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Innovative high temperature thermal energy storage concept for CSP plants exceeding 50% efficiency

Objective

Energy provision is a big challenge for our Society, being the present production/consumption paradigm not sustainable. To change current trends, a large increase in the share of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) is crucial. The effectiveness of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) poses Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems at the forefront, as the first dispatchable option among all intermittent RESs. In order to realize the CSP potential, the efficiency of the adopted Power Conversion Units (PCUs) must grow over 50%, entailing temperature levels of the order of 1000 °C: promising solutions are based on Brayton thermodynamic cycles. This project stems from the observation that no existing TES option can be coupled to such PCUs and/or work at these temperatures, and aims at filling this gap. Three interrelated research objectives are proposed, to prove the feasibility and assess the potential of
1. an innovative CSP concept whereby (i) the receiver is co-located with the TES vessel, (ii)
the solar radiation is directly absorbed by the liquid storage medium, and (iii) the thermal
power is withdrawn from the TES by bubbling a gas through it, which can thus be used as
working fluid in a Brayton cycle. An efficient and simple system results, without irradiated
metal tubes, secondary fluid loops, heat exchangers, valves, nor pumps;
2. the adoption of common glass-forming compounds as novel TES materials. These are nontoxic
and inexpensive (mainly sand), and the related know-how is already available from
the glass manufacturing field, whose deep synergies with the CSP sector will be explored
in a multi-disciplinary perspective;
3. the CSP systems resulting from the integration between receiver–TES and PCUs.
The envisaged approach combines advanced theoretical and experimental research activities to achieve these goals. The final scope is to inaugurate a new branch in the field of solar systems, with the potential of enabling the CSP plants we need to ensure a bright Future.

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Topic(s)

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MSCA-IF-GF - Global Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2014

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITA DI PISA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 259 558,20
Address
LUNGARNO PACINOTTI 43/44
56126 PISA
Italy

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Region
Centro (IT) Toscana Pisa
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 259 558,20

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