Sulfuric acid-sulfur heat storage cycle
Abstract
A method of storing heat is provided utilizing a chemical cycle which interconverts sulfuric acid and sulfur. The method can be used to levelize the energy obtained from intermittent heat sources, such as solar collectors. Dilute sulfuric acid is concentrated by evaporation of water, and the concentrated sulfuric acid is boiled and decomposed using intense heat from the heat source, forming sulfur dioxide and oxygen. The sulfur dioxide is reacted with water in a disproportionation reaction yielding dilute sulfuric acid, which is recycled, and elemental sulfur. The sulfur has substantial potential chemical energy and represents the storage of a significant portion of the energy obtained from the heat source. The sulfur is burned whenever required to release the stored energy. A particularly advantageous use of the heat storage method is in conjunction with a solar-powered facility which uses the Bunsen reaction in a water-splitting process. The energy storage method is used to levelize the availability of solar energy while some of the sulfur dioxide produced in the heat storage reactions is converted to sulfuric acid in the Bunsen reaction.
- Inventors:
-
- LaJolla, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- General Atomics Site, San Diego, CA
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864808
- Patent Number(s):
- 4421734
- Application Number:
- 06/377,124
- Assignee:
- GA Technologies Inc. (San Diego, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
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
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
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC01-80CS80004
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- sulfuric; acid-sulfur; heat; storage; cycle; method; storing; provided; utilizing; chemical; interconverts; acid; sulfur; levelize; energy; obtained; intermittent; sources; solar; collectors; dilute; concentrated; evaporation; water; boiled; decomposed; intense; source; forming; dioxide; oxygen; reacted; disproportionation; reaction; yielding; recycled; elemental; substantial; potential; represents; significant; portion; burned; whenever; required; release; stored; particularly; advantageous; conjunction; solar-powered; facility; bunsen; water-splitting; process; availability; produced; reactions; converted; significant portion; heat sources; solar collectors; chemical energy; heat storage; solar collector; elemental sulfur; energy storage; solar energy; heat source; sulfuric acid; sulfur dioxide; stored energy; concentrated sulfuric; particularly advantageous; storing heat; chemical cycle; dilute sulfuric; dioxide produced; oxide produced; /423/60/126/165/432/
Citation Formats
Norman, John H. Sulfuric acid-sulfur heat storage cycle. United States: N. p., 1983.
Web.
Norman, John H. Sulfuric acid-sulfur heat storage cycle. United States.
Norman, John H. Tue .
"Sulfuric acid-sulfur heat storage cycle". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864808.
@article{osti_864808,
title = {Sulfuric acid-sulfur heat storage cycle},
author = {Norman, John H},
abstractNote = {A method of storing heat is provided utilizing a chemical cycle which interconverts sulfuric acid and sulfur. The method can be used to levelize the energy obtained from intermittent heat sources, such as solar collectors. Dilute sulfuric acid is concentrated by evaporation of water, and the concentrated sulfuric acid is boiled and decomposed using intense heat from the heat source, forming sulfur dioxide and oxygen. The sulfur dioxide is reacted with water in a disproportionation reaction yielding dilute sulfuric acid, which is recycled, and elemental sulfur. The sulfur has substantial potential chemical energy and represents the storage of a significant portion of the energy obtained from the heat source. The sulfur is burned whenever required to release the stored energy. A particularly advantageous use of the heat storage method is in conjunction with a solar-powered facility which uses the Bunsen reaction in a water-splitting process. The energy storage method is used to levelize the availability of solar energy while some of the sulfur dioxide produced in the heat storage reactions is converted to sulfuric acid in the Bunsen reaction.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 20 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Tue Dec 20 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}