Compressed air energy storage (CAES) has been widely considered as a kind of energy storage device. CAES has the advantages of large capacity, fast dynamic response, long service life and low pollution to the environment. Synchronous generator is the mainstream way for CAES connecting to power system. Flexible excitation system based synchronous generator can benefit to compressed air energy storage in many regards, and conventional startup scheme cannot totally eliminate the inrush current in this case. A novel no-impact startup scheme is proposed, which can completely remove the impact of inrush current. The simulations and the experimental tests are carried out to compare the no-impact start up scheme with the conventional start up scheme, and the results demonstrate the superiority of the no-impact startup scheme.

Compressed air energy storage, flexible excitation system, inrush current, no-impact startup scheme.