Challenges of High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage
- Materials and Construction Issues:
- Thermal Expansion: Different materials like steel and concrete have varying thermal expansion coefficients, which can lead to structural issues during high-temperature operations.
- Thermal Conductivity: Materials such as concrete have poor thermal conductivity, affecting heat transfer efficiency.
- Energy Density and Volume:
- Sensible Heat Storage Systems: These systems require a large volume and footprint due to their low energy density, making them impractical for some locations.
- Storage Material Degradation: Over time, storage materials can degrade, reducing their thermal capacity.
- Latent Heat Storage Challenges:
- Corrosive and Toxic Materials: Some latent heat storage materials, like molten salts, are corrosive or toxic, posing safety risks.
- Thermal Losses: These systems experience thermal losses due to conduction, convection, and radiation.
- Thermochemical Systems:
- Material Durability: Finding materials that can withstand high temperatures and thermal cycling is a significant challenge.
- System Efficiency: Efficiency is affected by factors like the heat of the reaction and reaction kinetics.
- Operational Challenges:
- High-Temperature Requirements: Some materials suffer from corrosion and decomposition at temperatures above 550 °C.
- Cost and Availability: Delivering high-temperature energy at a lower cost than fossil fuels while maintaining baseload operation is crucial.
- Integration and Supply Chain:
- Material Availability: Using readily available materials like aluminum silica, carbon, and volcanic rocks helps reduce supply chain risks.
- Ease of Integration: Modular designs facilitate integration without causing additional downtime.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-challenges-associated-with-high-temperature-thermal-energy-storage-in-caes-systems/
