Modelling of Thermal Energy Storage

Lead Research Organisation: University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering

Abstract

There is much interest worldwide in energy storage, which is still currently dominated by pumped hydro. The new systems based on thermal storage (as opposed to chemical batteries and the like) that will be considered in this project show particular promise due to their relatively high energy density and the low cost of materials. This project will contribute to the body of work in this area that has been undertaken at CUED for several years and received excellent recognition, both nationally and internationally. It will link in to the EPSRC-funded Generation-Integrated Energy storage work.

The project aims to explore the range of working fluids and cycle configurations (especially transcritical cycles) for thermo-mechanical energy storage technologies and develop design rules based based on concepts such as power density and energy density. In the current literature, few working fluids have been compared in terms of their performance, and transcritical cycles have been relatively sparsely studied. This will be mainly computer-based, with cycle analysis methods coded in Matlab or Python.

Furthermore, the project will include developing accurate cost models for the aforementioned cycle configurations. This will enable cost-efficiency optimisation thereof.
 
Description New thermodynamic cycles for Pumped Thermal Energy Storage have been explored.

Costing models have been developed specifically for this type of system.
Exploitation Route The thermodynamic cycle I studied shows potential and can be configured or optimised in many ways, offering many opportunities for further research.

The costing models could prove useful for standardising how my field approaches the question of cost. If a common approach is adopted, it will make comparisons between different researchers' work easier and more pertinent.
Sectors Energy
 
Description Conference presentation at the International Workshop on Carnot Batteries 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I presented my recent work on a novel kind of thermodynamic cycle (Kalina) for pumped thermal energy storage, with a Q&A session at the end of the talk. This is arguably the most important conference in my field (which is still nascent and small but growing), attended by most of the academic community that researches this topic, so presenting here gives my work a lot of visibility. Industry representatives also attend.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://iwcb2020.besl-eventservice.de/front/content.php?id_article=417
 
Description Presentation at the OffShore Energy and Storage (OSES) conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I presented my work on transcritical cycles and working fluids. This conference is broader than my field, so presenting here also contributed to spreading awareness of my research topic.
This presentation is paired with the conference paper supplied in my publications section.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Presentation of energy storage and other energy management strategies at the Peterhouse Graduate Symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact The Peterhouse postgraduate community hosts a yearly symposium for members to present their work to a general audience of their peers and College Fellows. I took this opportunity to present different energy management strategies including storage (which is my specific topic).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Public outreach article explaining my research 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Conversation is a website that allows academics from all fields to publish articles explaining their research to the general public. It is a widely read and respected platform, with high standards for publishing and encouraging engagement between academia and society. Along with my colleague Pau Farres-Antunez, I wrote an article explaining how thermal energy storage works and its applications, to make up for the lack of awareness that this topic has (the public view of energy storage is very much dominated by lithium batteries).
To date, the article has reached over 80,000 readers all over the world, including the UK, US, Australia, and South Africa. The article sparked lively discussion, with many comments. There was even interest from people in the energy industry emailing us to ask for our opinion on the applicability of thermal storage to their plants. My co-author and I systematically and constructively addressed these comments and correspondence.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://theconversation.com/how-heat-can-be-used-to-store-renewable-energy-130549