Gas turbine air storage system

Claim 2

Gas turbine air storage system with subterranean air storage space, for example, in a cavern formed in a salt stratum to which a bore hole extends, comprising a plurality of tubes including an outer protective tube extending through the bore hole into the air storage space, a lining for the bore hole spaced from and surrounding said outer protective tube, said lining and said outer protective tube defining therebetween an annular space therebetween communicating with the air storage space, means for withdrawing air from said air storage space through said protective tube, and means for feeding at least a partial flow of the air to said air storage space through said annular space as said air is fed to the air storage space, thereby providing a downward flow of air in said annular space to preclude corrosion in said annular space.

Claim 3

System according to claim 1 wherein said means for withdrawing air from said storage space includes a tube located within said outer protective tube in the bore hole and extending out of said protective tube above ground and communicating with a gas turbine for supplying combustion air thereto from said subterranean air storage space during useful output operation of the gas turbine, said air feeding means being operable during the useful output operation of the gas turbine for feeding a partial flow of fresh air through said annular space between said bore hole lining and said protective tube to said subterranean storage space.

Claim 4

System according to claim 1 including a heat-insulating, corrosion-resistant lining disposed on the inner surface of said protective tube.

Claim 5

System according to claim 1 wherein said inner lining of said protective tube consists of synthetic resin.

Claim 6

System according to claim 1 including control means for maintaining the temperature of the air fed into the subterranean storage space at a value within the temperature limits of the ambient earth formation in which the air storage system is located.

Claim 7

System according to claim 1 including means for admixing metered doses of corrosion-resistant medium to fresh air being fed from above-ground to the subterranean air storage space.

Claim 8

System according to claim 1 wherein said means for withdrawing air from said air storage space is also used for feeding air to said storage space, said withdrawing and feeding means including a first conduit means in communication with said protective tube and extending out of said protective tube, said first conduit means being in communication with a gas turbine for supplying combustion air thereto from said subterranean air storage space and in communication with a supply of air to be stored, said feeding means including a second conduit means in communication with said annular space for feeding air to said annular space and a third conduit means between said first conduit means and said second conduit means for directing a partial flow of air from said first conduit means to said second conduit means as air is being fed to said storage tank through said first conduit means.

Claim 9

System according to claim 7 wherein said third conduit means includes a check valve permitting one-way flow from said first conduit means to said second conduit means.

Claim 10

System according To claim 7 wherein said third conduit means includes a control valve to meter the amount of partial flow of air being diverted from said first conduit means to said second conduit means.

Claim 11

System according to claim 8 wherein said second conduit means has a pipe supplying air to said second conduit means, whereby air is fed to said annular space both through said pipe and through said check valve in said third conduit means.