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.
Highlights
Large-scale energy storage has become one of the great challenges to achieving the ambitious goals set to increase the penetration of renewables significantly
Solar Power (CSP) plants have a great potential for energy storage integration, which gives them great dispatchability compared to other renewable technologies, such as PV
Molten salts present a series of drawbacks, such as corrosion [3], the need to keep them at temperatures higher than ∼220 ◦ C to avoid their solidification [4], and the maximum temperature limitation to ∼550 ◦ C
Summary
Large-scale energy storage has become one of the great challenges to achieving the ambitious goals set to increase the penetration of renewables significantly. Solar Power (CSP) plants have a great potential for energy storage integration, which gives them great dispatchability compared to other renewable technologies, such as PV or wind energy [1]. The market for energy storage in solar thermal plants is clearly led by technology based on the exchange of sensible heat from molten salts [2]. Many studies are being published, mainly investigating the performance of the reaction on a laboratory scale and by the simulation of different processes schemes to evaluate the efficiency of their integration in large-scale CSP plants. Their Technology Readiness Level (TRL) continues to be low (TRL4, technology demonstrated on a laboratory scale)
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