Transfer station equipment automatic lifting energy storage device

What is Lift Energy Storage Technology (LEST)?

Lift Energy Storage Technology (LEST) is a gravitational-based storage solution. It stores energy by lifting wet sand containers or other high-density materials using autonomous trailer devices. The system requires empty spaces on the top and bottom of the building.

Can lifts be used as energy storage devices?

There are several ghost towns where the lifts could be used as energy storage devices through Lift Energy Storage Technology (LEST). A review of ghost cities in China can be seen in Ref. . In some cases, the investors do not rent empty apartments because they want to be flexible to sell the flat any time they get a good price.

How to recover energy from elevator systems?

Energy recovery from elevators’ systems is proposed. Energy storage using supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries is implemented. Bidirectional power flow is controlled to use the stored energy as auxiliary supply to the load without exchanging with the grid. Emergency energy level is maintained and used in automatic rescue situation.

What is the proposed arrangement for the lift energy storage system?

An example of the proposed arrangement is presented in Table 1. Energy is stored as potential energy by elevating storage containers with an existing lift in the building from the lower storage site to the upper storage site. Electricity is then generated by lowering the storage containers from the upper to the lower storage site.

Which energy storage devices can be embedded on elevators?

Among the wide range of energy storage devices, only three are mature enough and well suited to be embedded on Elevators (i.e., batteries, supercapacitors and flywheels). Batteries have the best energy density, but a bad power density and provide slow dynamic cycles (more than 100 s).

Could lift energy storage technology be a viable alternative to long-term energy storage?

Conclusion Lift Energy Storage Technology (LEST) could be a viable alternative to long-term energy storage in high-rise buildings. LEST could be designed to store energy for long-term time scales (a week) to generate a small but constant amount of energy for a long time.