Thermochemical Storage via Boric Acid Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermochemical energy storage systems face limitations due to high costs and low number of storage cycles, primarily due to agglomeration issues in the boric acid/boron(III) oxide reaction system, which reduces their practical application beyond laboratory scale.
Innovation Solution
The process involves suspending orthoboric acid in a suspension medium, such as refined rapeseed oil or thermal oil, to reduce agglomeration and increase the number of storage cycles by controlling temperature and pressure, allowing for reversible reactions between orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, and boric oxide, thereby enhancing storage capacity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If orthoboric acid is used in a conventional thermochemical energy storage system, then energy storage density is achieved, but agglomeration occurs reducing the number of storage cycles
Solution Approach 1:
A suspension medium is introduced as an intermediary substance between orthoboric acid particles to prevent direct contact and agglomeration. The suspension medium acts as a mediator that maintains particle separation while allowing the thermochemical reaction to proceed, thereby preserving both energy storage density and cycle reliability over extended operation periods
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state and environmental parameters of the orthoboric acid are changed by suspending it in a liquid medium rather than using it in pure solid form. This parameter change from direct solid-solid contact to solid-liquid suspension fundamentally alters the reaction dynamics, preventing agglomeration while maintaining the necessary energy storage functionality
2Productivity
If a fluidized bed reactor is used to prevent agglomeration, then reaction kinetics are accelerated, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension medium serves as a simple intermediary that provides fluid-like behavior to the solid orthoboric acid particles without requiring complex fluidized bed infrastructure. This approach achieves enhanced reaction kinetics through improved heat and mass transfer while avoiding the mechanical complexity of fluidized bed reactors
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by conducting the reaction in a liquid suspension phase rather than in a gas-fluidized solid bed. This parameter change from gas-solid to liquid-solid system simplifies the reactor design while maintaining accelerated reaction kinetics through better contact between reactants
3Reliability
If orthoboric acid is suspended in a suspension medium, then agglomeration is reduced increasing storage cycles, but energy storage density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The concentration and composition parameters of the suspension medium are optimized to achieve the minimum necessary volume for preventing agglomeration while maximizing the proportion of active orthoboric acid material. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system maintains high energy storage density even with the presence of the suspension medium
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly increases the maximum number of storage cycles by a factor of 10 to 100, maintains constant storage capacity, and reduces operating costs, while improving reaction kinetics and heat transfer, making the system more viable for practical use.
Implementation Method 1
the orthoboric acid (H3BO3) is present suspended in a suspension medium
Implementation Method 2
the suspension medium containing orthoboric acid (H3BO3) is brought to a temperature at which water loss occurs via an energy source
Implementation Method 3
heat is stored by endothermic reactions and released by exothermic reactions
Implementation Method 4
orthoboric acid (H3BO3) is converted into boric oxide (B2O3), metaboric acid (HBO2, H2B4O7) or boric oxide (B2O3), and metaboric acid (HBO2, H2B4O7) by loss of water
Implementation Method 5
the reversible reaction equilibrium between boric acid and anhydride of boric acid (borontrioxide) according to the reaction scheme 2H3BO3⇄B2O3+3H2O as a system for storing energy
Implementation Method 6
heat is stored by endothermic reactions and released by exothermic reactions
Implementation Method 7
boric oxide (B2O3) or metaboric acid (HBO2, H2B4O7) or boric oxide (B2O3) and metaboric acid (HBO2, H2B4O7) are converted into orthoboric acid (H3BO3) by reaction with water
Data Source
AI summary
Process for the reversible thermochemical storage of energy and release of energy, wherein, for the storage of energy, orthoboric acid is converted into boric oxide, metaboric acid or boric oxide and metaboric acid by loss of water, wherein, for the release of energy, boric oxide or metaboric acid or boric oxide and metaboric acid are converted into orthoboric acid by reaction with water, wherein the reactions take place in a suspension medium, wherein for the reversible storage of energy, orthoboric acid is present suspended in the suspension medium, and wherein the suspension medium containing orthoboric acid is brought to a temperature at which water loss occurs via an energy source, wherein for the reversible thermochemical release of energy boric oxide and/or metaboric acid are present suspended in a suspension medium, wherein water is added to the suspension medium containing boric oxide or metaboric acid or boric oxide and metaboric acid so that the reaction proceeds to orthoboric acid, wherein the heat generated in this process is dissipated to a heat consumer.