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Thermochemical Energy Storage Based on Carbonates

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D: Energy Storage and Application".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 12697
Please submit your paper and select the Journal "Energies" and the Special Issue "Thermochemical Energy Storage Based on Carbonates" via: https://susy.mdpi.com/user/manuscripts/upload?journal=energies. Please contact the journal editor Adele Min ([email protected]) before submitting.

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Carlos Ortíz

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Guest Editor

Departamento de Ingeniería, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, 41704 Dos Hermanas, Sevilla, Spain
Interests: thermochemical energy storage; renewable energy; dispatchability; CO₂ capture; concentrating solar power; photovoltaics; district heating systems; thermal energy storage; CCU
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Efficient, cost-effective, and scalable energy storage systems stand as one of the main technological challenges for the massive deployment of renewable energies. Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) is an attractive alternative to molten salt systems. TCES integrated into solar plants consist of using solar energy to produce an endothermic reaction and store the products. Under demand, the products are brought together, and the opposite exothermic reaction takes place to release the stored energy. Among TCES, carbonate-based systems are one of the most promising alternatives due to their high-turning temperature, high energy density, and, usually, low price of the raw materials. However, TCES is developed only at a laboratory scale, and some drawbacks, such as sorbent deactivation or agglomeration, need to be improved for the scaling up of the technology. Today, most studies are focused on the CaCO₃/CaO system, although there are other potential options from PbCO₃, SrCO₃, BaCO₃, and MgCO₃.

This Special Issue covers all research concerning TCES based on carbonates. Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

TCES modeling
Materials properties
Synthetic materials testing to improve the carbonate looping behavior
Reactors design for TCES
Power cycles integration on carbonate-based systems
Economic aspects
Scaling-up analysis
Critical reviews of TCES technology

Dr. Carlos Ortíz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Thermochemical energy storage
CaCO₃
calcium-looping
dispatchability
energy density
high-temperature power cycles
TES

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 373 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Thermochemical Energy Storage Based on Carbonates: A Brief Overview

by Carlos Ortiz

Energies 2021, 14(14), 4336; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14144336 - 19 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1672

Abstract

Energy storage is becoming one of the main challenges facing the massive integration of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) in the coming years [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermochemical Energy Storage Based on Carbonates)

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Research

Jump to: Editorial

20 pages, 2499 KiB

Open AccessArticle

FMEA and Risks Assessment for Thermochemical Energy Storage Systems Based on Carbonates

by Andrés Carro, Ricardo Chacartegui, Carlos Tejada, Georgios Gravanis, Muhammad Eusha, Voutetakis Spyridon, Papadopoulou Simira and Carlos Ortiz

Energies 2021, 14(19), 6013; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14196013 - 22 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2653

Abstract

Thermochemical energy storage systems from carbonates, mainly those based on calcium carbonate, have been gaining momentum in the last few years. However, despite the considerable interest in the process, the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is still low. Therefore, facing the progressive development of the technology at different scales is essential to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment and a Failure Mode Effect and Analysis (FMEA) process to guarantee the safety and operation of the technology systems. In this study, the methodology was applied to a first-of-its-kind prototype, and it is a valuable tool for assessing safe design and operation and potential scaling up. The present work describes the methodology for carrying out these analyses to construct a kW-scale prototype of an energy storage system based on calcium carbonate. The main potential risks occur during the testing and operation stages (>50% of identified risks), being derived mainly from potential overheating in the reactors, failures in the control of the solar shape at the receiver, and potential failures of the control system. Through the assessment of Risk Priority Numbers (RPNs), it was identified that the issues requiring more attention are related to hot fluid path to avoid loss of heat transfer and potential damages (personal and on the facilities), mainly due to their probability to occur (>8 on a scale of 10). The results derived from the FMEA analysis show the need for specific control measures in reactors, especially in the calciner, with high operation temperatures (1000 °C) and potential effects of overheating and corrosion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermochemical Energy Storage Based on Carbonates)

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17 pages, 3512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Techno-Economic Assessment of Calcium Looping for Thermochemical Energy Storage with CO₂ Capture

by Guillermo Martinez Castilla, Diana Carolina Guío-Pérez, Stavros Papadokonstantakis, David Pallarès and Filip Johnsson

Energies 2021, 14(11), 3211; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14113211 - 31 May 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3814

Abstract

The cyclic carbonation-calcination of CaCO₃ in fluidized bed reactors not only offers a possibility for CO₂ capture but can at the same time be implemented for thermochemical energy storage (TCES), a feature which will play an important role in a future that has an increasing share of non-dispatchable variable electricity generation (e.g., from wind and solar power). This paper provides a techno-economic assessment of an industrial-scale calcium looping (CaL) process with simultaneous TCES and CO₂ capture. The process is assumed to make profit by selling dispatchable electricity and by providing CO₂ capture services to a certain nearby emitter (i.e., transport and storage of CO₂ are not accounted). Thus, the process is connected to two other facilities located nearby: a renewable non-dispatchable energy source that charges the storage and a plant from which the CO₂ in its flue gas flow is captured while discharging the storage and producing dispatchable electricity. The process, which offers the possibility of long-term storage at ambient temperature without any significant energy loss, is herein sized for a given daily energy input under certain boundary conditions, which mandate that the charging section runs steadily for one 12-h period per day and that the discharging section can provide a steady output during 24 h per day. Intercoupled mass and energy balances of the process are computed for the different process elements, followed by the sizing of the main process equipment, after which the economics of the process are computed through cost functions widely used and validated in literature. The economic viability of the process is assessed through the breakeven electricity price (BESP), payback period (PBP), and as cost per ton of CO₂ captured. The cost of the renewable energy is excluded from the study, although its potential impact on the process costs if included in the system is assessed. The sensitivities of the computed costs to the main process and economic parameters are also assessed. The results show that for the most realistic economic projections, the BESP ranges from 141 to −20 $/MWh for different plant sizes and a lifetime of 20 years. When the same process is assessed as a carbon capture facility, it yields a cost that ranges from 45 to −27 $/tCO₂-captured. The cost of investment in the fluidized bed reactors accounts for most of the computed capital expenses, while an increase in the degree of conversion in the carbonator is identified as a technical goal of major importance for reducing the global cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermochemical Energy Storage Based on Carbonates)

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23 pages, 4898 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Study of the Decomposition and Carbonation of Magnesium Carbonate for Medium Temperature Thermochemical Energy Storage

by Daniel Mahon, Gianfranco Claudio and Philip Eames

Energies 2021, 14(5), 1316; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14051316 - 28 Feb 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3607

Abstract

To improve the energy efficiency of an industrial process thermochemical energy storage (TCES) can be used to store excess or typically wasted thermal energy for utilisation later. Magnesium carbonate (MgCO₃) has a turning temperature of 396 °C, a theoretical potential to store 1387 J/g and is low cost (~GBP 400/1000 kg). Research studies that assess MgCO₃ for use as a medium temperature TCES material are lacking, and, given its theoretical potential, research to address this is required. Decomposition (charging) tests and carbonation (discharging) tests at a range of different temperatures and pressures, with selected different gases used during the decomposition tests, were conducted to gain a better understanding of the real potential of MgCO₃ for medium temperature TCES. The thermal decomposition (charging) of MgCO₃ has been investigated using thermal analysis techniques including simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC), TGA with attached residual gas analyser (RGA) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) (up to 650 °C). TGA, DSC and RGA data have been used to quantify the thermal decomposition enthalpy from each MgCO₃.xH₂O thermal decomposition step and separate the enthalpy from CO₂ decomposition and H₂O decomposition. Thermal analysis experiments were conducted at different temperatures and pressures (up to 40 bar) in a CO₂ atmosphere to investigate the carbonation (discharging) and reversibility of the decarbonation–carbonation reactions for MgCO₃. Experimental results have shown that MgCO₃.xH₂O has a three-step thermal decomposition, with a total decomposition enthalpy of ~1050 J/g under a nitrogen atmosphere. After normalisation the decomposition enthalpy due to CO₂ loss equates to 1030–1054 J/g. A CO₂ atmosphere is shown to change the thermal decomposition (charging) of MgCO₃.xH₂O, requiring a higher final temperature of ~630 °C to complete the decarbonation. The charging input power of MgCO₃.xH₂O was shown to vary from 4 to 8136 W/kg with different isothermal temperatures. The carbonation (discharging) of MgO was found to be problematic at pressures up to 40 bar in a pure CO₂ atmosphere. The experimental results presented show MgCO₃ has some characteristics that make it a candidate for thermochemical energy storage (high energy storage potential) and other characteristics that are problematic for its use (slow discharge) under the experimental test conditions. This study provides a comprehensive foundation for future research assessing the feasibility of using MgCO₃ as a medium temperature TCES material. Future research to determine conditions that improve the carbonation (discharging) process of MgO is required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermochemical Energy Storage Based on Carbonates)

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