Solidified-Air Energy Storage: Conceptualization and Thermodynamic Analysis

Sandro Hiller, Christian Hartmann, Babette Hebenstreit and Stefan Arzbacher
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Sandro Hiller: Research Centre Energy, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences, 6850 Dornbirn, Austria
Christian Hartmann: Research Centre Energy, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences, 6850 Dornbirn, Austria
Babette Hebenstreit: Research Centre Energy, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences, 6850 Dornbirn, Austria
Stefan Arzbacher: Research Centre Energy, Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences, 6850 Dornbirn, Austria

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Grid-scale electrical energy storage (EES) is a key component in cost-effective transition scenarios to renewable energy sources. The requirement of scalability favors EES approaches such as pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH) or compressed-air energy storage (CAES), which utilize the cheap and abundant storage materials water and air, respectively. To overcome the site restriction and low volumetric energy densities attributed to PSH and CAES, liquid-air energy storage (LAES) has been devised; however, it suffers from a rather small round-trip efficiency (RTE) and challenging storage conditions. Aiming to overcome these drawbacks, a novel system for EES is developed using solidified air (i.e., clathrate hydrate of air) as the storable phase of air. A reference plant for solidified-air energy storage (SAES) is conceptualized and modeled thermodynamically using the software CoolProp for water and air as well as empirical data and first-order approximations for the solidified air (SA). The reference plant exhibits a RTE of 52% and a volumetric storage density of 47 kWh per m 3 of SA. While this energy density relates to only one half of that in LAES plants, the modeled RTE of SAES is comparable already. Since improved thermal management and the use of thermodynamic promoters can further increase the RTEs in SAES, the technical potential of SAES is in place already. Yet, for a successful implementation of the concept—in addition to economic aspects—questions regarding the stability of SA must be first clarified and challenges related to the processing of SA resolved.

Keywords: electrical energy storage; thermal energy storage; air energy storage; air clathrate hydrate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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