Abstract
A primary drawback of solar thermal technologies, especially in a domestic setting, is that collection of thermal energy occurs when solar irradiance is abundant and there is generally little requirement for heating. Thermochemical Energy Storage (TCES) offers a means of storing thermal energy interseasonally with little heat loss. A combination of a Solar Thermal Collector (STC) and TCES system will allow a variety of different heating applications, such as domestic space and hot water heating as well as low temperature industrial process heat applications to be met in a low carbon way. This paper describes and assesses the feasibility of two novel technologies currently under development at Loughborough University; i) an evacuated flat plate STC and ii) composite TCES materials, coupled together into a system designed to store and supply thermal energy on demand throughout the year. Experimental results of composite TCES materials along with predicted performance of STC's are used within a developed model to assess key metrics of conceptual TCES + STC systems feasibility, including; charging time, payback time, cost/kWh, energy savings and CO2 savings. This paper demonstrates the economic, energy and carbon savings potential of conceptual TCES + STC systems suitable for domestic use.
Highlights
Half of the UK's total energy consumption is used for heating purposes [1], with 26% of the UK's total energy consumption used for Domestic Space Heating (DSH) and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) [1]. 88% of the energy for DSH and DHW comes directly from gas and oil with only 2% of the energy required for heating generated from renewable energy sources [1]
This study investigates the potential of a combination of a Thermochemical Energy Storage (TCES) system with a Vacuum Flat Plate Collector (VFPC) system for domestic application
As the sample will be dehydrated in the summer months when, typically, heat is not required all the sensible heat which is stored within the TCES material is assumed to be lost and not utilised leaving the energy stored as chemical potential for use at a later time
Summary
88% of the energy for DSH and DHW comes directly from gas and oil with only 2% of the energy required for heating generated from renewable energy sources [1]. Supply of thermal energy is high when demand is low (i.e. throughout the summer day time) and vice versa during the winter months. If effective TES is utilised the thermal energy from renewable energy sources (i.e. STC's) can be stored at times of surplus and low demand ready for use when demand is high. This method can utilise thermal energy which would otherwise be unutilised and wasted, increasing the amount of energy generated for DSH and DHW from renewable energy sources. If the two reactants are kept separate, the energy can be stored indefinitely [3]
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