Overview of CAES technology and vendors
Current experimental systems aim to be more efficient. Isothermic systems use a coolant to absorb hear, keeping the air at a near constant temperature. The coolant, stored separately, is tapped later to give back the energy through a heat exchange system. Others, known as adiabatic, allow the temperature of the compressed air to rise and fall, using the air, when hot, to warm heat storage units that retain energy within the system.