Storing Wind Power Energy in Compressed Air Tanks Could Change the World

Daox · 05-28-14, 11:14 AM

An interesting idea. It doesn't sound real efficient, but if its cheap enough it might be viable.

Storing Wind Power Energy in Compressed Air Tanks Could Change the World

philb · 05-29-14, 05:17 PM

For storing wind or solar not connected to the power grid, this could be a viable option. In the photo, there are several couplings from the wind turbine and the electric motor. I can't help thinking how much that lowers the efficiency. On the other hand, if 100% of the power will otherwise be wasted, then why not?

There is a person on The Back Shed: Storing The Wind that said he has spent years using an air compressor driven by the wind.

Most sunny days my solar panels have the fork lift batteries on float by 1 pm. The charge controllers don't have a load to divert the excess energy to, so they shut the panels down. If I were to divert the load, it would be for the additional items still on grid, like the electric water heater and water well. Both of them together use about 8 kWh per day. I'm taking one step at a time...

oil pan 4 · 06-01-14, 01:00 AM

When you compress air you lose about 50% of the energy to heat generated just from compressing the air.
Not too efficient.

ecomodded · 06-01-14, 04:02 AM

If the heat caused by the air compression was recycled threw a heat exchanger the losses could be near zero , if I'm not mistaken ..

NeilBlanchard · 06-01-14, 07:19 AM

There are other storage methods, already tried and tested: pumped hydro is one. And grid batteries are starting to be used, with steady improvements in cost and capacity.

05-28-14, 11:14 AM	#1
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Storing Wind Power Energy in Compressed Air Tanks Could Change the World An interesting idea. It doesn't sound real efficient, but if its cheap enough it might be viable. Storing Wind Power Energy in Compressed Air Tanks Could Change the World Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-29-14, 05:17 PM	#2
philb Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 155 Thanks: 58 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts	For storing wind or solar not connected to the power grid, this could be a viable option. In the photo, there are several couplings from the wind turbine and the electric motor. I can't help thinking how much that lowers the efficiency. On the other hand, if 100% of the power will otherwise be wasted, then why not? There is a person on The Back Shed: Storing The Wind that said he has spent years using an air compressor driven by the wind. Most sunny days my solar panels have the fork lift batteries on float by 1 pm. The charge controllers don't have a load to divert the excess energy to, so they shut the panels down. If I were to divert the load, it would be for the additional items still on grid, like the electric water heater and water well. Both of them together use about 8 kWh per day. I'm taking one step at a time... Last edited by philb; 05-29-14 at 05:25 PM..

06-01-14, 01:00 AM	#3
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	When you compress air you lose about 50% of the energy to heat generated just from compressing the air. Not too efficient.

06-01-14, 04:02 AM	#4
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	If the heat caused by the air compression was recycled threw a heat exchanger the losses could be near zero , if I'm not mistaken ..

06-01-14, 07:19 AM	#5
NeilBlanchard Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth Posts: 383 Thanks: 78 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	There are other storage methods, already tried and tested: pumped hydro is one. And grid batteries are starting to be used, with steady improvements in cost and capacity.