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Capabilities and Experience
COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE
ESPC is the only company in the United States of America with practical experience in engineering, construction, testing and operation of a compressed air energy storage (CAES) plant and the CAES technology advancement. ESPC’s technical supervision of development of the first domestic 110‑MW CAES plant for Alabama Electric Cooperative encompasses feasibility and preliminary engineering studies; engineering and construction; startup and testing, initial commercial operation, and continuous monitoring and troubleshooting for operating improvements. The plant has been operating commercially since 1991 (see List of Publications 23, 25, 26, 31, 33, 36-72).
| EPRI Recognizes ESPC for "Outstanding Contribution to the Success of the First United States Compressed Air Energy Storage Plant." (EPRI Award Given 1991 in Mobile, AL). |
The CAES Technology is protected by the Following Patents:
· Retrofit of Simple Cycle Gas Turbines for Compressed Air Energy Storage Application
US Patent # 4,872,307
· Compressed Air Energy Storage Turbomachinery Cycle with Compression and Heat Recovery, Storage, Steam Generation and Utilization during Power Generation
US Patent # 4,765,142
· Compressed Air Turbomachinery Cycle with Reheat and High Pressure Air Preheating in Recuperator
US Patent # 4,885,912
· Utilization of Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustors for Compressed Air Energy Storage Application
US Patent # 4,936,098
· Advanced Recuperator
US Patent # 4,870,816
ESPC performed research, development, and engineering studies for EPRI and utilities, which included:
· Feasibility of Adding CAES Power Plants Into a Utility Generating Base
· Development and Evaluation of Advanced CAES Concepts, such as:
· 300‑MW CAES plant based on the W501 D5 combustion turbine
· Small capacity CAES for transmission and substation support. Ground-level air storage design
· ESPC Prepared Technical Sections of Bids for Non-Utility Generators in Response to Utility Power Solicitations for CAES Technology
· Involvement in These Projects Resulted in Unique Expertise, which Along with Proprietary Techniques and Software Puts ESPC in an Exceptional Position to Conduct CAES Feasibility and Preliminary Design Studies.
· ESPC personnel conducted feasibility studies for CAES in all types of underground storage geology: depleted gas fields, bedded salt, salt domes, mined hard rock, abandoned mines, and aquifers.
· ESPC developed close working relationships with turbomachinery suppliers and underground-storage contractors. ESPC's knowledge of integrating underground storage and turbomachinery is unique in the industry.
COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE
Alabama Electric
Cooperative’s 110-MW McIntosh Unit 1 CAES
110-MW CAES Plant Features:
- Rated at 110-MW Generation Output and 50-MW Compression Input
- 82.7-Percent Fuel Efficiency and 0.82 Charging Ratio (Electric Power) at Rated Load
- Normal Start and Load Within Thirteen Minutes (Eight For Emergency)
- Dresser-Rand Turbomachinery with Industrial Components Using Reheat Expanders, Intercooled Compressors and Recuperation
- Solution-Mined, Salt-Dome Air Storage Supports 2,600 MWh Energy Production at 100-MW Load
- Wellhead Storage Pressures Range 690 to 1074 Psig
- Excellent Part Load Fuel Efficiency
- Output Insensitive to Ambient Variations
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