Energy Storage by Compressed Air

1
Energy Storage by Compressed Air

• D.J. Lehr, John Yarrish, Josh Bittle, Adam
  Botterbusch, Rob Fern, Dan Woodhead

2
Original Plan

• Using the energy from the solar panel, we will
  use a small air compressor to fill a 30 gallon
  air tank to 90 psi.
• Use the air in the tank to blow across a turbine
  to turn an alternator.
• The alternator will then produce electrical
  energy to turn the motor.

3
Schematic representation of system
4
Problems

• Fan Housing / Turbine
• Unable to reach goal pressure
• Alternator
• Leaks in Plugs
• Budget
• Testing
• Resistance in Coils

5
New Plan

• Use the solar panel to power 2 air compressors
• Dremel tool is attached to tank instead of
  turbine
• Dremel will turn a homemade alternator to produce
  the electrical energy

6
Alternator

• Alternator consists of 6 coils and 24 magnets
• Coils had at least 600 turns with a iron core
  (nails)

7
Other Materials

• 30 gallon air tank
• 2 air compressors
• Dremel Tool
• Air hose

8
Hard at Work
9

10

11
Budget

• 3 Air Compressors 147.00
• Air Tank 178.60
• Dremel tool 48.00
• Alternator
• Magnets 30.00
• Wire (24 gauge) 35.00
  Miscellaneous 50.00
• TOTAL 488.60

12
Ideal Budget

• 2 Air Compressors 98.00
• Air Tank 178.60
• Dremel tool 48.00
• Alternator
• Magnets 24.00
• Wire (24 gauge) 35.00
• Miscellaneous 20.00
• TOTAL 403.60

13
Energy storage by air compression in the world

• The worlds first compressed air energy storage
  plant was in Germany and the first in the United
  States was opened in 1991 in McIntosh, Alabama.
• The Alabama Electric Cooperative CAES plant works
  like this On nights and weekends air is pumped
  underground and compressed using low-cost
  electricity at pressures up to 1,078 pounds per
  square inch. Average air pressure level at sea
  level is only 14.7 pounds per square inch. During
  the day at peak times, air is released and heated
  using a small amount of natural gas. The heated
  air flows through a turbine generator to produce
  electricity.

14

• These plants are designed to store electricity in
  order to provide homes and businesses with
  electricity in a way that is safer for the
  environment by not using a lot of hazardous
  chemicals.
• There are plans in the making for a plant in
  Norton, Ohio, which, if built, will be the
  worlds largest compressed air energy storage
  plant
• This information was attained from
  http//www.aip.org/isns/reports/2001/025.html

The Alabama Electric Cooperative CAES plant works
like this On nights and weekends air is pumped
underground and compressed using low-cost
electricity at pressures up to 1,078 pounds per
square inch. Average air pressure level at sea
level is only 14.7 pounds per square inch. During
the day at peak times, air is released and heated
using a small amount of natural gas. The heated
air flows through a turbine generator to produce
electricity.