We investigate the capability of salt hydrates, using magnesium sulfate heptahydrate as a model salt, to store thermo-chemical energy as they dissociate into anhydrous salts or lower hydrates and water vapor upon heating. When salt hydrates are heated to the temperature required to activate the dehydration reaction, water desorption occurs from the compound. While thermal diffusion governs thermal transport below this reaction temperature, the heat transfer during the dehydration process is influenced by thermochemical kinetics. An anhydrous salt that has relatively higher energy content than its hydrated counterpart can be stably stored over long durations and transported at ambient temperatures. Thus, thermal energy can be released by allowing water vapor to flow across the anhydrous salt, which transforms its chemically stored heat into a sensible form. We model the thermochemical process based on the conservation of mass and energy and a relation describing the chemical kinetics, and employ finite difference technique to solve them. Different cases are considered to provide suggestions to improve the process performance. This storage application has potential for long-term thermal applications, e.g., for storing solar heat during summer months and releasing it in the winter to warm buildings.
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ASME 2010 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November 12–18, 2010
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Conference Sponsors:
- ASME
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4429-8
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Thermochemical Energy Storage Using Salt Hydrates
Ganesh Balasubramanian,
Ganesh Balasubramanian
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
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Mehdi Ghommem,
Mehdi Ghommem
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
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Muhammad R. Hajj,
Muhammad R. Hajj
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
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William P. Wong,
William P. Wong
Science Applications International Corporation, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Jennifer A. Tomlin,
Jennifer A. Tomlin
Science Applications International Corporation, Blacksburg, VA
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Ishwar K. Puri
Ishwar K. Puri
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
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Ganesh Balasubramanian
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Mehdi Ghommem
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Muhammad R. Hajj
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
William P. Wong
Science Applications International Corporation, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Jennifer A. Tomlin
Science Applications International Corporation, Blacksburg, VA
Ishwar K. Puri
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Paper No:
IMECE2010-39779, pp. 377-382; 6 pages
Published Online:
April 30, 2012
Citation
Balasubramanian, G, Ghommem, M, Hajj, MR, Wong, WP, Tomlin, JA, & Puri, IK. "Thermochemical Energy Storage Using Salt Hydrates." Proceedings of the ASME 2010 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 5: Energy Systems Analysis, Thermodynamics and Sustainability; NanoEngineering for Energy; Engineering to Address Climate Change, Parts A and B. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. November 12–18, 2010. pp. 377-382. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2010-39779
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