ENERGY STORAGE IN THE FORM OF COMPRESSED AIR WITH AN AIR PVT FIELD : INFLUENCE OF INPUT PARAMETERS ON THE AIR RESERVOIR

Energetic

The use of compressed air, one of the alternatives to the use of batteries as an innovative renewable energy (RE) storage solution, is characterised by a remarkable stored energy density (kWh.m- ³) and high reliability (days of operation) with no environmental impact. The compressed air stored in the reservoirs, during periods of excess production by the thermal air photovoltaic field (high insolation), is used to turn a Compressed Air Motor (CAM) for use during periods of low or no solar irradiation. Our work involves developing a numerical model capable of simulating a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system powered by a CPVTA air-cooled photovoltaic array and a system for cooling photovoltaic panels by using fresh air at the CAES outlet. In this paper, mathematical models for estimating the relevant reservoir parameters (the energy stored in the reservoir, the useful energy stored, the utilisation factor of the stored pressure, the volume of the air reservoir, the reservoir charge time, the reservoir discharge time and the volume of air produced in the reservoir) are developed. The study concludes with analyses of the influences of the CAES-CPVTA system input parameters on the compressed air storage tank, such as : global solar irradiation, the power of the photovoltaic panel field, the number of compressor and MAC stages, and the maximum and minimum stored pressure.

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