Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ECHO (EFFICIENT COMPACT MODULAR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
ECHO project will develop and demonstrate a new flexible system exploiting thermal energy storage (TES).
Energy storage is a key factor to reach EU aim to be climate-neutral. The need to develop a flexible energy system, managing the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources and grid electricity production and demand, finds a solution in the potentialities of TES, able to provide electricity load shifting by energy conversion and storage (Figure 1).
ECHO will focus on five objectives, each of them representing a fundamental step
1.Definition of fundamental parameters for the TES system design;
2.Selection of innovative, user-safe, sustainable, efficient TCMs, PCMs and PCMs ice-based for thermal energy storage, integrating different solutions and optimizing the heat exchange;
3.Building a plug&play, complete, sustainable, flexible, modular, digitally controlled and competitive system;
4.Demonstrating the use of innovative energy storage solutions to have more resilient, adaptive and smart HVAC systems, able to operate peak load reduction;
5.Awareness raising about cost-effectiveness, affordability, energy supply security and network grid stability driven by the use of TES.
The employed methodology is shown in Figure 2.
The advantages of using TES will be studied through a holistic approach, considering various parameters (such as country, policy, energy production, regulatory context, etc.) in the design. Particular attention will be paid to the potential of ECHO within future flexibility markets based on distributed micro-storage grids. Using an agent-based simulation of numerous individual ECHO systems working together (ECHOTSS), we will simulate and assess this potential, taking into account key technical, economic, and regulatory aspects.
Energy storage is a key factor to reach EU aim to be climate-neutral. The need to develop a flexible energy system, managing the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources and grid electricity production and demand, finds a solution in the potentialities of TES, able to provide electricity load shifting by energy conversion and storage (Figure 1).
ECHO will focus on five objectives, each of them representing a fundamental step
1.Definition of fundamental parameters for the TES system design;
2.Selection of innovative, user-safe, sustainable, efficient TCMs, PCMs and PCMs ice-based for thermal energy storage, integrating different solutions and optimizing the heat exchange;
3.Building a plug&play, complete, sustainable, flexible, modular, digitally controlled and competitive system;
4.Demonstrating the use of innovative energy storage solutions to have more resilient, adaptive and smart HVAC systems, able to operate peak load reduction;
5.Awareness raising about cost-effectiveness, affordability, energy supply security and network grid stability driven by the use of TES.
The employed methodology is shown in Figure 2.
The advantages of using TES will be studied through a holistic approach, considering various parameters (such as country, policy, energy production, regulatory context, etc.) in the design. Particular attention will be paid to the potential of ECHO within future flexibility markets based on distributed micro-storage grids. Using an agent-based simulation of numerous individual ECHO systems working together (ECHOTSS), we will simulate and assess this potential, taking into account key technical, economic, and regulatory aspects.
In the first 18 months, the performed activities followed the forecasted expectations.
Analysis of the state of the art in coupled storage system/renewable energy/HVAC&R applications has been performed and a comprehensive list of TES technologies has been compiled. A database has been created, developing the TES Taxonomy, and performing a SWOT analysis on the different facets of energy policy and regulation in the different countries-
The project has also developed specific internal key indicators (IKIs) specifically tailored to monitor the TES outcomes.
Additionally, the ECHOTSS model has been refined and validated with real data from the distribution grid of Crevillente, considering
·ECHO Clima: Predicts the thermal part of electricity consumption
·ECHO Grid: A grid-based model that evaluates the technical impact of TES devices
·ECHO Cloud: Assesses the economic benefits of TES devices.
A deep analysis of the materials involved in the TES systems has been conducted. TCMs to be employed in the reactor have been identified in CaCl2 in vermiculite matrix. Several impregnation methods have been studied at the lab scale to fabricate property-enhanced composite TCMs.
After studying different reactor designs, both numerically and experimentally, the best configuration of the TCMs reactor has been found in the plate-type modular reactor. For water-based thermochemical storage systems, two reactor designs incorporating an air-to-water heat exchanger have been proposed, indicating outperforming using a detached finned air-to-water heat exchanger.
PCMs included in the TES system have been studied.
Various tests were performed on organic PCMs and hydrated salts as materials needed to store energy required for air humidification during the TCMs discharge. An organic PCM has been selected.
Moreover, some eutectic formulations have been designed and tested for the cold ice accumulator and Na2CO3·H2O has been selected.
For the insulation, some PCM integrated insulations in PU have been studied at lab scale and selected for their testing in the prototype.
Besides, an innovative treatment for the corrosion protection of metal alloys has been developed to be used in the heat exchanger and reactor.
Based on ECHO TES design and with the goal of creating interoperable and robust solution, high-level control system architecture was designed.
The first prototype of mid-level control was developed, based on the mixed integer programming. The necessary components for enabling seamless connection and data exchange between on-site (low and mid-level) and high-level control were identified and defined.
As regards the lab-scale prototype of the ECHO system, the design of the plant has been developed on the base of an air handling unit layout. The final design of the plant has been completed, the monitoring system has been defined and the preliminary methodology of the control system has been proposed.
A water/glycolate water heat pump has been identified as the best configuration.
In addition, a simplified numerical model of the ECHO system has been implemented.
Initial activities related to LCA and LCCA have been carried out in these months, as the definition of the levels of assessment, the state-of-the-art revision and the LCA/LCCA methodology to be applied.
Each of these significant results underscores the ongoing progress towards meeting the objectives set at the start of the project, providing a robust platform for the next phases.
Analysis of the state of the art in coupled storage system/renewable energy/HVAC&R applications has been performed and a comprehensive list of TES technologies has been compiled. A database has been created, developing the TES Taxonomy, and performing a SWOT analysis on the different facets of energy policy and regulation in the different countries-
The project has also developed specific internal key indicators (IKIs) specifically tailored to monitor the TES outcomes.
Additionally, the ECHOTSS model has been refined and validated with real data from the distribution grid of Crevillente, considering
·ECHO Clima: Predicts the thermal part of electricity consumption
·ECHO Grid: A grid-based model that evaluates the technical impact of TES devices
·ECHO Cloud: Assesses the economic benefits of TES devices.
A deep analysis of the materials involved in the TES systems has been conducted. TCMs to be employed in the reactor have been identified in CaCl2 in vermiculite matrix. Several impregnation methods have been studied at the lab scale to fabricate property-enhanced composite TCMs.
After studying different reactor designs, both numerically and experimentally, the best configuration of the TCMs reactor has been found in the plate-type modular reactor. For water-based thermochemical storage systems, two reactor designs incorporating an air-to-water heat exchanger have been proposed, indicating outperforming using a detached finned air-to-water heat exchanger.
PCMs included in the TES system have been studied.
Various tests were performed on organic PCMs and hydrated salts as materials needed to store energy required for air humidification during the TCMs discharge. An organic PCM has been selected.
Moreover, some eutectic formulations have been designed and tested for the cold ice accumulator and Na2CO3·H2O has been selected.
For the insulation, some PCM integrated insulations in PU have been studied at lab scale and selected for their testing in the prototype.
Besides, an innovative treatment for the corrosion protection of metal alloys has been developed to be used in the heat exchanger and reactor.
Based on ECHO TES design and with the goal of creating interoperable and robust solution, high-level control system architecture was designed.
The first prototype of mid-level control was developed, based on the mixed integer programming. The necessary components for enabling seamless connection and data exchange between on-site (low and mid-level) and high-level control were identified and defined.
As regards the lab-scale prototype of the ECHO system, the design of the plant has been developed on the base of an air handling unit layout. The final design of the plant has been completed, the monitoring system has been defined and the preliminary methodology of the control system has been proposed.
A water/glycolate water heat pump has been identified as the best configuration.
In addition, a simplified numerical model of the ECHO system has been implemented.
Initial activities related to LCA and LCCA have been carried out in these months, as the definition of the levels of assessment, the state-of-the-art revision and the LCA/LCCA methodology to be applied.
Each of these significant results underscores the ongoing progress towards meeting the objectives set at the start of the project, providing a robust platform for the next phases.
In the first 18 months, research focused on the development of a high-performance thermochemical material (TCM) for use in thermochemical storage systems using various impregnation methods. The found V-CaCl2 composite achieves a high energy density, surpassing many reported values in the literature. The composite demonstrated stable performance over multiple cycles and promises enhanced energy storage. Continued investigation will be conducted to optimize the synthesis process for mass production and economic viability.
Innovative treatments for the corrosion protection of metal alloys have been developed, to be used in the heat exchanger and reactor in contact with salts. A first type of protective coating was obtained from industrial tomato production waste, while alternative treatments based on epoxy polymer have been proposed.
The design of the first ECHO TES prototype has been developed on the base of an air handling unit layout, allowing to take advantage of more standard components, reliability, and high flexibility of the prototype system.
Innovative treatments for the corrosion protection of metal alloys have been developed, to be used in the heat exchanger and reactor in contact with salts. A first type of protective coating was obtained from industrial tomato production waste, while alternative treatments based on epoxy polymer have been proposed.
The design of the first ECHO TES prototype has been developed on the base of an air handling unit layout, allowing to take advantage of more standard components, reliability, and high flexibility of the prototype system.