A Eutectic Mixture of Calcium Chloride Hexahydrate and Bischofite with Promising Performance for Thermochemical Energy Storage

Bryan Li, Louise Buisson, Ruby-Jean Clark, Svetlana Ushak and Mohammed Farid ()
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Bryan Li: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Louise Buisson: EPF School of Engineering, 94230 Cachan, France
Ruby-Jean Clark: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Svetlana Ushak: Center for Advanced Study of Lithium and Industrial Minerals (CELiMIN) and Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Procesos de Minerales, Universidad de Antofagasta, Campus Coloso, Avenida Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 02800, Chile
Mohammed Farid: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: Thermochemical energy storage using salt hydrates is a promising method for the efficient use of energy. In this study, three host matrices, expanded vermiculite, expanded clay, and expanded natural graphite were impregnated with a eutectic mixture of CaCl 2 ·6H 2 O and bischofite (MgCl 2 ·6H 2 O). These composites were subjected to various humidity conditions (30–70% relative humidity) at 20 °C over an extended hydration period to investigate their cyclability. It was shown that only expanded natural graphite could contain the deliquescent salt at high humidity over 50 cycles. Hence, the expanded natural graphite composites containing either CaCl 2 ·6H 2 O or CaCl 2 ·6H 2 O/bischofite eutectic mixture were placed in a lab-scale open packed bed reactor, providing energy densities of 150 and 120 kWh/m 3 over 20 h, respectively. The eutectic composite showed slightly lower temperature lift, water uptake rate, and power output but at reduced cost. Using the eutectic mixture also decreased the composite’s dehydration temperature at which the maximum mass loss rate occurred around 16.2 °C to 62.3 °C, allowing recharge using less energy-intensive heating methods. The cost of storing 1 kWh of energy with expanded natural graphite composites is only USD 0.08 due to its stability. This research leveraging cost-effective composites with enhanced stability, reaction kinetics, and high thermal energy storage capabilities benefits renewable energy, power generation, and the building construction research communities and industries by providing a competitive alternative to sensible heat storage technologies.

Keywords: calcium chloride hexahydrate; bischofite (magnesium chloride hexahydrate); eutectic; expanded natural graphite; expanded vermiculite; expanded clay; thermochemical energy storage (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: 2024
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