Cycle Evaluations of Reversible Chemical Reactions for Solar Thermochemical Energy Storage in Support of Concentrating Solar Power Generation Systems
Abstract
The production and storage of thermochemical energy is a possible route to increase capacity factors and reduce the Levelized Cost of Electricity from concentrated solar power generation systems. In this paper, we present the results of cycle evaluations for various thermochemical cycles, including a well-documented ammonia closed-cycle along with open- and closed-cycle versions of hydrocarbon chemical reactions. Among the available reversible hydrocarbon chemical reactions, catalytic reforming-methanation cycles are considered; specifically, various methane-steam reforming cycles are compared to the ammonia cycle. In some cases, the production of an intermediate chemical, methanol, is also included with some benefit being realized. The best case, based on overall power generation efficiency and overall plant capacity factor, was found to be an open cycle including methane-steam reforming, using concentrated solar energy to increase the chemical energy content of the reacting stream, followed by combustion to generate heat for the heat engine.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1033846
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-74073
EB2103000; TRN: US201203%%125
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 8th Annual International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, July 25-28, 2010, Nashville, Tennessee, 425-434
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 10 SYNTHETIC FUELS; 14 SOLAR ENERGY; AMMONIA; CAPACITY; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; COMBUSTION; EFFICIENCY; ELECTRICITY; ENERGY CONVERSION; ENERGY STORAGE; HEAT ENGINES; HYDROCARBONS; METHANOL; POWER GENERATION; PRODUCTION; SOLAR ENERGY; STORAGE; thermochemical energy storage; steam reforming; solar energy storage; solar fuels
Citation Formats
Krishnan, Shankar, Palo, Daniel R, and Wegeng, Robert S. Cycle Evaluations of Reversible Chemical Reactions for Solar Thermochemical Energy Storage in Support of Concentrating Solar Power Generation Systems. United States: N. p., 2010.
Web.
Krishnan, Shankar, Palo, Daniel R, & Wegeng, Robert S. Cycle Evaluations of Reversible Chemical Reactions for Solar Thermochemical Energy Storage in Support of Concentrating Solar Power Generation Systems. United States.
Krishnan, Shankar, Palo, Daniel R, and Wegeng, Robert S. 2010.
"Cycle Evaluations of Reversible Chemical Reactions for Solar Thermochemical Energy Storage in Support of Concentrating Solar Power Generation Systems". United States.
@article{osti_1033846,
title = {Cycle Evaluations of Reversible Chemical Reactions for Solar Thermochemical Energy Storage in Support of Concentrating Solar Power Generation Systems},
author = {Krishnan, Shankar and Palo, Daniel R and Wegeng, Robert S},
abstractNote = {The production and storage of thermochemical energy is a possible route to increase capacity factors and reduce the Levelized Cost of Electricity from concentrated solar power generation systems. In this paper, we present the results of cycle evaluations for various thermochemical cycles, including a well-documented ammonia closed-cycle along with open- and closed-cycle versions of hydrocarbon chemical reactions. Among the available reversible hydrocarbon chemical reactions, catalytic reforming-methanation cycles are considered; specifically, various methane-steam reforming cycles are compared to the ammonia cycle. In some cases, the production of an intermediate chemical, methanol, is also included with some benefit being realized. The best case, based on overall power generation efficiency and overall plant capacity factor, was found to be an open cycle including methane-steam reforming, using concentrated solar energy to increase the chemical energy content of the reacting stream, followed by combustion to generate heat for the heat engine.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1033846},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jul 25 00:00:00 EDT 2010},
month = {Sun Jul 25 00:00:00 EDT 2010}
}