Preliminary Modeling of a Building Scale Liquid Air Energy Storage System with Aspen HYSIS

Abstract

Solar and wind power generation suffer from intermittency. Consequently, renewable-powered micro-grids often use a traditional electrical grid or an energy storage system to fill the power gaps. Liquid air energy storage (LAES) is a promising method for scalable energy storage. Liquid air energy storage systems (LAESS) combine three mature technologies: cryogenics, expansion turbines, and induction power generation into a system of systems. The resultant behavior of this complex system is difficult to predict through traditional analysis alone. Aspen HYSYS, an industrial process modeling and simulation package, was used to create a model of a building- scale cryogenic system based on a Linde-Hampson cycle. Steady-state cryogenic operations were simulated and model output was validated against a theory-based fundamental comparison. This basic model will be expanded to include power generation. The updated model will then be used to implement a parametric, model-based systems engineering approach to design a LAES system for integration into the renewable-powered micro-grid at the Naval Postgraduate School’s turbo- propulsion lab to counter intermittency. This work is part of a larger effort to evaluate the efficacy of potential energy storage solutions for Naval Facilities or Forward Operating Bases (FOB).