Research Fields and Orientations

Large-scale energy storage technology research and development, particularly novel air energy storage technology, cold storage and heat storage systems and materials, and micro pumped hydroelectric storage systems.

Scientific research instruments and equipment

The National Energy Large-Scale Physical Energy Storage Research and Development Center was officially approved in 2014, and established a large-scale energy storage integrated measuring and testing platform funded by the central budget.

The measurement platform of the 15 kW advanced energy storage system in Zhongguancun has been modified and extended appropriately. The construction of the energy output subsystem has been completed and the subsystem docked with the measurement platform. The piston expander has been built. Meanwhile, the power interface was added, and stage experiments of the phase-change-material thermal storage unit were carried out.

The optimal update of the 1.5MW advanced energy storage system platform in Langfang (in Hebei province) was carried out, including improvements to the control system of the M-type compressor, the addition of a renewable energy simulator and speed regulator and frequency converter, and designing and manufacturing the second and third heat exchanger of the compressor. The central control system has also been modified, with the installation of an automatic control system to control the energy output system. Meanwhile, dynamic measurement equipment for the turbine PXIe was procured.

Major Achievements of 2014

The project ‘The technological development and fundamental research of the advanced CAES system’ passed CAS’s science evaluation and won first prize of the Science and Technology Award of Beijing. Meanwhile it was included in CAS’s annual report on its greatest achievements in 2013. The project ‘The fundamental research of large-scale supercritical CAES systems’ was chosen as a ‘National 973 Project’, which advanced the development of supercritical CAES technology.

Organization and Personnel

The Center currently has 30 employees, including 2 from the Hundred Talent Plan, 1 from the Youth Outstanding Talents Program of the Organization Department of the CPC, 1 from the Youth and Midlife Technological Innovative Leaders of MOST, 4 research professors, and 4 associate research professors and senior engineers. There are 2 postdoctoral researchers and 8 graduate students, including 5 doctorate students and 3 masters students.

Transfer and Industrialization of Technological Achievements

By holding the world’s leading CAES technology and intellectual property rights, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, CAS set up Zhong-ke-Shuangliang Energy Storage Systems Company Limited and Zhong-ke-Aolung Energy Saving Systems Company Limited in Beijing.

Patents and paper

Twenty-two papers were published in 2014, including 15 indexed by SCI. 8 national invention patents and 7 utility model patents were applied for, and 1 international patent, 4 national invention patents and 10 utility model patents were granted.

International Cooperation and Exchanges

In 2014, 7 people went abroad for academic exchange and inspection of project progress. 8 people participated in international academic conferences and 4 foreign scholars were invited to give lectures in IET.

Dean: CHEN Haisheng         Tel: 86-10-82543148         E-mail: chen_hs@iet.cn

An experimental platform of the piston expander