Thermal energy storage (TES) can play a pivotal role in synchronizing energy demand and supply in buildings. Thermochemical (i.e. Water sorption based) heat storage (THS) has higher storage density than SHS and LHS. In THS, thermochemical energy can be stored independent of the time without any heat loss, permitting solar energy storage during the summer to meet heating demand in winter. This fellowship would enable the design, optimization, construction and testing of a first-of-its-kind prototype efficient thermochemical heat storage system using novel nano-composite sorption materials and solar air collectors for short/long (seasonal) term storage of solar energy in domestic and industrial applications.
The project has fully achieved its objectives and milestones for the period.
The overall objective of the project is to investigate a new thermochemical cooling and heating system suitable for building application/built environment. In comparison to the typical desiccant system, this project explored the use of endothermic thermochemical cooling system for practical building application which eliminated the need of complicated system and issues in regard to desiccant leakage. Meanwhile, for the thermochemical heat storage system, the aim of this research is to propose innovative composite materials to optimise the performance of a THS system. Up to the current review report, this will be performed by investigating innovative salts mixture into composite materials and also optimising the potential of TES system by combining with suitable highly porous materials as composite THS materials.
Furthermore, for TES heating system, suitable reactor designs developed and tested.
The prototype is used for demonstration of novel energy systems/technologies. the Demonstration/field testing of the prototype are under real building-climatic contexts.
