Study on Integrated Operation Strategy for Air Generation, Storage, and Utilization in Compressed Air Station Systems

To address the low efficiency and high energy consumption of conventional industrial compressed air systems, this study proposes an optimized configuration integrating peak-shaving compression and air storage. The system adds a peak-shaving compressor and a large storage tank to the existing setup and operates mainly during low-tariff periods to store compressed air for peak and flat-load demand. A thermodynamic model was developed for both the baseline and retrofitted systems, and two operation strategies were evaluated. Strategy 1 operates only during off-peak periods, reducing daily electricity cost by about 63.6% but requiring a larger tank. Strategy 2 operates during both off-peak and flat periods, saving around 37.5% while significantly reducing storage volume, thus improving feasibility. The rated discharge pressure of the peak-shaving compressor shows a coupled influence: higher pressure increases energy use but lowers storage demand. Overall, the proposed system demonstrates strong economic benefits and operational flexibility under time-of-use tariffs and provides a reference for further integration of heat recovery and intelligent control.