stored under pressure and can be used later to drive turbines. With the interest in alternative energy sources the technology is becoming increasingly popular.
Wind turbines can be used to drive the air compressors which usually produce an excesss of energy during the night. In this way the energy can be stored for use during the day when demand is higher. Played out mines can be used for the storage caverns.
CAES plants are presently in use in Germany, built in 1978 and in McIntosh, Alabama built in 1991. Now a New Jersey company Energy Storage and Power LLC has been formed as a joint venture with Michael Nakhamkin who has patented the technology used at the Alabama plant. The company has been funded by PSEG Global who are investing $20 million dollars to back the compaby over the next three years.
The technology allows the use of renewable energy sources, thus cutting down on the use of fossel fuels. It is also excellent for efficient energy management which is much sought after by utility companies and power plant operators.
Although the original patent for CAES ran out two years ago the original developer of the technology at the Alabama facility, Nakhamkin has been improving the designs and patenting new ideas. A plant of a similar size to the Alabama plant, if built today with the improved technlogy would only emit one thirteenth of the nitrogen oxide.
The new company will be focusing on licensing Nakhamkin’s new designs but may also build plants. The upgraded design could be used to build CAES plants that have between 15 and 450 megawatts.
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[...] Original post by janetra [...]