Experimental demonstration of a dispatchable latent heat storage system with aluminum-silicon as a phase change material

Rea, Jonathan E.; Oshman, Christopher; Singh, Abhishek K.; Alleman, J.; Parilla, Philip A.; Hardin, Corey; Olsen, Michele L.; Siegel, Nathan P.; Ginley, David S.; Toberer, Eric S.

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.09.017

Cited by 38 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Another promising energy storage approach relies on TES, [ 11,17 ] which can similarly be integrated with the Na‐TEC to form a distributed‐CSP system. Figure 1c shows the on‐sun and off‐sun operations of this configuration.…”

Section: Na‐tec Distributed‐csp Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Cost‐Performance Analysis of a Sodium Heat Engine for Distributed Concentrating Solar Power

Gunawan

Singh

Simmons

et al. 2020

Advanced Sustainable Systems

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

also an option. [3] Instead of burning fuels, concentrating solar power (CSP) [4] can be used to deliver the heat and power in such systems, enabling a carbon-neutral mCHP system. Furthermore, the use of solid-state technologies, such as Na-TEC, to convert energy from CSP exhibits key advantages over the more mature and economically viable turbomachinery used in current CSP systems. [5] In addition to being carbonneutral, the principle difference between solid-state energy conversion and turbomachinery is the lack of moving parts, which can strongly impact the system lifespan and maintenance requirements, and by extension, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). A sodium thermal electrochemical converter (Na-TEC), which is a special variant of an alkali metal thermal-electric converter, [6] can theoretically achieve thermodynamic conversion efficiencies above 45% and rejects heat at a sufficiently high temperature (≈550 K), [7] making it amenable to mCHP applications. [8] Na-TECs convert heat directly into electricity, without moving parts, via the isothermal expansion of Na ions through a beta″-alumina solid-electrolyte (BASE). [6] In the Na-TEC, heat vaporizes Na near ambient pressure in an evaporator. A thermally generated pressure difference drives Na ions through the converter. At the triple phase boundary of Na-anode-BASE, the Na atoms ionize (Na → Na + + e − ) and the electrons simultaneously traverse an external load. A thermally generated pressure difference drives Na ions through the converter. The electrons and ions then recombine on the cathode-BASE interface and the Na atoms return to the vapor phase at lower pressure. This low pressure Na vapor is then cooled and condensed to the liquid phase in a condenser and a wick passively returns the liquid Na to the evaporator. The isothermal ion expansion process, where heat is directly converted to work, is responsible for the high ideal efficiency of this cycle. In one of our separate publications, [7] we reviewed the technical operation of this conventional single-stage Na-TEC and revisited the equations that describe it in more detail. We also reviewed and discussed the key factors and challenges that affect the performance of singlestage Na-TEC. More recently we showed that a multistage Na-TEC can achieve a high practical conversion efficiency by lowering the average device temperature, which in turn reduces A sodium thermal electrochemical converter (Na-TEC) generates electricity directly from heat through isothermal expansion of sodium ions across a beta″-alumina solid-electrolyte. This heat engine has been considered for use with conventional concentrating solar power (CSP) systems before. However, unlike previous single-stage devices, the improved design uses two stages with an interstage reheat, allowing more economical and efficient conversion up to 29% at a hot side temperature of 850 °C. Herein, a cost-performance analysis for this improved design assesses opportunities for distributed-CSP in the context of micro-combined heat and power syste...

show abstract

Section: Na‐tec Distributed‐csp Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Cost‐Performance Analysis of a Sodium Heat Engine for Distributed Concentrating Solar Power

Gunawan

Singh

Simmons

et al. 2020

Advanced Sustainable Systems

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Pirasaci et al [24] developed a model to find critical design aspects for LTES using non-metallic PCMs with a melting temperature of around 500 • C. The model was validated experimentally and heat losses were considered through the energy balance of the heat transfer fluid. A full-scale thermal analysis of mPCM at high temperatures was performed by Rea et al [25,26]. Heat flow rates for a storage system with 100 kg of Al-12wt%Si were calculated based on many assumptions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulative Investigation of Thermal Capacity Analysis Methods for Metallic Latent Thermal Energy Storage Systems

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Latent heat storage systems are a promising technology for storing and providing thermal energy with low volume, mass and cost requirements, especially when operated at high temperatures. Metallic phase change materials are particularly advantageous for high thermal input and output, which is especially important for mobile applications. When designing a storage system, it is essential to have precise knowledge about the potential storage capacity. However, the system’s storage capacity is typically calculated from material properties determined at lab scale, although systemic boundary conditions can have a considerable influence. Systemic influences can result from thermal and reactive interfaces or from the storage design. In order to consider these influences, we propose three calorimetric procedures to thermally analyse high-temperature metallic latent energy storage systems at an application scale. We examined the procedures in a transient simulation environment, monitoring the storage capacity of the system. The procedure, based on adiabatic conditions, shows the least deviation from the simulation input parameters, but is limited to the heating process of the storage. Discharging the storage can be represented by isoperibolic conditions with controlled heat exchange. The precision of the procedures depends on the evaluation routine, the calibration routine, the heat extraction rate and the thermal inertia of the test bench.

show abstract

“…Metals and metal alloys are candidates for high temperature PCMs. Studies to estimate the capability of Mg-Zn, 19) Zn-Mg-Al, 20) Al-Si, 21,22) and Cu-Mg-Si 23) alloys were reported. Numerical simulation was used to mitigate exhaust heat flow from the electric arc furnace 12,24) and billet reheating furnace 25) using a metallic PCM.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fabrication of Heat Storage Pellets Consisting of a Metallic Latent Heat Storage Microcapsule and an Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Matrix

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Energy efficiency is fundamental in the steel industry. Latent heat storage (LHS) systems with phase change materials (PCM) are attractive technologies for the recovery and utilization of heat, especially for the development of high-temperature thermal energy storage system. This paper describes fabrication of LHS pellets for high-temperature applications using metallic microencapsulated PCM (MEPCM). The LHS pellets consist of Al-Si PCM parts and an Al 2 O 3 matrix. The pellets were fabricated by mixing MEPCM with sinterable alumina. The powder mixture was then pelletized and sintered at different pressures and atmospheric conditions, respectively. Some MEPCM in the pellets remained spherical after being sintered at 1 000°C, a high-temperature condition above the PCM melting temperature. All fabricated pellets exhibited latent heat of PCM at the melting point of the PCM, about 577°C. The maximum value of latent heat was 73.5 J g − 1. This was observed for the LHS pellet pelletized at 20 MPa and sintered under O 2 atmosphere. Therefore, this study presents a great material for high-temperature thermal energy storage systems in the steel industry. KEY WORDS: steelmaking; high temperature waste heat recovery; phase change material.

show abstract

Experimental demonstration of a dispatchable latent heat storage system with aluminum-silicon as a phase change material

Cited by 38 publications

References 42 publications

A Cost‐Performance Analysis of a Sodium Heat Engine for Distributed Concentrating Solar Power

A Cost‐Performance Analysis of a Sodium Heat Engine for Distributed Concentrating Solar Power

Simulative Investigation of Thermal Capacity Analysis Methods for Metallic Latent Thermal Energy Storage Systems

Fabrication of Heat Storage Pellets Consisting of a Metallic Latent Heat Storage Microcapsule and an Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Matrix

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About