A compressed-air energy- storage system is disclosed, comprising: a variable- nozzle expander (115, 115 A) configured to receive an airflow at a first pressure and partially expand said airflow at a second pressure, said second pressure being lower than said first pressure, expansion of said airflow in said variable-nozzle expander producing useful mechanical power; a heat generator component (125) configured to receive a fuel and a partially expanded airflow from the variable-nozzle expander (115, 115 A); a turbine (131) configured to receive combustion gas from the heat generator component (125) and expand the combustion gas producing useful mechanical power.
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