Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Solar-Store (Solar Powered Thermochemical Heat Storage System)

Teaser

Thermal energy storage (TES) can play a pivotal role in synchronizing energy demand and supply in buildings. Thermochemical (i.e. Water sorption based) heat storage (THS) has higher storage density than SHS and LHS. In THS, thermochemical energy can be stored independent of...

Summary

Thermal energy storage (TES) can play a pivotal role in synchronizing energy demand and supply in buildings. Thermochemical (i.e. Water sorption based) heat storage (THS) has higher storage density than SHS and LHS. In THS, thermochemical energy can be stored independent of the time without any heat loss, permitting solar energy storage during the summer to meet heating demand in winter. This fellowship would enable the design, optimization, construction and testing of a first-of-its-kind prototype efficient thermochemical heat storage system using novel nano-composite sorption materials and solar air collectors for short/long (seasonal) term storage of solar energy in domestic and industrial applications.
The project has fully achieved its objectives and milestones for the period.
The overall objective of the project is to investigate a new thermochemical cooling and heating system suitable for building application/built environment. In comparison to the typical desiccant system, this project explored the use of endothermic thermochemical cooling system for practical building application which eliminated the need of complicated system and issues in regard to desiccant leakage. Meanwhile, for the thermochemical heat storage system, the aim of this research is to propose innovative composite materials to optimise the performance of a THS system. Up to the current review report, this will be performed by investigating innovative salts mixture into composite materials and also optimising the potential of TES system by combining with suitable highly porous materials as composite THS materials.
Furthermore, for TES heating system, suitable reactor designs developed and tested.
The prototype is used for demonstration of novel energy systems/technologies. the Demonstration/field testing of the prototype are under real building-climatic contexts.

Work performed

main work for the whole period include:
•Research on composite sorption material development and characterization
•Research of composite material testing and selection
•Research of fundamental mechanisms of charging-discharging cycles based on different sorbents and operating conditions)
• Research of computer modelling optimisation for the energy storage system
•Solar-Store system components for prototype
•Prototype of the Solar-Store system constructed
•Prototype of the energy storage system installed and commissioned for field trial
• on the performance of the system integrated with Creative Energy Homes
• on economic and environmental analyses
•Final project report


The research resluts are summarised as follows:
(1) To evaluate the heating (3927.6MJ/year) demand of a n-Zero carbon building in the UK using IES software.
(2) To conduct a comprehensive literature survey on potential thermochemical materials that can be used for heating application, and also to do further optimised for thermochemical heat storage application.
(3) To perform material characterisation analysis for new composite thermochemical materials for heating application. The characterisation analysis includes energy density analysis using SDT-Q600, materials density with MIP and materials structure with SEM.
(4) To select the most promising materials based on the following characteristics.
(5) By doing characteristics analysis, V-MgSO4-CaCl2 was tested to have the highest energy density (1173.5J/Kg) and the lowest regeneration temperature (62 áµ’C). These two characteristics are the most crucial property required from the samples, it shows good potential for use in open THS systems.
(6) In the propotype test, the output temperature was 38 áµ’C at a RH 63% with 16kg V-MgSO4-CaCl2.

Final results

The proposed system creates a compact “footprint” energy storage system increasing the economic feasibility as a result of storing solar energy in sorption materials free of heat loss at ambient temperature. This heat storage method enables long term storage of solar energy. The proposed innovative solar-powered thermochemical heat storage system offers:
• An opportunity to enrich the portfolio of effective and efficient storage technologies with potential for a wider range of applications in the UK, European worldwide countries.
• To reduce location and economic constraints on energy storage systems through an environmentally friendly, cost-effective and compact solar thermal energy system for space heating needs.
• Fast development, commercial take-up and/or wide deployment of innovative thermal energy solutions (products, processes, services, business models etc.) in enabling and industrial technologies and/or for tackling societal challenges
• Strengthening the European industrial technology base, thereby creating growth and jobs in Europe
• Reducing life-cycle environmental impact
• Contributing to solving the global climate and energy challenges, and improving EU energy security
• Leveraging more private investment into research and/or innovation
During the fellowship, transfer of knowledge and training are of clarity and quality between Prof. Yuan and the University of Nottingham on thermochemical energy storage system in building applications. Prof. Yuan participated in some academic conferences and seminars. 1 scientific journal papers and 2 conference papers were published in international journals and conferences. He got many training on experimental skills and modelling software as well.
The achievements will contribute to energy storage system in scientific theory and application technology. Application of the novel thermochemical energy storage system on the eco-buildings in Europe could also increase customer awareness and bring the low carbon or zero energy building idea to be realized

Website & more info

More info: https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/grants/744914.