An energy storage includes a first container including an inner space, a plurality of pressure vessels for compressed air that are stacked in rows inside the inner space of the first container, a tank containing a heat transfer fluid arranged inside the inner space of the first container, a compressor adapted to compress air, and a plurality of pneumatic ducts for compressed air connected to the compressor. The plurality of pneumatic ducts includes a plurality of heat exchangers adapted to enable a heat exchange between compressed air contained in the plurality of pneumatic ducts and heat transfer fluid contained inside the tank. The plurality of pneumatic ducts is connected to the plurality of pressure vessels supplying pressure vessels with compressed air, an electric turbine connected by the plurality of pneumatic ducts with the plurality of pressure vessels supplying compressed air for rotating the electric turbine to generate electric current.

A system comprises a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine has a flow diffuser system, a combustor, a modified compressor section, and a turbine coupled to a shaft. The system includes a low pressure intercooled compressor, a high pressure intercooled compressor, a recuperator, and a compressed air storage tank. The compressed air storage tank is in selective fluid communication with the low pressure intercooled compressor via the high pressure intercooled compressor, and the recuperator. The high pressure intercooled compressor is configured to selectively receive compressed air from the low pressure intercooled compressor and is further configured to selectively compress the compressed air to a highly compressed air for storage in the compressed air storage tank. Each of the compressed air storage tank and the low pressure intercooled compressor is selectively and fluidly coupled to the gas turbine engine.

A system comprises a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine has a flow diffuser system, a combustor, a modified compressor section, and a turbine coupled to a shaft. The system includes a low pressure intercooled compressor, a high pressure intercooled compressor, a recuperator, and a compressed air storage tank. The compressed air storage tank is in selective fluid communication with the low pressure intercooled compressor via the high pressure intercooled compressor, and the recuperator. The high pressure intercooled compressor is configured to selectively receive compressed air from the low pressure intercooled compressor and is further configured to selectively compress the compressed air to a highly compressed air for storage in the compressed air storage tank. Each of the compressed air storage tank and the low pressure intercooled compressor is selectively and fluidly coupled to the gas turbine engine.

In an embodiment, a method of modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine is provided. The gas turbine has a combustor, a compressor section, and a turbine section. The method comprises the step of modifying the compressor section of the gas turbine to form the storage engine. Air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a remote source of air. Modifying the compressor section includes removing at least some of a plurality of rotatable airfoils of a compressor of the compressor section and introducing an increased capacity thrust bearing on a shaft line.

In an embodiment, a method of modifying an existing gas turbine to create a storage engine is provided. The gas turbine has a combustor, a compressor section, and a turbine section. The method comprises the step of modifying the compressor section of the gas turbine to form the storage engine. Air supplied to the combustor of the storage engine is heated by exhaust of the storage engine and is supplied from a remote source of air. Modifying the compressor section includes removing at least some of a plurality of rotatable airfoils of a compressor of the compressor section and introducing an increased capacity thrust bearing on a shaft line.

A method of processing a stream of compressed air travelling between a gas compressor/expander subsystem and an underground accumulator in a compressed air energy storage system may include directing a thermal storage liquid through the first liquid flow path in a liquid charging flow direction from a thermal source reservoir toward a thermal storage reservoir whereby at least a portion of the thermal energy in the compressed air is transferred from the compressed air into the thermal storage liquid within the first reversible heat exchanger; including redirecting the compressed air through the first gas flow path in a gas discharging flow direction that is opposite the gas charging flow direction and redirecting the thermal storage liquid through the first liquid flow path in a liquid discharging flow direction whereby at least a portion of the thermal energy in the thermal storage liquid is returned into the compressed air.

A method of processing a stream of compressed air travelling between a gas compressor/expander subsystem and an underground accumulator in a compressed air energy storage system may include directing a thermal storage liquid through the first liquid flow path in a liquid charging flow direction from a thermal source reservoir toward a thermal storage reservoir whereby at least a portion of the thermal energy in the compressed air is transferred from the compressed air into the thermal storage liquid within the first reversible heat exchanger; including redirecting the compressed air through the first gas flow path in a gas discharging flow direction that is opposite the gas charging flow direction and redirecting the thermal storage liquid through the first liquid flow path in a liquid discharging flow direction whereby at least a portion of the thermal energy in the thermal storage liquid is returned into the compressed air.

A power generation system comprising a shared hot side thermal store, a shared cold side thermal store, a plurality of power subunits, and an electrical bus is disclosed. Each of the power subunits may connected or isolated from the shared hot side thermal store and/or the shared cold side thermal store.

A power generation system comprising a shared hot side thermal store, a shared cold side thermal store, a plurality of power subunits, and an electrical bus is disclosed. Each of the power subunits may connected or isolated from the shared hot side thermal store and/or the shared cold side thermal store.

The present disclosure relates to the field of energy storage, and provides a rapid-response energy storage system and a using method thereof. The system comprises an air storage chamber, a compressor unit, an expander unit, a compressor unit lubrication station, an expander unit lubrication station, a compressor unit oil cooler, an expander unit oil cooler, a compressor unit oil pump and an expander unit oil pump; an outlet of the compressor unit communicates with an inlet of the air storage chamber through a heating pipe inside the expander unit lubrication station, and an outlet of the air storage chamber communicates with a heating pipe inside the compressor unit lubrication station sequentially through a regulating valve and the expander unit; the compressor unit lubrication station, the compressor unit oil pump, an oil way inside the compressor unit and the high-temperature side of the compressor unit oil cooler are sequentially connected end to end to form a first oil circulation loop; and the expander unit lubrication station, the expander unit oil pump, an oil way inside the expander unit and the high-temperature side of the expander unit oil cooler are sequentially connected end to end to form a second oil circulation loop. According to the present disclosure, rapid responses can be achieved and the lubricating oil can be heated without the consumption of external thermal energy.