In the wave of building new power systems
If we say that pumped storage is...
The "big brother" in the energy storage sector
So, what about large-scale, long-term physical energy storage?
Compressed Air Energy Storage
It's precisely that "up-and-coming technology" which has become a key pillar of the energy transition.
Recently, documentaries such as "Miracle China" and "Beyond: Underground Energy Veins" have been widely broadcast on CCTV. The film features the world's first 300 MW-class compressed-air energy storage power station, hailed as a "super green power bank," which has set three world records in single-unit power capacity, energy storage scale, and conversion efficiency. It has achieved 100% domestic production of key core equipment and deep-space utilization products, making it a landmark project in China's energy transition.
Behind this critical national infrastructure project, LEO Pump Industry, as the primary supplier of pump equipment, provides comprehensive solutions—including circulating pumps, makeup water pumps, and miscellaneous pumps—covering all fluid transportation requirements across power plant cooling systems, makeup water systems, and drainage systems. These efficient, intelligent, and reliable customized fluid solutions enable the successful implementation of world-class energy storage projects.
project context
Yingcheng in Hubei Province flourished due to its salt industry. Over 500 years ago, a heavy rain breached the rock layers of Tuanshan Mountain, transforming the area into the nationally renowned "Salt Capital and Salt Sea."
As one of China's major production areas for well-mined salt, Yingcheng has developed over 40 million cubic meters of salt caverns underground—equivalent to the internal volume of 50 Fujian-class aircraft carriers!
The 300 MW-level compressed air energy storage power station in Yicheng, Hubei Province utilizes underground salt caverns from abandoned salt mines as gas storage facilities. During off-peak electricity demand periods, the system drives compressors to compress and store air; during peak demand periods, high-pressure air is released to drive turbine expanders for power generation. The entire process requires no combustion of fossil fuels, achieving truly zero carbon emissions.
This "air-powered battery" boasts a storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours and a system conversion efficiency of approximately 70%. It can perform an energy storage cycle of 8 hours followed by a release cycle of 5 hours daily, generating about 500 million kilowatt-hours annually—equivalent to saving over 150,000 tons of standard coal—and sufficient to meet the annual electricity needs of roughly 250,000 households.
Within this extensive and sophisticated system, the cooling water circulation serves as the lifeline ensuring stable operation of the compression energy storage and heat exchange systems—making LEO Pump Industry the trusted guardian of this critical infrastructure.
Project Challenges
For such a world-class project, the "Nengchu No.1" imposes stringent technical requirements on its high-and low-temperature cooling water circulation system.
①Extremely wide load adjustment range:
Frequent switching between compression and power generation modes requires the circulation pump to operate stably and efficiently across the entire rated flow range of 50%–150%, while preventing motor overload or overheating. This poses significant challenges to both the hydraulic model and power matching of the pump.
② Specialized pump adaptation for high-temperature operating conditions:
The project's heat storage and exchange system requires the delivery of high-temperature circulating water, demanding that suppliers possess advanced expertise in high-temperature heat network pumps and the capability to customize solutions for specialized process applications.
③ High-reliability customization requirements:
As the world's first integrated engineering system, this equipment must operate safely over extended periods in outdoor environments with alternating temperature conditions, while being equipped with highly automated variable-frequency control and intelligent monitoring systems that seamlessly integrate with the plant's DCS network.
④ Engineering challenges posed by extremely tight delivery timelines
Within just two months from signing the contract to delivery, the project required completing a full set of processes—including casting and welding of specialized materials, integration of a 10 kV high-voltage frequency conversion system, and comprehensive factory testing—putting the manufacturer's end-to-end rapid response capabilities and quality control standards to the test.
LEO solution
LEO is one of the leading suppliers of circulating cooling water pumps for large-scale thermal power generation units in China, holding a dominant position in the industry. For this project, leveraging nearly 70 years of technical expertise in large-scale customized pump solutions, LEO has developed a comprehensive set of high-and low-temperature circulating water pump solutions specifically tailored for "Nengchu No.1".
①Deepening of high-efficiency and energy-saving technologies:
LIO has supplied the Yingsheng project with GSX and GSE series single-stage, double-suction centrifugal pumps. These products have obtained China's National Grade 1 Energy Efficiency Certification and build upon the core technological strengths recognized by the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. With a hydraulic efficiency exceeding 90%, they deliver 3%–5% greater energy savings compared to conventional pump models.
This product series achieves a broader high-efficiency operating range through optimized flow channel design and impeller structure, enabling load regulation across 50%–150% of the rated flow rate while maintaining stable performance during transitions between compression and power generation modes.
② High-temperature resistant operation:
For high-temperature operating conditions in heat storage and exchange systems, LEO has installed three DSR high-temperature circulating water pumps specifically designed for extreme thermal environments. These pumps operate at 181°C with a rated flow rate of 1,195 m³/h and a head of 45 m, powered by a 1:1 variable-frequency drive system.
③Smart Operation:
LEO not only supplies the pump unit itself but also integrates a complete set of instrumentation and control systems. By configuring a 10 kV high-voltage frequency conversion device and a 380 V low-voltage frequency conversion control cabinet, intelligent stepless speed regulation for the pumps is achieved.
Additionally, sensing components such as temperature-resistant thermistors and vibration probes are installed at critical locations within the pump assembly, enabling real-time comprehensive monitoring of bearing temperature, vibration, and pressure. These systems are fully integrated into the plant-wide DCS system, achieving true "unattended operation with minimal personnel required for inspection."
LEO has also integrated a pump health monitoring platform into the equipment. Leveraging AI-driven data analysis, this platform provides early fault warnings, automatically generates system diagnostic reports, delivers comprehensive data support for energy efficiency optimization, and reduces operational costs by 30%.
④ Fast Delivery:
To meet the stringent two-month delivery deadline, LEO Pump Industry adopted a digital collaborative manufacturing approach, successfully completing critical processes—including customized production of large dual-suction pumps and welding of special materials—with exceptional quality, thereby passing the rigorous testing required for the world's first integrated pump system project.
Flow Towards The Future
With the full-capacity grid connection of "Nengchu No.1," the LEO pump unit operates around the clock above the underground salt cavern, ensuring the safe and efficient operation of this "super green power bank."
Since commissioning, the LEO pump unit has maintained consistently high reliability, reliably meeting the cooling and water-supply demands of the power plant's compressed energy storage system and heat storage/transfer system, thereby providing robust fluid support for achieving a 70% energy conversion efficiency in the "Energy Storage No.1" project and establishing it as a world-class benchmark in energy storage.
As the core equipment supplier for the world's first 300 MW-class non-combustion compressed air energy storage power station, LEO Pump Industry has once again demonstrated its technical expertise and brand reputation in the fields of advanced energy storage and power systems.
With meticulous craftsmanship and unwavering reliability, from traditional circulating pumps for thermal power plants to core auxiliary equipment for advanced energy storage systems, LEO Pump Industry has consistently focused on the efficient transportation and precise control of energy fluids. In response to the new integrated energy landscape encompassing generation, grid, load, and storage, Leo will continue to contribute its expertise through efficient and reliable smart fluid solutions, supporting the global green energy transition and China's "dual carbon" strategy.
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