Storing wind mill energy in something other than an electric battery

pengyou

Has any research been done recently on storing wind mill energy in something other than an electric battery - such as pressuring a hydraulic tank? or air tank? What are terms that I can use to google this idea?

stephendv

Re: Storing wind mill energy in something other than an electric battery

compressed air energy storage
pumped hydro energy: storing energy by pumping water between 2 dams/lakes/tanks at different heights

Interesting reading, but I think you'll find that the most economical storage in terms of $/kWh/year is the good old lead acid battery.

BB.

Re: Storing wind mill energy in something other than an electric battery

There have been many types of projects that stored compressed air (from air tanks and wind powered air pumps) to large underground salt caverns (compressed air has been used as feed air for natural gas turbines--increases efficiency/shaft horse power because the turbine does not have to run the turbo compressor while using "pre-compressed" air).

Compressed air storage in tanks
Compressed Air Energy Storage in Salt Caverns

Pure hydraulic storage (accumulator in a vehicle size system) is probably best for storing small amounts of energy. Such as braking energy for delivery trucks:

http://fleetowner.com/running-green/hybrid-hydraulic-delivery-trucks-arrive

Unless you include reverse pumping for stored water behind dams... Then you have very large scale energy storage with a known infrastructure (reversible hydro electric power).

Pumped-storage hydroelectricity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

One thing that always seemed a bit odd/over hyped were compressed air only powered vehicles.

MDI Enterprises S.A. - Air compressed cars - Flowair - Clean cars

and there are projects that are more of the "Prius" compressed air versions (storing braking energy/short distances):

A Hybrid Car that Runs on Air | Peugeot Citroen Uses Compressed ...

There are other uses for Wind Turbines that drive small air compressors... For air lift pumps:

http://www.koenderswindmills.com/Koenders_Windmills_FreeAir.html

Brumbert Airlift Water Pump - YouTube

So, what is it you are looking for?

-Bill