Sanchez Jimenez, Pedro E. , Perejon, Antonio , Benitez Guerrero, Monica , Valverde, Jose M. , ORTIZ DOMÍNGUEZ, CARLOS, Perez Maqueda, Luis A.
Si
Appl. Energy
Article
Científica
8.848
3.607
01/02/2019
000458942800045
High energy density, cycling stability, low cost and scalability are the main features required for thermochemical energy storage systems to achieve a feasible integration in Concentrating Solar Power plants (CSP). While no system has been found to fully satisfy all these requirements, the reversible CaO/CaCO3 carbonation reaction (CaL) is one of the most promising since CaO natural precursors are affordable and earth-abundant. However, CaO particles progressively deactivate due to sintering-induced morphological changes during repeated carbonation and calcinations cycles. In this work, we have prepared acicular calcium and magnesium acetate precursors using a simple, cost-effective and easily scalable technique that requires just the natural minerals and acetic acid, thereby avoiding expensive reactants and environmentally unfriendly solvents. Upon thermal decomposition, these precursors yield a stable porous structure comprised of well dispersed MgO nanoparticles coating the CaO/CaCO3 grains that is resistant to pore-plugging and sintering while at the same time exhibits high long term effective conversion. Process simulations show that the employment of these materials could significantly improve the overall CSP-CaL efficiency at the industrial level.
Energy storage; Calcium-looping; Concentrated solar power; CO2 capture; Calcium acetate; Calcium oxides