Coal-Fired CAES System Using Fluidized Bed Combustion

Utility requirements for peaking power can be addressed with coal through the unique marriage of the compressed air energy storage and fluidized bed combustion technologies. This paper discusses the results of an evaluation of a pressurized fluidized bed combustion system at air storage pressures from 27 to 68 atm. A conceptual design of the PFBC configuration in a CAES system is presented. Major components of the system are identified as either state-of-the-art or requiring further R and D. The performance of the compressed air energy storage system with an efficiency of 83.4% (based on coal input energy) is presented. The effects of recovery of rejected heat are discussed also.