Thermochemical Storage of Solar Heat via Advanced Reactors/Heat exchangers based on Ceramic Foams

Objective

"ThermoChemical Storage (TCS) involves the exploitation of the heat effects of reversible chemical reactions for the “storage” of solar heat. Among gas-solid reactions proposed for such an approach the utilization of a pair of redox reactions involving multivalent solid oxides has several inherent advantages that make it attractive for large-scale deployment.
The new concept introduced in the current proposal is instead of using packed or fluidized beds of the redox material as the heat storage medium, to employ ceramic foam structures made entirely or partially from the redox oxide materials. In this respect the proposal involves an Experienced Researcher (applicant) who is a specialist in the synthesis of advanced oxide redox powder materials and in the shaping/manufacture of advanced porous ceramic structures for demanding applications, to be hosted in a world-class
research institute (host organization) that is a solar simulator/furnace/tower facilities owner, specialized in the design and construction of high-temperature solar reactors. The main research training objectives for the applicant are related with the acquisition of hands-on experience with the design, operation and requirements of this variety of real concentrated solar power facilities and systems available at the host institution that will be used as test bench for pilot scale testing and validation of the project’s technological innovations .
The proposed concept combines the demonstrated technologies of ceramic volumetric receivers and structured solar reactors with the inherent advantages of foam structures and promotes them one step further to the development of an integrated receiver/reactor/heat exchanger configuration with enhanced heat storage characteristics, through a series of innovations to be implemented concerning new reactor/heat exchanger designs, enhanced incorporation of redox materials in the reactor’s structure and improved redox material compositions."

Fields of science

• natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryorganic reactions
• engineering and technologymechanical engineeringthermodynamic engineeringheat engineering
• engineering and technologymaterials engineeringceramics
• engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyconcentrated solar power

Programme(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development"

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Coordinator