Experimental performance of a low cost micro-CAES generation system

•We adapted a turbocharger to work as a micro-CAES system.•We provide an experimental evaluation of this micro-CAES performance.•Overall experimental efficiency was up to 45%, and turbine efficiency 76%.

This work presents an experimental evaluation of a micro-CAES system performance, based on the 1st and 2nd laws of Thermodynamics. To build this micro-CAES system we adapted an automotive turbocharger, and also included a generator, an electrical circuit, and a lubricating system. As part of the experimental procedure, we measured the turbine inlet and outlet thermodynamic properties, also the generator power output and the mass flow rate. We imposed the turbine inlet pressure and the electrical load, obtaining as response the generator power output and the turbine outlet temperature. The proposed solution can operate reliably and safely up to 100,000 RPM without load, and 70,000 RPM with 3.5 kW of electrical power output. Overall efficiency was up to 45%, when operating with air at ambient temperatures without external sources of heat.