Coated Energy Storage Material for Fluidized Bed Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage systems in fluidized beds face challenges such as difficult fluidization, high energy consumption, and structural changes over time, which affect the efficiency and longevity of the system.
Innovation Solution
The system employs energy storage material volumes coated with an outer layer of solid particles, where the volumes range from 1-1000 μm and the particles range from 1-500 nm, facilitating fluidization, reducing friction, and allowing for the use of various materials including liquids and semi-solids, thereby improving heat transfer and minimizing structural changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If energy storage material is used in conventional forms without coating, then the system structure is simple, but fluidization is difficult and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an outer layer of solid particles as an intermediary between the energy storage material volumes and the fluidizing medium. This outer layer mediates the interaction by reducing friction and facilitating fluidization, allowing the energy storage material to be easily fluidized without direct contact between the medium and the material surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the energy storage material by coating it with solid particles of specific size ranges (1-500 nm). This parameter change in surface characteristics fundamentally alters the fluidization behavior, enabling easy fluidization while maintaining the energy storage functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If energy storage material undergoes structural changes over time, then the system can adapt to different conditions, but the material suffers impairment and lifespan is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The outer layer of solid particles serves as a protective cushion that is applied beforehand to the energy storage material volumes. This cushioning layer prevents direct mechanical stress and structural degradation during fluidization and operation, allowing the material to undergo necessary structural changes for adaptability while protecting against impairment that would reduce lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an outer layer that acts as a flexible protective shell around the energy storage material volumes. This shell allows the underlying material to undergo structural adaptations while maintaining integrity and preventing degradation, thus extending the operational lifespan of the material.
3Power
If conventional energy storage materials are used, then the system design is simple, but heat transfer efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The outer layer of solid particles creates a porous structure around the energy storage material volumes. This porous configuration significantly increases the surface area available for heat transfer while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency without excessive complexity.
4Quantity of substance
If energy storage material volumes are large, then the storage capacity is high, but fluidization becomes difficult and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer layer of solid particles acts as a mediator that reduces friction between large energy storage material volumes and the fluidizing medium. This intermediary layer enables even large volumes with high storage capacity to be easily fluidized by minimizing direct contact and friction forces.
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 enhances the fluidization process, reduces energy consumption, and extends the system's lifespan by minimizing structural changes and improving heat transfer, allowing for efficient and long-term energy storage without significant impairment.
Implementation Method 1
EP 2984435 discloses an energy storage system comprising a fluidized bed where for instance CaO/Ca(OH)2 can be used as energy storage material
Implementation Method 2
The solid particles (5) take up movements in the energy storage material (2). The solid particles (5) can move and rearrange within the outer layer (4) as the shape and size of the volume (3) change within reasonable limits
Implementation Method 3
b) transferring heat to the energy storage material (2) in the fluidized bed apparatus (1) to charge the energy storage material (2)
Implementation Method 4
System and method for energy storage... for storage of energy in chemical form using energy storage material
Implementation Method 5
b) optionally initiating a reaction of the energy storage material (2) in the fluidized bed apparatus (1) so that heat is released
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system for energy storage comprising: a fluidized bed apparatus with an energy storage material, wherein the energy storage material is provided in volumes coated with an outer layer of solid particles of a different material, wherein the volumes have a largest size in the interval 1-1000 μm and wherein the solid particles (5) have a largest size in the interval 1-500 nm. Advantages of the system include that structural changes in the energy storage material over time are minimized so that the energy storage material can be used over many cycles without any noticeable impairment. The heat transfer to and from the energy storage material is improved. The system can further be used for CO2 capture.