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Academic Lectures / Courses
Mechanical Engineering Seminar February 21st, 4-5 PM
Department / Organization: ME
Dr. Adrienne Lavine, Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
Thermochemical Energy Storage with Amonia
Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) has the advantage of higher energy density as compared to sensible energy storage. This seminar presents recent advances in ammonia-based TCES supported by the DOE SunShot program. The goal of SunShot is to “reduce the total installed cost of solar energy systems to $.06 per kWh by 2020.” For concentrating solar thermal power, Sunshot has established cost targets for each subsytem, including $15 per kWh for the energy storage subsystem at storage temperatures greater than 600° C for integration with high-performance power blocks. In ammonia-based TCES, ammonia is dissociated endothermically into nitrogen and hydrogen gasses as it absorbs solar energy during the daytime. The reverse reaction releases energy to heat a working fluid such as steam, to produce electricity on demand. Ammonia-based TCES has several positive features: no side reactions, inexpensive constituents with good stability at the proposed operating conditions and a large density difference between liquid reactant and product gases that allow for a single storage tank. In addition, the immense industrial experience with ammonia synthesis and handling can be leveraged. However, challenges remain. This seminar will discuss recent progress on advancing the technology by reaching higher temperatures (consistent with an advanced power block) and finding solutions for storing the gaseous reactants.