Experimental investigation of the effect of piston mass on charging efficiency in the compressed air-gravity energy storage
Ragil Sukarno (1*) Astama Lalang Fawwaz (1), Siska Titik Dwiyati (1), Darwin Rio Budi Syaka (1), Agung Premono (1), Anif Jamaluddin (2), Indrianto Dicky Ismawan (1), Eldi Saputra (1)

1) Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Jl. Rawamangun Muka, Jakarta Timur 13220, Indonesia

2)Department of Physics Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia

Abstract

The intermittent electricity production from solar energy causes an increase in the need for energy storage technology. This research aims to determine the effect of piston mass on the charging efficiency of compressed air-gravity energy storage (CA-GES) in solar power plant applications. This research was conducted through experiments with a CA-GES prototype connected to an energy source from a solar power plant. The mass of the piston varied by 0.3 kg, 0.7 kg, and 2 kg, and the solar power source varied by 14.4 W, 15.5 W, and 22.6 W input power, with the target pressure on the CA-GES tank side of 2 bar. The results showed that the highest efficiency of 67% was obtained at an input power of 14.4 W and a piston mass of 2 kg. As the piston mass increases, the charging efficiency increases, increasing the electrical energy stored in the CA-GES energy storage system.

Keywords: solar energy- compressed air-gravity energy storage (CA-GES)- piston mass- charging- efficiency

Topic: Energy and Environmental Physics