Compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11319876-B2
Application number	US-201816630815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2018
Priority date	Aug 1, 2017
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

A compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus includes a power demand receiving unit that receives a power demand value of a consumer facility. The apparatus includes a first air supply valve that adjusts a flow rate of compressed air to be supplied from a low-pressure tank to an expander, a second air supply valve that adjusts a flow rate of compressed air to be supplied from a high-pressure tank to the expander, and a control device configured to open the first air supply valve according to the power demand value in a state where the second air supply valve is closed when the power demand value is less than a predetermined threshold, and to open the second air supply valve according to the power demand value when the power demand value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus configured to store input power in a form of compressed air, generate power by using the compressed air as necessary, and supply power to a consumer facility, the compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus comprising:
a power demand receiving unit that receives a power demand value of the consumer facility;
an electric motor that is driven by the input power;
a first compressor that is driven by the electric motor;
a first accumulation unit and a second accumulation unit that store the compressed air compressed by the first compressor;
an expander that is driven by the compressed air supplied from the first accumulation unit or the second accumulation unit;
a generator that is driven by the expander;
a first air supply valve that adjusts a flow rate of the compressed air to be supplied from the first accumulation unit to the expander;
a second air supply valve that adjusts a flow rate of the compressed air to be supplied from the second accumulation unit to the expander; and
a control device configured to open the first air supply valve according to the power demand value in a state where the second air supply valve is closed when the power demand value is less than a predetermined threshold, and to open the second air supply valve according to the power demand value when the power demand value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

2. The compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second compressor that performs compression up to a higher pressure than a pressure of the first compressor,
wherein the second accumulation unit has a higher allowable pressure than an allowable pressure of the first accumulation unit, and stores the compressed air compressed by the second compressor.

3. The compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressure detection unit that detects an internal pressure of the second accumulation unit;
a capacitor that stores power; and
an engine generator that generates power by using fuel,
wherein the control device is configured to supply power from the capacitor to the consumer facility according to the power demand value when the power demand value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold and when the internal pressure of the second accumulation unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure value, and
supply power to the consumer facility by driving the engine generator according to the power demand value when the power demand value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, when the internal pressure of the second accumulation unit is equal to or lower than the predetermined pressure value, and when the power stored in the capacitor is equal to or lower than a predetermined power value.

4. The compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first air supply valve and the second air supply valve are flow regulating valves, and
the control device adjusts a power generation amount of the generator by adjusting opening degrees of the first air supply valve and the second air supply valve according to the power demand value.

5. The compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rotational speed changing device that changes a rotational speed of the generator,
wherein the control device adjusts a power generation amount of the generator by adjusting the rotational speed of the generator by the rotational speed changing device according to the power demand value.

6. The compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein a plurality of the expanders are provided,
the compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus further includes a number-of-operating-units changing device that changes the number of expanders to be operated, and
the control device adjusts a power generation amount of the generator by adjusting the number of expanders to be driven, by the number-of-operating-units changing device according to the power demand value.

7. The compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a pressure detection unit that detects an internal pressure of the second accumulation unit;
a capacitor that stores power; and
an engine generator that generates power by using fuel,
wherein the control device is configured to supply power from the capacitor to the consumer facility according to the power demand value when the power demand value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold and when the internal pressure of the second accumulation unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure value, and
supply power to the consumer facility by driving the engine generator according to the power demand value when the power demand value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, when the internal pressure of the second accumulation unit is equal to or lower than the predetermined pressure value, and when the power stored in the capacitor is equal to or lower than a predetermined power value.

8. The compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the first air supply valve and the second air supply valve are flow regulating valves, and
the control device adjusts a power generation amount of the generator by adjusting opening degrees of the first air supply valve and the second air supply valve according to the power demand value.

9. The compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a rotational speed changing device that changes a rotational speed of the generator,
wherein the control device adjusts a power generation amount of the generator by adjusting the rotational speed of the generator by the rotational speed changing device according to the power demand value.

10. The compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein a plurality of the expanders are provided,
the compressed air energy storage power generation apparatus further includes a number-of-operating-units changing device that changes the number of expanders to be operated, and
the control device adjusts a power generation amount of the generator by adjusting the number of expanders to be driven, by the number-of-operating-units changing device according to the power demand value.

Assignees

• Kobe Steel Ltd

Inventors

• Matsukuma Masaki
• Nagahira Ayaka

Classifications

• H02J15/20

  using storage of pneumatic energy, e.g. compressed air energy storage [CAES] · CPC title

• F02C6/16 Primary

  for storing compressed air · CPC title

• H02J15/00

  Systems for storing electric energy specially adapted for power networks · CPC title

• H02J3/28

  Arrangements for balancing of the load in networks by storage of energy · CPC title

• H02J3/32 Primary

  using batteries or super capacitors with converting means · CPC title