ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
During off-peak periods at night , the base-load electricity generated by large-scale power plants should be stored and delivered during the day , at peak load times . This was the task of the Huntorf compressed air energy storage power station , built in 1978 . In addition , the compressed air reservoir was also supposed to supply power stations with emergency power in the event of a power grid failure , as these also require start-up assistance in such situations . Today , completely new tasks await the old-timer of power stations .
Power station with “ depth ” above salt caverns
Pressure down below Compressed air energy storage sounds a little mundane . A little like compressed air cylinders . Pressure vessels of manageable dimensions . Those used in diving or as an air pressure dispenser at the gas station . But the scale on which the power station operators in Huntorf think has nothing to do with these small things . “ To create these caverns , two salt
The trick with compressed air
The heart of the plant is the powerful compressor that pumps compressed air into underground cavities . The energy required for this is supplied by regenerative power plants when they are producing more than can be taken by the power grid .
Compressor operation The compressor pumps air into the underground pressure reservoir when energy is to be stored
600 m
Turbine operation At peak load times , the compressed air is burned together with natural gas to drive a turbine for power generation
200 m
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UPDATE 6 / 20 The Phoenix Contact innovation magazine