Journal
ENERGY REPORTS
Volume 6, Issue -, Pages 25-34Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.egyr.2020.02.024
Keywords
Solar thermal collectors; Silver nanofluids; Thermal storage; Salt hydrates; Decarbonising
Categories
Funding
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through the Centre for Doctoral Training in Energy Storage and its Applications grant at the University of Southampton, UK [EP/L016818/1]
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This paper explores the feasibility of using renewable solar thermal energy linked to a salt hydrate thermochemical store (reversible chemical reaction involving the addition / removal of water from a salt) to provide a zero-carbon heating and hot water option for an average UK home. Volumetric absorption based on diluted colloidal suspensions or nanofluids containing wavelength tuneable plasmonic silver nanoparticles are a possible means for enhancing solar thermal capture. To make full use of this captured energy, it requires inter-seasonal storage in a suitable energy dense, high efficiency thermal store. As such even the potentially highest energy density obtainable for a salt hydrate thermochemical store would still need a store of greater than 35 m(3) (10 MWh) to nearly meet current winter heating and hot water demands (with 1 discharge cycle per annum). With a possible increase in collector efficiency to over 70% such a system would collect enough solar energy annually to become viable for homes with a greater than average (>15 m(2)) roof area, a lower than median consumption (<12,000 kWhyr(-1)) and enough space for a large thermochemical store (<= 46 m(3)). This paper concludes by detailing the significant additional research efforts required to bring this possible decarbonising solution to a prototype level of maturity. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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