The first heat exchanger of Unit 2 of the world’s largest salt cavern compressed air energy storage power plant has been successfully hoisted into place

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Date: Before September 16, 2025, the first heat exchanger for Unit 2 of the Huaneng Jintan 2×350 MW salt cavern compressed air energy storage power generation project, which was constructed by Shandong Electric Power Construction Company No. 1, was successfully installed, marking the start of the installation of the unit’s equipment and signaling that the project has entered a new phase. As a key component of non-afterburning compressed air energy storage power plants, the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger directly affects the power generation efficiency of the unit. The heat exchanger area of Unit 2 in this project is mainly divided into the expansion side heat exchanger zone and the inter-compressor section heat exchanger zone for rows A/B. In total, over 40 core devices such as clip-type and shell-and-tube heat exchangers have been designed and installed there. What was lifted into place this time is a shell-and-tube heat exchanger for gas-water heat exchange on the expansion side, with a length of 21.4 meters and a weight of 152.5 tons; it is the largest and heaviest heat exchanger device in terms of specifications in this system, making its lifting process challenging and requiring high precision for proper positioning. To ensure the smooth progress of the equipment installation work, the Huaneng Jintan project team of Shandong Electric Power Construction Company No.1 carried out advance planning and simulation exercises in line with the delivery schedule for the heat exchangers. It meticulously organized and systematically planned various tasks such as the preparation and approval of lifting plans, the placement of lifting machinery, the coordination of site roads, and the allocation of personnel and equipment. Safety briefings were provided to the staff in advance, and verification was conducted at each stage. By overcoming challenges such as limited working space and large equipment dimensions, the team successfully completed the unloading, lifting, and installation of the heat exchangers under the continuous supervision of the project owner’s and supervisor’s personnel, thus laying a solid foundation for further work. As a new type of long-duration energy storage power plant, the Huaneng Jintan 2×350 MW salt cavern compressed air energy storage power generation project is expected to undergo 330 charge/discharge cycles per year, with energy storage lasting 8 hours and power generation lasting 4 hours. During charging at the power plant, the high-quality compression heat generated during air compression is recovered using the inter-stage compressor heat exchanger. When the power plant generates electricity (discharges power), the stored compression heat is utilized to heat the compressed air released from the salt caverns through the expansion side heat exchanger, which in turn drives an air turbine generator to produce electricity. This entire process does not require the use of fossil fuels, enabling efficient utilization of resources and zero carbon emissions while avoiding environmental pollution. It is reported that this project is currently the compressed air energy storage power station with the highest single-unit power, the largest total capacity, and the best overall efficiency in the world. It can store 2.8 million kWh of electricity after a single charge, and its annual power generation capacity will reach 924 million kWh. This equates to a savings of 270,000 tons of standard coal and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 520,000 tons. It can effectively enhance the grid’s regulation capabilities and its ability to accommodate renewable energy, facilitating the efficient use of renewable resources. It provides energy storage support for the early achievement of China’s \"dual carbon\" goals and contributes to the country’s energy security strategy.