Experimental investigation of an innovative thermochemical process operating with a hydrate salt and moist air for thermal storage of solar energy: Global performance

This paper investigates an innovative open thermochemical system dedicated to high density and long term (seasonal) storage purposes. It involves a hydrate/water reactive pair and operates with moist air. This work focuses on the design of and experimentation with a large scale prototype using SrBr2/H2O as a reactive pair (400kg of hydrated salt, 105kWh of storage capacity and a reactor energy density of 203kWh/m3). Promising conclusions have been obtained regarding the feasibility and performance of such a storage process. Hydration specific powers from 0.75 to 2W/kg have been reached for a bed salt energy density of 388kWh/m3. Moreover, two important parameters that control the storage system have been identified and investigated: the equilibrium drop and the mass flow rate of moist air. Both have a strong influence on the reaction kinetics and therefore on the reactor’s thermal power.