Salt hydrates for thermochemical energy storage
type: CreativeWork
description: Thermal energy storage is required to address the growing energy demands worldwide. Energy storage improves performance and reliability, increases efficiency and reduces the mismatch between supply and demand of renewable energy sources. In particular, thermochemical energy storage has a high energy storage density, extended storage period and minimal heat losses. Anhydrous salts when reacted with water vapour in air are hydrated and generate heat. Salt hydrates have often been chosen for space heating application due to their high energy density, suitable dehydration temperatures and water vapour being a safe and cheap reaction partner. However, this method of thermal energy storage is yet to be fully developed or commercialized. The overarching aim of this work is to investigate salt hydrates for thermochemical energy storage for use in space heating applications. In particular, this thesis discusses material development, reaction kinetics and system design with a focus on the salt hydrate, SrCl2·6H2O. A screening study was completed to determine the most suitable salt hydrates to store intermediate temperature source of energy. A literature screening found that the salt hydrates SrCl2, MgSO4, Na3PO4, MgCl2 and SrBr2 were most promising. Hydration, dehydration and cycling studies were conducted, which revealed that SrCl2 and SrBr2 are the most suitable salts for residential heating applications. As a result, a composite material of SrCl2·6H2O (50 wt. %) and cement was developed and compared to the well-researched zeolite 13X in a labscale reactor. The materials were studied over several cycles with different dehydration temperatures of up to 150 °C. The cement- SrCl2·6H2O (50 wt. %) material proved promising for thermochemical energy storage with volumetric energy density of 136 kWh m-3. The hydration kinetics of the salt, SrCl2, and its composite with cement were experimentally investigated. Firstly, a reaction kinetics model was developed for the hydration of Sr…
abstract: Thermal energy storage is required to address the growing energy demands worldwide. Energy storage improves performance and reliability, increases efficiency and reduces the mismatch between supply and demand of renewable energy sources. In particular, thermochemical energy storage has a high energy storage density, extended storage period and minimal heat losses. Anhydrous salts when reacted with water vapour in air are hydrated and generate heat. Salt hydrates have often been chosen for space heating application due to their high energy density, suitable dehydration temperatures and water vapour being a safe and cheap reaction partner. However, this method of thermal energy storage is yet to be fully developed or commercialized. The overarching aim of this work is to investigate salt hydrates for thermochemical energy storage for use in space heating applications. In particular, this thesis discusses material development, reaction kinetics and system design with a focus on the salt hydrate, SrCl2·6H2O. A screening study was completed to determine the most suitable salt hydrates to store intermediate temperature source of energy. A literature screening found that the salt hydrates SrCl2, MgSO4, Na3PO4, MgCl2 and SrBr2 were most promising. Hydration, dehydration and cycling studies were conducted, which revealed that SrCl2 and SrBr2 are the most suitable salts for residential heating applications. As a result, a composite material of SrCl2·6H2O (50 wt. %) and cement was developed and compared to the well-researched zeolite 13X in a labscale reactor. The materials were studied over several cycles with different dehydration temperatures of up to 150 °C. The cement- SrCl2·6H2O (50 wt. %) material proved promising for thermochemical energy storage with volumetric energy density of 136 kWh m-3. The hydration kinetics of the salt, SrCl2, and its composite with cement were experimentally investigated. Firstly, a reaction kinetics model was developed for the hydration of Sr…
author: Clark, Ruby-Jean
license: https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm
date published: 2022
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:05:30Z
provider: University of Auckland
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: ResearchSpace@Auckland

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/2292/61779