Does energy storage in liquid air technology pass the laugh test?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the feasibility of liquid air energy storage technology, particularly following a UK company's $10 million funding to develop it. Participants question the efficiency of air liquefaction machines and their potential as a competitive energy storage solution. The conversation highlights the importance of integrating this technology with high-efficiency compressors for carbon sequestration and co-generation applications. Additionally, it notes that cold climate regions may enhance the efficiency of air liquefaction processes.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of liquid air energy storage technology
  • Knowledge of thermoelectric generators
  • Familiarity with air liquefaction processes
  • Insight into carbon sequestration and co-generation systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the efficiency metrics of air liquefaction machines
  • Explore advancements in high-pressure compressors for carbon sequestration
  • Investigate the economic viability of liquid air energy storage in cold climates
  • Examine case studies of co-generation applications utilizing liquid nitrogen
USEFUL FOR

Energy engineers, investors in renewable technologies, and researchers focused on innovative energy storage solutions will benefit from this discussion.

cave_cat
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a UK company got $10M to build it, see here http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/liquid-air-for-utility-scale-energy-storage/ . Can this be at least hypothetically feasible or is it more like pure quackery for stupid investors?

ETA: to clarify, I don't doubt that it would "work" the same way as thermoelectric generator "works". The question is about the reasonableness of this kind of thermal machine as an efficient energy storage. Are air liquefaction machines sufficiently efficient nowadays that you can lose some energy on liquefaction, then lose some more energy on the limitations of the heat engine and still output big enough percentage of energy input to make it a meaningful grid storage technology?
 
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All large energy storage systems are expensive. This one may be competitive, especially if they team up with one of the companies currently developing very efficient high volume high pressure compressors for carbon sequestration. They could combine this with any number of co-gen applications. This liquid nitrogen might even be made largely as a byproduct of another highly profitable commodity.
 
This air liquification should be most efficient in cold climate areas with their cold and dry air, by which heat rejected can be utilized for other needs.
 

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