ABSTRACT
Compressed-air energy storage (CAES) is currently being deployed as an alternative to lead-acid batteries for uninterruptible power supplies. These systems use compressed air supplied from either transport cylinders delivered by local gas services, or from stationary cylinders refilled from on-site compressors to drive a variety of economical expansion engine topologies. Several factors make these systems feasible for use in small-scale CAES systems for load leveling in conjunction with wind or solar energy generation while opportunities exist for improving cycle efficiency.This entry was originally presented as “Compressed-Air Energy Storage for Renewable Energy Sources” at the World Energy Engineering Conference (WEEC), September 13–15, 2006, Washington D.C., U.S.A. Reprinted with permission from AEE/Fairmont Press.
