Thermal Energy Storage : Methods and Materials

Dr. P. Muthukumar
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Guwahati - 781039,
781039 INDIA
Email: pmkumar@iitg.ernet.in 1
 About IITG
Located in the Gateway of
North – Eastern Part of India
Started 1995, established
during 2005.
Beautiful campus among
other IITS. Located on the
river bank on Brahmaputra.
Campus is surrounded by
many y Hills and Lakes.
Campus size about 700 acr.
8 Engg and 4 Science
Departments
About 6000 students, 300 IIT M

faculty and 500 supporting

staffs
Over million migratory
bi d wild
birds, ild cats,
t etc.
t
2
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
 3
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
 Out line of Presentation

TES concepts and methods

Types TES techniques
Steam accumulator
Reversible chemical heat storage (Metal
hydride based thermal energy storage)
World wide status of TES systems
Proposed TES system for Solar PAN IIT

4
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
 Thermal Storage Systems
Thermal energy storage (TES) systems correct the mismatch
between the supply and demand of energy.

Types : Sensible, Latent and Reversible Chemical Storage

Benefits

Increase system reliability: To reduce the peaks of energy generation

Increase generation capacity: The excess generation available

during low demand periods can be used to charge a TES in order to
high demand
increase the effective generation capacity during high-demand
periods. The result is a higher load factor for the plants, helping to
generate energy in a stable way.

Reduction of costs of generation: Seasonal demands can be

matched with the help of TES systems that operate synergistically.

5
 Sensible Heat Storage Materials
Essential requirements
o High thermal capacity (ρCp)
o High melting point (large operating temperature)
o High thermal conductivity
o Stability
o Low
L costt

Commonly
y used sensible storage
g materials ((Solid))
Storage medium Operating Heat capacity, kJ/kg-K
temperature, °C [k]
Reinforced concrete 400 0.85 [1.5]
NaCl (solid) 500 0.85 [7]
Cast iron 400 0.56 [37]
Cast steel 700 0.6 [40]
Silica fire bricks 700 1.00 [1.5]
Magnesia fire bricks 1200 1.15 [5]

High thermal conductivity and

Low cost volumetric storage capacity
 Molten Salts (Sensible liquid Heat Storage Materials)

Best: 60% NaNO3 + 40% KNO3

Solar Salt : Freezing point 220°C

Source:
Hoshi et al.,
Solar Energy
79; 332-339,
2005.

oAActs
t as HHeatt ttransfer
f flfluid
id from
f solar
l concentrator
t t to t steam
t
generator and also heat storage medium
o Heat storage : Active storage
 Latent Heat Storage Materials
Requirements
# High heat of fusion # High thermal conductivity #Low cost

MgCl2/KCl/NaCl; KOH; Suffer from low

KNO3; KNO3/KCl; NaNO3 thermal conductivity
y
Yet to be explored
Integration of graphite
enhance k up to
10 W/mK.

Source:
Hoshi et al.,
Solar Energy
79; 332-339,
2005.

Features: High energy density ; Temperature ranges are

flexible, Optimal utilization of the storage materials
Proposed phase change materials (PCM) for
cascade heat storage in the temperature range up to
380°C are NaNO3, KNO3/ KNO3, KOH and MgCl2 is
proposed.
proposed

A schematic of the cascade latent heat storage

9
 Techniques of Thermal Storage

Active Heat storage :

o Characterized
C by fforced convection heat transfer.
f
o Heat storage medium circulates in the solar field
o High heat transfer rate, more effective
o But, high cost; freezing in solar panels

Direct Active storage : Heat transfer fluid itself serves as

storage (Hot and cold tank)

Indirect Active storage : Heat transfer fluid which is

circulated in the solar panel is different from the one used in
storage. i.e. heat transfer fluid transfer heat to secondary
fluid which acts as storage
fluid,

Passive Heat Storage : Storage medium is fixed. Heat transfer

fl id passes th
fluid through
h storage
t medium
di only
l during
d i charging
h i andd
discharging time. e.g. solid storage and PCM.
 Direct active Two –Tanks Thermal Storage System
o Hot and cold fluids are stored separately
o No additional heat exchanger o Freezing of salt (120-220°C)
o Fast heat transfer o Auxiliary heater is required
to maintain the temperature
60% NaNO3 + 40% KNO3
~450°C above freezing during night
time and adverse weather
~450°C conditions

Schematic of Solar Thermal Power Plant with direct active two –tanks
thermal storage system (Solar Tres, Sevilla; source: Gil et al. (2010), Renewable
and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14; 31-35.)
 Active indirect single tank thermal storage system
o Hot and cold fluids are stored in the same tank
o Hot and cold fluids are separated because of the stratification effect
o Controlled charging and discharging are necessary to maintain the stratification
o Filler material such as quartzite and silica sand used to help thermocline

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Gil et al. (2010), Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14; 31-35
 STEAM ACCUMULATORS
Steam accumulators are specially
p y suited to meet the requirements
q for
buffer storage in solar steam systems, providing saturated steam at
pressures up to 100 bar.

DSG with integrated steam

Direct steam generation (DSG) in
accumulator also used as
parabolic troughts with integrated steam
h
phase separator
t
accumulator (Direct heat storage)
13
W.D. Steinmann and M.Eck, Solar Energy 80 (2006) 1277–1282
 STEAM ACCUMULATORS
Steam accumulators provide During the discharge there is a
saturated steam. If superheated drop in the pressure of the steam. To
steam is needed, a avoid this, the integration of
secondd storage
t system
t mustt be
b PCM into the storage vessel to
connected to the exit of the steam replace partly the liquid water
accumulator

Saturated Steam

Steam accumulator and sensible St

Steam accumulator
l t with
ith integrated
i t t d
storage material latent heat storage material 14
W.D. Steinmann and M.Eck, Solar Energy 80 (2006) 1277–1282
 Ammonia-based solar thermochemical
energy storage system

2NH3 + Heat → N2 +3H2 (Charging mode)

3H2→ 2NH3 + Heat
N2 +3H H (Di
(Discharging
h i mode)
d )

Operating temperature: 500–860°C

Operating pressure : 10-25
10 25 Mpa
15
H. Kreetz and K. Lovegrove, Solar Energy Vol. 73, No. 3, pp. 187–194, 2002
 Reversible Chemical Heat Storage: Metal Hydride
• Intermetallic compounds formed alloying of different metals by
ball milling or melting.
Absorption (Exothermic)
Intermetallic + H 2 → Metal Hydride + Heat
15-75
Desorption (Endothermic)
kJ/mole H2
Intermetallic + H 2 ← Metal Hydride + Heat
Ab
Absorption
ti Desorption
i

Metal Hydride Applications

H d
Hydrogen St
Storage H2
Hydrogen Compressor
Refrigerator
H t pump
Heat
Thermal Energy Storage
Heat transformer Heat Heat

Heat driven mass transfer phenomenon

 Metal Hydride Based Heat Storage

o High storage capacity up to 2.2 MJ/kg of hydride

o No thermal insulation
o Long term storage
o Easy regeneration
H t exchange
Heat h
o High exergy efficiency

MH Reactor

Alloy
y ΔH
(kJ/mol. H2) Pd
V1
Mg+2% -74
74 V2 Pr
Ni Ps
MgNi -64.88
H2 Supply
Mg -74.46 17
Schematic of a Metal Hydride Reactor

18
 Test Setup of Heat Storage Device
 
 Effect of supply pressure on the amount of heat stored

4
30 bar
Mg + 30%MmNi4
Ta = 150 ˚C
J/kg)

3 m = 280 g
25 bar
stored (kJ

20 bar

15 bar
Amountt of heat s

2
10 bar

0
0 5 10 15 20
Time (min)
20
 Effect of supply pressure on thermal energy storage coefficient

0.8
C)
cient (TESC

0.7
age coeffic

0.6
nergy stora

05
0.5 Ta = 150 oC
Ta = 140 oC
Ta = 130 oC
0.4
0 Ta = 120 oC
Thermal en

Mg + 30%MmNi4
0.3 m = 280 g
T

0.2
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Supply pressure (bar)
21
Schematic of a
Pre industrial
Pre-industrial
Sacle Metal
Hydride Reactor
for Heat Storage
A li i
Application

22
 4 450

3.5 400
wt%) Ps

verage bed teemperature(°C)

20 bar 350
age capacity (w
3
15 bar
300 Effect of supply pressure
2.5 10 bar
250
on hydrogen storage
2 20 bar capacity and average bed
200
Hydogen stora

1.5 15 bar temperature (Ta = 250°C)

10 bar 150
1
Mg2Ni 100

Av
Ta = 250
250°C
C
H

05
0.5 Hydrogen storage capacity 50
ma = 0.375 kg Average bed temperature
0 0 Carried out at IIT
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Madras, 2004
Absorption time (s)
4 450
P s =20 bar
3.5 400
15 bar

d temperaturee(°C)
ge capacity (wtt%)

10 bar 350
3
300 Effect of supply pressure
2.5
P s =20 bar 250 on hydrogen storage
2 15 bar
200 capacity and average bed

Average bed
10 bar
Hydogen storag

1.5
150
temperature (Ta = 300°C)
1 Mg 2 Ni 100
Hydrogen storage capacity
0.5
T a = 300°C
Average bed temperature (Muthukumar et al., J. Alloys and
m a = 0.375
0 375 kg 50
C
Compd., 452, 2008))
H

0 0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Absorption time(s)
 Effects of heat release temperature and supply
pressure on heat stored (Qr)
1.6 0.9
1.4 0.8

Q r ((M J / k g o f a l l o y )
oy)

1.2 0.7
Q r (M J/kg o f allo

1 0.6
2 bar 2 bar
0.5 mr = 1.5
0.8 3 bar mr = 1.5
0.4 3 bar Th = 650 K
0.6 4 bar Th = 650 K
Ta = 298 K 0.3 4 bar Ta = 298 K
04
0.4 02
0.2
0.2 0.1
0 0
510 520 530 540 550 560 570 580 590 600 510 520 530 540 550 560 570 580 590 600
Heat release temperature (K)
Heat release temperature (K)
Qr vs Tr for Mg2+%Ni at different supply pressures
Qr vs Tr for MgNi at different supply pressures

1.6
1.4
g of alloy)

1.2
1 2 bar
Qr (MJ/kg

0.8
0 8 3 bar
mr = 1.5
0.6 4 bar Th = 650 K
0.4 Ta = 298 K
0.2
0
500 520 540 560 580 600
24 temperature (K)
Heat release

Qr Vs Tr for Mg at different supply pressures

Comparison of performances at 3 bar supply pressure
20
2.5
y/cycle)

18

Q in (M J/kg o f a llo y)
16 2
oles/kg of alloy

14
12 1.5 Mg
10 mr = 1.5
Mg2%Ni Th = 650 K
8 Mg 1
6 mr = 1.5 MgNi Ta = 298 K
Mg + 2% Ni
Th = 650 K 05
0.5 PS = 3 bar
N (mo

4 MgNi
2 Ta = 298 K
PS = 3 bar 0
0
500 520 540 560 580 600 500 520 540 560 580 600
Heat release temperature (K)
Heat release temperature (K)
No Of hydrogen moles transferred Vs Tr
Heat input Vs heat release temperature
1.6
y)

14
1.4
Qr (M J/kg of alloy

1.2
1
0.8 Mg
0.6 mr = 1.5
Mg+2%Ni Th = 650 K
0.4 Ta = 298 K
0.2 Mg2Ni PS = 3 bar
0
500 520 540 560 580 600
Heat release temperature (K)

Heat release vs Heat 25

release temperature
 Operating temperature ranges of
different metal hydrides

Material Usable temperature range (oC )

Mg±Ni/Mg
g g2NiH4 250±350
Mg/MgH2+2 wt% Ni 290±420
Mg/MgH2 350±450
Mg/MgH2+10 wt% Fe 350±450
Mg±Fe/Mg2FeH6 450±550
Mg±Co/Mg2CoH5 450±550

26
 Storage characterictics of different
metal hydrides
Properties Mg/MgH2 Mg/ Mg-Fe/ Mg- Mg-
+2 wt%Ni MgH2 Mg2FeH6 Co/Mg6CoH1 Co/Mg2CoH5
1
Enthalpy, kJ/mol 74 74 77.2 89 76
Filling Density, 0.8 0.8 1.22 1.1 1.1
g/cm3
Capacity, wt% 6 5 5 3.5 3.5
Energy to weight, 2257 1837 1817 1472 1260
kJ/kg
Energy to volume, 1806 1469 2217 1527 1386
kJ/dm3

Storage properties of Mg; (25–40) µm,

Temperature (oC) Absorption Desorption
Source:
S pressure (bar) pressure (bar)
Bogdanovic et
403 19.71 19.68
al., J Alloys and
Compo nds ,282;
Compounds 282 422 27 74
27.74 27 54
27.54
84-92, 1999. 441 39.16 38.85 27
461 54.24 53.76
Operational solar thermal power station in the world
Country
y Location Plant Features/Technology
gy
capacity Applied
USA Mojave Desert 354 parabolic trough
California
Spain Sevilla 150 parabolic trough
Spain Granada 100 parabolic trough
USA Boulder City, Nevada 64 parabolic trough
Spain Puertollano, Ciudad 50 parabolic trough
R l
Real
Spain Badajoz 50 parabolic trough
Spain Torre de Miguel 50 parabolic trough
Sesmero (Badajoz)
Spain Alvarado (Badajoz) 50 parabolic trough
Spain Sevilla 20 solar power tower
Iran Yazd 17 parabolic trough
Spain Sevilla 11 solar power tower
USA Bakersfield, California 5 fresnel reflector
USA Lancaster, California 5 solar power tower
Italy near Siracusa, Sicily 5 parabolic trough
Australia New South Wales 2 fresnel reflector
USA Peoria, Arizona 1.5 dish stirling
Germany Jülich 1.5 solar power tower
Spain Murcia 1.4 fresnel reflector
USA R d Rock
Red R k Arizona
Ai 1 parabolic
b li trough
t h
USA Hawaii 2 parabolic trough
28
Iran Shiraz 0.25 CSP
940.65
 Summary of different thermal storage technologies and materials
used in the solar power plant (Trough plant)

Storage Experiences/ Year Thermal Total Operating HTF TES media

concept projects capacity capacity temperatu
(MWhth) (MWe) re (°C)
( C)
Passive system LS3-SSPS-PSA, 2004 0.48 n.a. n.a. Mineral High-
Spain Oil temperatur
e concrete
Active Indirect ANDASOL I- 2008 1010 n.a. 384–291 Steam Molten
system (Two- SENER/Cobra, salts (60%
1010 50 560–260
Tanks) Guadix, Spain NaNO3 +
880 n.a. 382 296
382–296 40% KNO3)
Active Indirect ANDASOL II- 2009 n.a. n.a. n.a. Steam Molten
system (Two- SENER/Cobra, salts
T k )
Tanks) G di Spain
Guadix, S i
Active Indirect EXTRESOL I- 2010 (12 h) 50 n.a. Synthet Molten
system (Two- SENER/Cobra ic Oil salts
Tanks)
n.a. SOLANA, 2011 n.a. 280 n.a. n.a. n.a.
Phoenix, AR, USA

Source: Medrano et al., Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14; 56-72,
2010.
 Summary of different thermal storage technologies and materials
used in the solar power plant (Central receiver plant)
Active CESA I-PSA, 1983 7 12 340–220 Steam Molten salts
Indirect Spain 1982 n.a. 1 n.a. Steam Molten salts
system (Two- (nitrate)
Tanks) 12 520 Steam (100 bar) Molten salts
Active CERS-SSPS 1981 2.7 0.5 n.a. Molten salt Molten salt
Indirect PSA, Spain (liquid sodium) (sodium)
system (Two-
Tanks)
Active Direct THEMIS, 1982 40 2.5 450–250 Molten salt (High Molten salt
system (Two- Targasonne, technology) (High
Tanks) France technology)
Active Direct PS10- 2007 15 11 n.a. Steam Steam–ceramic
system Abengoa, (50 min)
(Direct steam Sevilla, Spain
generation)
Active Direct PS20- 2007 n.a. 20 n.a. Steam Steam–ceramic
system Abengoa,
(Direct steam Sevilla, Spain
generation)
Active Direct SOLAR 2002– 588(16 17 565–288 Molten salts Molten salts
system (Two- TRES-PSA, 2007 h) (NaNO3 + KNO3) (NaNO3 +
Tanks) Spain KNO3)
(SENER)
30
Source: Medrano et al., Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14; 56-72, 2010.
Solar PAN IIT : Research Proposal

Schematic of proposed 1 MW Solar Thermal Power Plant

Objectives of Heat Storage

To ensure continuous generation of stream for 8 hrs with 95% reliability

and to extend the possibility of steam generation during night time

Proposed Heat Storage Capacity

Technique Capacity App. Cost (USD)

Steam Accumulator 14 GJ 4,20,000

Sensible Heat Storage 1 GJ 1,20,000

Latent Heat Storage 1 GJ 1,80,000

32
 Proposed Thermal Energy Storage Systems
o It is proposed to store the excess energy absorbed during the
day time in the form of high pressure water up to 80 bar. The
approximate capacity of high pressure steam storage vessel is
150 m3 and the estimated amount of heat stored in the form of
high pressure water is about 14 GJ.

o Heat generated from the parabolic solar collector is first stored in

the form of sensible heat in the temperature range up to 350-
500°C This
500°C. Thi storage
t module
d l is
i also
l usedd to
t generate t super
heated steam.

o It is also proposed to store 1 GJ heat in the form of latent heat

using phase change materials (PCM) of temperature range up to
400°C. Cascade latent heat storage g consists of NaNO3, KNO3/
KNO3, KOH and MgCl2 is proposed. The use of a cascade of
multiple phase change materials (PCM) shall ensure the optimal
utilization of the storage material.
material
33
o Application of metal hydrides as heat storage will be also tested.
Thanks for your
kind attention

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