Thermodynamic and hydrodynamic response of compressed air energy storage reservoirs: a review

Installation of large-scale compressed air energy storage (CAES) plants requires underground reservoirs capable of storing compressed air. In general, suitable reservoirs for CAES applications are either porous rock reservoirs or cavern reservoirs. Depending on the reservoir type, the cyclical action of air injection and subsequent withdrawal produces temperature and pressure fluctuations within the reservoir. An accurate prediction of these fluctuations is essential for the design of the reservoir and its associated turbomachinery. Being mutually dependent, the selection of the turbomachinery and reservoir characteristics must be conducted simultaneously to obtain an integrated cost-effective plant. The present review is intended to encompass the pertinent literature on the temperature and pressure variations within CAES reservoirs. The principal experimental and operational data sources are described, as well as important results of theoretical modeling efforts. Conclusions derived from those investigations and their relevance to CAES plant designs are discussed.