Title: High temperature synthesis for power production and storage

Abstract

Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) for concentrating solar power (CSP) systems provides higher energy density than sensible energy storage systems. An ammonia-based TCES system dissociates endothermically into hydrogen and nitrogen. The stored energy is released when supercritical hydrogen and nitrogen react exothermically to synthesize ammonia. Prior ammonia synthesis systems are unable to produce temperatures consistent with modern power blocks requiring a working fluid, for example steam or carbon dioxide, to be heated to greater than 600° C., for example about 650° C. An ammonia synthesis system heats steam from, for example 350° C. to 650° C. under pressure of about 26 MPa. The hydrogen and nitrogen are preheated with a flow of supercritical fluid prior to the synthesis step to provide reaction rates sufficient to heat power block working fluid to the desired temperature.

Inventors:

Lavine, Adrienne Gail; Wirz, Richard Edward; Aryafar, Hamarz; Chen, Chen; Lovegrove, Keith Malcolm

Issue Date:

2020-05-05

Research Org.:

Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1650856

Patent Number(s):

10641524

Application Number:

15/739,125

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B65 - CONVEYING B65G - TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F04 - POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS F04B - POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B65 - CONVEYING B65G - TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS

B65G5/00 - Storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F04 - POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS F04B - POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS

F04B45/04 - having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

F24S20/20 - Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
F24S23/71 - with parabolic reflective surfaces
F24S23/74 - with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT

F28D20/003 - {using thermochemical reactions}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/40 - Solar thermal energy
Y02E60/14 - Thermal storage
Y02E60/32 - Hydrogen storage
Y02E70/30 - Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

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DOE Contract Number:  

EE0006536

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 06/27/2016

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

14 SOLAR ENERGY; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY