Hybrid thermochemical process for storage and conversion into cold and electricity based on a low temperature thermal source

Abstract

This paper presents a hybrid thermochemical process concept for the cogeneration of cold, electricity and thermal storage based on low temperature sources. Several innovative architectures of the process were defined at PROMES-CNRS and the ‘simultaneous mode’ architecture was chosen to be under study. It provides both cold and electricity productions in the discharging step of this storage system. A numerical model was developed at PROMES simulating the simultaneous mode of the hybrid cycle. Based on the results of the model, an experimental prototype was developed at the lab. The thermochemical reactor was tested and operated properly in the charging and discharging phase of the cycle, before its hybridization. The expander was set under the first experimental characterization using nitrogen before integrating it with the thermochemical reactor in the hybrid system to analyze the real performance of the cycle.