Technology
Harbin Electric equipment supports grid connection of 60 MW liquid-air storage project
The Golmud demonstration uses cryogenic air liquefaction and domestically supplied turbines, heat exchangers and compressor-drive equipment.
A 60 MW national liquid-air energy-storage demonstration project, described in the report as the world's largest of its kind, has recently connected to the grid and generated electricity. Harbin Electric Group developed and supplied its expansion-generator units, hairpin heat exchangers and drive motors for high-power air-compressor units. The report describes this as a major advance in China's domestic supply of core liquid-air storage technology and equipment.
Located in Golmud, Qinghai, the project was invested in and built by China Green Development. It is a National Energy Administration new-type storage pilot and demonstration project and a first-of-its-kind major energy-equipment project. Using air as the working medium, its core process liquefies air at an ultra-low temperature of -194°C, storing and releasing electrical and cooling energy at atmospheric pressure and cryogenic temperature. The development scales liquid-air storage from hundreds of kilowatts to tens of megawatts. The report states that the project has independently owned intellectual property and 100% domestically sourced equipment, with storage power and energy capacity leading the global liquid-air storage field and several core indicators at a world-leading level.
Harbin Turbine supplied the expansion-generator units and hairpin heat exchangers. The expander is described as the world's highest-power liquid-air storage turbine, with rapid start response and low life-consumption losses, designed for the frequent starts and stops required by storage operation.
Harbin Electric Power Equipment supplied drive motors for the high-power air-compressor units. As core drive equipment, these motors enable electrical-energy conversion and air-liquefaction storage. Their efficient, stable operation directly affects the conversion efficiency and reliability of the complete system, demonstrating China's domestic development and supply capability for high-end energy equipment. Reporter: Xue Jing.