Numerical Study: Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of the Pipe-Pile-Based Micro-Scale Compressed Air Energy Storage (PPMS-CAES)

Authors

• Omar Al-Kaseasbeh, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Seunghee Kim

Date of this Version

Fall 12-3-2021

Document Type

Article

Citation

Al-Kaseasbeh, Omar. Numerical Study: Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of the Pipe-Pile-based Micro-Scale Compressed Air Energy Storage (PPMS-CAES).2021.University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Master Thesis.

Comments

A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science, Major: Civil Engineering, Under the Supervision of Professor Seunghee Kim. Lincoln, Nebraska: December, 2021

Copyright 2021 Omar Al-Kaseasbeh

Abstract

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) has been re-emerging as a viable energy storage option in the last decades. The pipe-pile-based micro-scale compressed air energy storage (PPMS-CAES), which uses building foundations (pipe piles) as an energy storage vessel, is a new concept proposed in recent years. PPMS-CAES can be applied to achieve either the building-to-grid (B2G) or building-to-renewable energy (B2R) integration, and thus, to make a lasting impact on resilient power systems, environmental conservation, and sustainable infrastructures. In this study, a small-scale laboratory test was conducted using a model test pile to observe the thermodynamic aspects of a pipe pile during the cyclic operation of compressed air charge-and-discharge as well as to provide data to verify a simulation model. Mineral oil was examined as a sensible heat storage media. Afterward, a finite-element-based numerical simulation model (COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6) was constructed to study the thermodynamic and thermo-mechanical responses of a field-scale pile, soil, and air during the air charge-discharge processes. The numerical study results suggest that the mechanical integrity and serviceability of the pipe pile would not be compromised by operating this concept, while it promises a competitive energy storage capacity. The air discharge is not observed to incur severe temperature drop on the pipe pile; on the other hand, significant temperature decreases in the discharged air itself show a potential of additional functionality for an AC unit.

Advisor: Seunghee Kim