Dual-cavity method and device for collecting and storing solar energy with metal oxide particles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar energy storage technologies face challenges with low energy flux density, high storage costs, and safety risks due to the use of quartz glass in conventional chemical reactors, which are prone to contamination and high production costs.
Innovation Solution
A dual-cavity reactor using metal oxide particles to collect and store solar energy, eliminating the need for quartz glass by separating the light receiving and reacting cavities with a high-temperature separating plate, and utilizing a secondary concentrator, oxidation heat exchanger, and recuperator to enhance energy transfer and storage efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional chemical reactors use quartz glass to seal the reacting cavity, then high temperature resistance is achieved, but production cost increases and contamination risk arises
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor is divided into two separate cavities: a light receiving cavity for solar concentration and a reacting cavity for chemical reactions. This segmentation eliminates the need for quartz glass sealing between the cavities, using instead a simpler high-temperature resistant plate design that reduces production cost while maintaining high temperature resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
A high-temperature resistant plate serves as an intermediary component between the light receiving cavity and reacting cavity. This plate can withstand high temperatures without requiring expensive quartz glass, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining the necessary thermal resistance for the reactor operation.
2Temperature
If quartz glass is used to seal the reactor, then high temperature resistance is achieved, but contamination of the glass occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the reactor into separate light receiving and reacting cavities, the contamination issue is isolated to the reacting cavity side. The separating plate is designed to withstand contamination without affecting the optical properties of the light receiving cavity, thus maintaining high temperature resistance while preventing contamination of critical components.
3Quantity of substance
If solar energy is stored as chemical energy in reduced metal oxide particles, then storage density increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reduced metal oxide particles serve multiple functions: they act as both the storage medium for chemical energy and the reactant for the thermochemical cycle. This multi-functionality simplifies the system by eliminating the need for separate storage containers and handling systems, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining high storage density.
Solution Approach 2:
The reduced metal oxide particles automatically cycle between reduced and oxidized states through the thermochemical reactions, enabling self-regulating energy storage and release. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for complex control systems and external intervention, simplifying the overall system while maintaining high storage density.
4Use of energy by moving object
If solar radiation is concentrated to increase energy flux density, then energy storage efficiency improves, but heat loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous operation by cycling metal oxide particles through reduction and oxidation reactions. The continuous circulation of particles ensures that solar energy is continuously converted and stored, minimizing heat loss through sustained thermal processes and maintaining high energy storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transitions and chemical state changes of metal oxide particles (between reduced and oxidized states) to store and release energy. These transitions occur at controlled temperatures that minimize heat loss, allowing efficient energy concentration and storage while managing thermal losses through the inherent thermodynamics of the material transitions.
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 solution achieves high energy storage density, reduces storage costs, and improves system safety by avoiding glass-related issues, enhancing heat transfer rates, and optimizing gas usage, thereby improving overall system efficiency and economic viability.
Implementation Method 1
Metal oxide particles enter the light receiving cavity through a particle inlet of the light receiving cavity... The solar energy is absorbed by both the metal oxide particles and separating plate at the same time, turning the solar energy to thermal energy
Implementation Method 2
The required heat comes from the sensible heat energy with the metal oxide particles per se and from the thermal radiation energy emitted by the separating plate to the reacting cavity
Implementation Method 3
Solar thermochemical reaction is a strongly endothermic reaction with high temperature... As the temperature of the metal oxide particles gradually increases, the metal oxide particles are going to decompose and be reduced, releasing oxygen and absorbing heat energy
Implementation Method 4
The metal oxides discharged from the particle outlet of the oxidation heat exchanger... to react with the oxygen gas from the gas inlet of the oxidation heat exchanger within the oxidation heat exchanger, releasing heat which is transferred to a medium to be heated
Data Source
AI summary
A dual-cavity method and device for collecting and storing solar energy with metal oxide particles. Solar radiation irradiates into a light receiving cavity of a dual-cavity, heat-collecting reactor to heat a separating plate and preheat metal oxide particles. The preheated metal oxide particles then enter a reacting cavity. As temperature increases, the metal oxide particles reduce to release oxygen, which discharges through a gas outlet. Reduced metal oxide particles discharge through a particle outlet into a particle storage tank, and then into an oxidation heat exchanger to react with the discharged oxygen discharged to release and transfer stored chemical energy to a medium to be heated. The oxidized metal oxide particles are conveyed into a storage tank, and again enter into a particle inlet of the light receiving cavity. Ambient air controls the gas flow rate in the reactor and the reacting rate in exchanger.