Experimental Demonstration of a Latent Heat Storage System for Dispatchable Electricity

Jonathan E. Rea; Christopher Oshman; Corey L. Hardin; Abhishek Singh; Jeff Alleman; Greg Glatzmaier; Philip A. Parilla; Michele L. Olsen; Jeff Sharp; Nathan P. Siegel; David S. Ginley; Eric S. Toberer

doi:10.1063/1.5067116

Experimental Demonstration of a Latent Heat Storage System for Dispatchable Electricity

Jonathan E. Rea, Christopher Oshman, Corey L. Hardin, Abhishek Singh, Jeff Alleman, Greg Glatzmaier, Philip A. Parilla, Michele L. Olsen, Jeff Sharp, Nathan P. Siegel, David S. Ginley, Eric S. Toberer

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

3 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Modern electric grids that use intermittent renewables require energy storage to maintain reliability. Many potential solutions exist, but latent heat thermal energy storage shows particularly high potential for low cost grid scale energy storage. In this paper, we present the design and initial experimental results for a lab-scale prototype of a novel latent heat thermal storage system. This version of our prototype used 50 kg of aluminum-silicon alloy as a phase change material, and a novel valved thermosyphon concept to control heat flow from a thermal storage tank to thermoelectric generators for dispatchable electricity production. Our results validate the system: the thermal storage system was able to receive heat input, evenly distribute heat to and from the phase change material with small temperature gradients, and controllably dispatch heat to a heat engine for electricity generation on demand. With the basic principle of this technology demonstrated, our next step will be to evaluate and improve system efficiency.

Original language	American English
Number of pages	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5067116 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5067116
State	Published - 8 Nov 2018
Event	23rd International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2017 - Santiago, Chile Duration: 26 Sep 2017 → 29 Sep 2017

Conference

Conference	23rd International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2017
Country/Territory	Chile
City	Santiago
Period	26/09/17 → 29/09/17

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Author(s).

NREL Publication Number

NREL/CP-5H00-72963

Keywords

energy storage
latent heat
thermal storage

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Rea, J. E., Oshman, C., Hardin, C. L., Singh, A., Alleman, J., Glatzmaier, G., Parilla, P. A., Olsen, M. L., Sharp, J., Siegel, N. P., Ginley, D. S., & Toberer, E. S. (2018). Experimental Demonstration of a Latent Heat Storage System for Dispatchable Electricity. Paper presented at 23rd International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2017, Santiago, Chile. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5067116, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5067116

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title = "Experimental Demonstration of a Latent Heat Storage System for Dispatchable Electricity",

abstract = "Modern electric grids that use intermittent renewables require energy storage to maintain reliability. Many potential solutions exist, but latent heat thermal energy storage shows particularly high potential for low cost grid scale energy storage. In this paper, we present the design and initial experimental results for a lab-scale prototype of a novel latent heat thermal storage system. This version of our prototype used 50 kg of aluminum-silicon alloy as a phase change material, and a novel valved thermosyphon concept to control heat flow from a thermal storage tank to thermoelectric generators for dispatchable electricity production. Our results validate the system: the thermal storage system was able to receive heat input, evenly distribute heat to and from the phase change material with small temperature gradients, and controllably dispatch heat to a heat engine for electricity generation on demand. With the basic principle of this technology demonstrated, our next step will be to evaluate and improve system efficiency.",

keywords = "energy storage, latent heat, thermal storage",

author = "Rea, {Jonathan E.} and Christopher Oshman and Hardin, {Corey L.} and Abhishek Singh and Jeff Alleman and Greg Glatzmaier and Parilla, {Philip A.} and Olsen, {Michele L.} and Jeff Sharp and Siegel, {Nathan P.} and Ginley, {David S.} and Toberer, {Eric S.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Author(s).; 23rd International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2017 ; Conference date: 26-09-2017 Through 29-09-2017",

year = "2018",

month = nov,

day = "8",

doi = "10.1063/1.5067116",

language = "American English",

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Rea, JE, Oshman, C, Hardin, CL, Singh, A, Alleman, J, Glatzmaier, G, Parilla, PA, Olsen, ML, Sharp, J, Siegel, NP, Ginley, DS & Toberer, ES 2018, 'Experimental Demonstration of a Latent Heat Storage System for Dispatchable Electricity', Paper presented at 23rd International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2017, Santiago, Chile, 26/09/17 - 29/09/17. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5067116, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5067116

TY - CONF

T1 - Experimental Demonstration of a Latent Heat Storage System for Dispatchable Electricity

AU - Rea, Jonathan E.

AU - Oshman, Christopher

AU - Hardin, Corey L.

AU - Singh, Abhishek

AU - Alleman, Jeff

AU - Glatzmaier, Greg

AU - Parilla, Philip A.

AU - Olsen, Michele L.

AU - Sharp, Jeff

AU - Siegel, Nathan P.

AU - Ginley, David S.

AU - Toberer, Eric S.

PY - 2018/11/8

Y1 - 2018/11/8

N2 - Modern electric grids that use intermittent renewables require energy storage to maintain reliability. Many potential solutions exist, but latent heat thermal energy storage shows particularly high potential for low cost grid scale energy storage. In this paper, we present the design and initial experimental results for a lab-scale prototype of a novel latent heat thermal storage system. This version of our prototype used 50 kg of aluminum-silicon alloy as a phase change material, and a novel valved thermosyphon concept to control heat flow from a thermal storage tank to thermoelectric generators for dispatchable electricity production. Our results validate the system: the thermal storage system was able to receive heat input, evenly distribute heat to and from the phase change material with small temperature gradients, and controllably dispatch heat to a heat engine for electricity generation on demand. With the basic principle of this technology demonstrated, our next step will be to evaluate and improve system efficiency.

AB - Modern electric grids that use intermittent renewables require energy storage to maintain reliability. Many potential solutions exist, but latent heat thermal energy storage shows particularly high potential for low cost grid scale energy storage. In this paper, we present the design and initial experimental results for a lab-scale prototype of a novel latent heat thermal storage system. This version of our prototype used 50 kg of aluminum-silicon alloy as a phase change material, and a novel valved thermosyphon concept to control heat flow from a thermal storage tank to thermoelectric generators for dispatchable electricity production. Our results validate the system: the thermal storage system was able to receive heat input, evenly distribute heat to and from the phase change material with small temperature gradients, and controllably dispatch heat to a heat engine for electricity generation on demand. With the basic principle of this technology demonstrated, our next step will be to evaluate and improve system efficiency.

KW - energy storage

KW - latent heat

KW - thermal storage

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DO - 10.1063/1.5067116

M3 - Paper

AN - SCOPUS:85057130188

T2 - 23rd International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2017

Y2 - 26 September 2017 through 29 September 2017

ER -

Experimental Demonstration of a Latent Heat Storage System for Dispatchable Electricity

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Keywords

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