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Title: Operating Characteristics of Metal Hydride-Based Solar Energy Storage Systems

Abstract

Thermochemical energy storage systems, based on a high-temperature metal hydride coupled with a low-temperature metal hydride, represent a valid option to store thermal energy for concentrating solar power plant applications. The operating characteristics are investigated for a tandem hydride bed energy storage system, using a transient lumped parameter model developed to identify the technical performance of the proposed system. The results show that, without operational control, the system undergoes a thermal ratcheting process, causing the metal hydride concentrations to accumulate hydrogen in the high-temperature bed over time, and deplete hydrogen in the low temperature. This unbalanced system is compared with a ’thermally balanced’ system, where the thermal ratcheting is mitigated by thermally balancing the overall system. The analysis indicates that thermally balanced systems stabilize after the first few cycles and remain so for long-term operation, demonstrating their potential for practical thermal energy storage system applications.

Authors:
; ; ORCiD logo
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States); Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1828993
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1829801
Report Number(s):
SRNL-STI-2021-00514
Journal ID: ISSN 2071-1050; SUSTDE; PII: su132112117
Grant/Contract Number:  
EE0007118; 89303321CEM000080
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Sustainability (Basel)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Sustainability (Basel) Journal Volume: 13 Journal Issue: 21; Journal ID: ISSN 2071-1050
Publisher:
MDPI AG
Country of Publication:
Switzerland
Language:
English
Subject:
25 ENERGY STORAGE

Citation Formats

Hardy, Bruce J., Corgnale, Claudio, and Gamble, Stephanie N.. Operating Characteristics of Metal Hydride-Based Solar Energy Storage Systems. Switzerland: N. p., 2021. Web. doi:10.3390/su132112117.
Hardy, Bruce J., Corgnale, Claudio, & Gamble, Stephanie N.. Operating Characteristics of Metal Hydride-Based Solar Energy Storage Systems. Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112117
Hardy, Bruce J., Corgnale, Claudio, and Gamble, Stephanie N.. Tue . "Operating Characteristics of Metal Hydride-Based Solar Energy Storage Systems". Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112117.
@article{osti_1828993,
title = {Operating Characteristics of Metal Hydride-Based Solar Energy Storage Systems},
author = {Hardy, Bruce J. and Corgnale, Claudio and Gamble, Stephanie N.},
abstractNote = {Thermochemical energy storage systems, based on a high-temperature metal hydride coupled with a low-temperature metal hydride, represent a valid option to store thermal energy for concentrating solar power plant applications. The operating characteristics are investigated for a tandem hydride bed energy storage system, using a transient lumped parameter model developed to identify the technical performance of the proposed system. The results show that, without operational control, the system undergoes a thermal ratcheting process, causing the metal hydride concentrations to accumulate hydrogen in the high-temperature bed over time, and deplete hydrogen in the low temperature. This unbalanced system is compared with a ’thermally balanced’ system, where the thermal ratcheting is mitigated by thermally balancing the overall system. The analysis indicates that thermally balanced systems stabilize after the first few cycles and remain so for long-term operation, demonstrating their potential for practical thermal energy storage system applications.},
doi = {10.3390/su132112117},
journal = {Sustainability (Basel)},
number = 21,
volume = 13,
place = {Switzerland},
year = {2021},
month = {11}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
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https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112117

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