Non-negligible corrosion process in a novel sulfur-based energy storage system

Thermal energy storage (TES) can provide significant dispatchability for thermal systems, and the recently developed sulfur-based TES is expected to provide omni-advantageous figures of merit. However, due to sulfur's reactivity with metallic components, its corrosion process is detrimental to stable thermal performance. In this study, we investigated the corrosion behavior in a model sulfur-based TES system (i.e., sulfur in stainless steel 316) and quantified the continuous corrosion layer growth rate kinetically and dynamically. The detailed composition and temperatureand time-dependence of the corrosion layer have been clarified. With this understanding, we have further compared temperature variation and heat transfer coefficient in both charge/discharge scenarios for a sulfur-based TES storage element with/without corrosion layer. The results demonstrated the non-negligible corrosion effects on thermal performance of sulfur-based TES system after long-term operation. This study provides insightful analyses into the hot corrosion process in novel sulfur-based TES and offers a solid basis for further system optimization.

Automated summary

This study investigates the corrosion behavior in a sulfur-based TES system and quantifies the continuous corrosion layer growth rate. The results demonstrate the significant impact of corrosion on the thermal performance of sulfur-based TES system after prolonged operation.