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Thermal Stability of Silica for Application in Thermal Energy Storage

Conference ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0085641· OSTI ID:1874009
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Thermal energy storage (TES) systems have enabled concentrating solar power (CSP) to remain competitive in the modern energy mix by providing economical load shifting grid services and firming up intermittent solar resource. Free from siting constraints, TES also shows promise as an economical alternative to traditional pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) and compressed air energy storage (CAES). As potential thermal energy storage media, some solid particles demonstrate stability over wide temperature ranges which allows for increased sensible energy storage density and is essential in achieving low-cost storage. Silica sand, in the form of a-quartz, is one such candidate. This work presents a brief review of relevant silica thermophysical properties and further investigates the thermal stability of silica particles as a candidate TES media by subjecting them to two different thermal tests: (1) a 500-hour thermal treatment at 1200 degrees C under varied atmospheres; and (2) cycling 25, 50, and 100 times between 300 degrees C and 1200 degrees C. For both tests, particle stability is examined by means of pre- and post-treatment Mie scattering. An additional XRD analysis is conducted for the 500-hour treatment in air. Results indicate limited changes in both particle distribution and crystallographic structure which is promising for the application as solid particle media for thermal energy storage.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308; AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1874009
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-5700-83281; MainId:84054; UUID:a226c370-593e-4bd5-b4a2-1d4ced4d163e; MainAdminID:64752
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

ENERGY STORAGE
SOLAR ENERGY
concentrating solar power
particle stability
quartz
sand
silica
solar
thermal energy storage