Thermal energy storage (TES) is gaining increasing interest in various industrial and energy sectors due to its potential to offer sustainable and efficient solutions for energy management.
Traditional thermal storage media, such as molten salts, present significant challenges in terms of environmental sustainability due to their extraction and processing methods. To overcome this problem, efforts have been intensified to develop more sustainable alternatives, focusing on the research and development of new solid materials that can serve as efficient and environmentally friendly thermal storage media, that present appropriate thermo-physical and mechanical characteristics, and that also offer guarantees of durability and response under specific conditions of use.
Among these, industrial by-products (such as black slag from steelmaking electric arc furnaces) and other materials, such as natural rocks, ceramics or certain synthetic materials, have significant potential to open new opportunities in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency. However, it is necessary to ensure their durability properties for the specific application conditions in each case: operating temperature range, mechanical forces to which the materials are subjected, mechanical and thermal cycles, etc.
AZTERLAN supports energy sector in the development of new thermal storage media based on granular beds through the validation of the thermo-mechanical behavior of alternative materials.
- High energy density: The material must have a high energy storage capacity per unit volume, allowing for compact and efficient storage systems.
- Excellent heat transfer: It is crucial that the material has high thermal conductivity to facilitate rapid charging and discharging of stored heat, improving system efficiency.
- Thermal stability: The material must maintain its stable physical and chemical properties when exposed to high temperatures for extended periods, ensuring consistent performance.
- Corrosion Resistance: To ensure long-term durability and performance, the material must be resistant to corrosion, especially in industrial environments where it may be exposed to various substances.
Energy-intensive industries such as steel, foundry or chemical industries rely on large amounts of heat for their production processes. The implementation of thermal energy storage systems to recover and reuse waste heat offers these industries an opportunity to optimize their energy management, resulting in a significant reduction in operating costs and carbon emissions.
Concentrated solar power plants and other renewable sources are integrating thermal storage systems to overcome the challenge of intermittency. This technology makes it possible to capture and conserve the surplus energy produced during peak hours, thus facilitating stable and continuous electricity generation, even during periods of low solar or wind production.
AZTERLAN has developed an innovative testing method and equipment to evaluate the behavior and durability of various granular materials and by-products under thermal storage conditions:
- Simulates accelerated thermal cycles that reproduce the operating conditions of thermal energy storage systems
- Evaluates the mechanical resistance and stability of materials against repetitive thermal cycles (ratcheting phenomenon)
- Studies the compaction and volumetric changes of the granular bed (Using computed tomography, it is possible to visualize the compaction of the sample after X cycles, without having to remove it from the container)
- Measures degradation and generation of fines during operation
Technical characteristics of the equipment:
- Temperature range: Ambient - 800°C
- Capacity: Up to 8,000 cm3 (8 liters). E.g. with granular slags about 20kg
- Controlled airflow to simulate different operating conditions
- Advanced instrumentation for monitoring temperature and deformation
