Abstract
Starting in January 2017, AMADEUS (www.amadeus-project.eu) is the first project funded by the European Commission to research on a new generation of materials and solid state devices for ultra-high temperature energy storage and conversion. By exploring storage temperatures well beyond 1000 °C the project aims at breaking the mark of ∼ 600°C rarely exceeded by current state of the art thermal energy storage (TES) systems. AMADEUS Project, through a collaborative research between seven European partners, aims to develop a novel concept of latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) systems with unprecedented high energy density. One of the main objectives of the project is to create new PCMs (phase change materials) with latent heat in the range of 1000-2000 kWh/m3, an order of magnitude greater than that of typical salt-based PCMs used in concentrated solar power (CSP), along with developing advanced thermal insulation, PCM casing designs, and novel solid-state heat to power conversion technologies able to operate at temperatures in the range of 1000-2000 °C. In particular, the project will investigate Silicon-Boron alloys as PCMs and hybrid thermionic-photovoltaic (TIPV) devices for heat-to-power conversion. This paper describes the project R&D activities and the main results that have been attained during the first 6 months of work. This includes the first wettability and solubility analysis of liquid Si-B alloys, the numerical simulation of silicon phase-change and heat loss analysis through thermal insulation cover, as well as the first steps for the realization of the two main AMADEUS proof-of-concept experiments: the TIPV converter, and the full LHTES device.Starting in January 2017, AMADEUS (www.amadeus-project.eu) is the first project funded by the European Commission to research on a new generation of materials and solid state devices for ultra-high temperature energy storage and conversion. By exploring storage temperatures well beyond 1000 °C the project aims at breaking the mark of ∼ 600°C rarely exceeded by current state of the art thermal energy storage (TES) systems. AMADEUS Project, through a collaborative research between seven European partners, aims to develop a novel concept of latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) systems with unprecedented high energy density. One of the main objectives of the project is to create new PCMs (phase change materials) with latent heat in the range of 1000-2000 kWh/m3, an order of magnitude greater than that of typical salt-based PCMs used in concentrated solar power (CSP), along with developing advanced thermal insulation, PCM casing designs, and novel solid-state heat to power conversion technologies able to...
Highlights
Solar thermal energy storage based on very high melting point PCMs, such as pure silicon and boron, plus solid state energy conversion has been proposed theoretically in the past [1]– [5], the main motivation being the extremely high latent heat and thermal conductivity of these PCMs if compared with salt-based materials
One of the main objectives of the project is to create new PCMs with latent heat in the range of 1000-2000 kWh/m3, an order of magnitude greater than that of typical salt-based PCMs used in concentrated solar power (CSP), along with developing advanced thermal insulation, PCM casing designs, and novel solid-state heat to power conversion technologies able to operate at temperatures in the range of 1000-2000 oC
The project is divided in two main blocks (Figure 1b): high temperature heat storage, and high temperature energy conversion
Summary
Solar thermal energy storage based on very high melting point PCMs, such as pure silicon and boron (melting points of 1414 oC and 2076 oC), plus solid state energy conversion has been proposed theoretically in the past [1]– [5], the main motivation being the extremely high latent heat and thermal conductivity of these PCMs if compared with salt-based materials. Maximum operation temperatures of conventional dynamic closed-cycle engines such as closed-Brayton, Stirling and Rankine, are typically well below 1000 oC [6]. This is mostly because of the very serious concerns with the working fluid stability and structural mechanical strength of the engine steel parts at high temperatures. AMADEUS project represents the first attempt to develop latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) based on ultra-high temperature PCMs and solid state heat-to-power converters
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