Thermodynamic limits on the performance of a solar thermochemical energy storage system

Abstract

Use of closed-loop thermochemical energy storage systems for the storage of solar energy places fundamental limits on the amount of work which can be extracted from the recovered energy. These arise because of thermodynamic irreversibilities associated with the storage system itself and because of the need to degrade collected solar energy to the characteristic temperature of the reaction system chosen. General expressions for the exergetic and work recovery efficiencies of thermochemical storage systems have been developed by assuming that the reaction process is the only source irreversibility within the closed-loop system. These have been used to plot contours of constant efficiency for the ammonia-based thermochemical system. The effect of spontaneous separation of mixtures due to the preferential condensation of ammonia has been examined analytically and graphically. The analysis presented represents a necessary prerequisite for the optimization of system efficiencies by reactor design.