Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Prototype Based on Geopolymer Concrete for High-Temperature Applications

Abstract

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems are dependent on materials capable of operating at elevated temperatures for their performance and for prevailing as an integral part of industries. High-temperature TES assists in increasing the dispatchability of present power plants as well as increasing the efficiency in heat industry applications. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based concretes are widely used as a sensible TES material in different applications. However, their performance is limited to operation temperatures below 400 °C due to the thermal degradation processes in its structure. In the present work, the performance and heat storage capacity of geopolymer-based concrete (GEO) have been studied experimentally and a comparison was carried out with OPC-based materials. Two thermal scenarios were examined, and results indicate that GEO withstand high running temperatures, higher than 500 °C, revealing higher thermal storage capacity than OPC-based materials. The high thermal energy storage, along with the high thermal diffusion coefficient at high temperatures, makes GEO a potential material that has good competitive properties compared with OPC-based TES. Experiments show the ability of geopolymer-based concrete for thermal energy storage applications, especially in industries that require feasible material for operation at high temperatures.

Solar Energy Harnessing Technologies towards De-Carbonization: A Systematic Review of Processes and Systems

“…According to [57], cement types are capable of withstanding temperatures greater than 500 °C. The lifetime of a solar energy collector is estimated at around 25 years, covering the time horizon of a long-term economic analysis without the need for its replacement.…”

“…According to [57], cement types are capable of withstanding temperatures greater than 500 • C. The lifetime of a solar energy collector is estimated at around 25 years, covering the time horizon of a long-term economic analysis without the need for its replacement. Further advantages relating to the passive storage system in cement include the low cost of the working medium, satisfactory heat transfer in and out of the solid medium due to the good contact between the solid medium and the pipes, their friendliness to the environment, and their simplicity in design.…”

“…The cost of the container varies for the different storage methods; only in the case where thermal oil is used, its price is 1000 EUR/m 3 . The cost of maintenance and operation of the system in percentage is 1% [57,60]. Solid-particle thermal energy storage (SPTES) is an emerging technology that has the potential to improve the performance and reliability of thermal energy storage systems.…”

A Numerical Study of Geopolymer Concrete Thermal Energy Storage: Benchmarking TES Module Design and Optimizing Thermal Performance

“…Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete has long been the cornerstone of construction and infrastructure projects, but its limitations at high temperatures have spurred research into alternative concretes [15].In recent years, Geopolymer-based concrete (GEO) has emerged as a competitive candidate for TES applications, particularly in high-temperature industrial contexts [15,16,22]. Relative to conventional materials like Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), GEO boasts a superior thermal storage capacity and can endure temperatures beyond 500 • C [16,17]. Such thermal resistance aptly situates GEO as an optimal selection for TES systems that demand operation under severe thermal conditions [15,16].…”

“…Relative to conventional materials like Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), GEO boasts a superior thermal storage capacity and can endure temperatures beyond 500 • C [16,17]. Such thermal resistance aptly situates GEO as an optimal selection for TES systems that demand operation under severe thermal conditions [15,16].…”