Material failure risk mitigation and regulation strategies for thermochemical heat storage reactors

Abstract

Medium- and low-temperature thermochemical energy storage materials are vulnerable to deliquescence, agglomeration, and structural fracturing under hyperhumid conditions, yet the fundamental origins of excess environmental moisture within reactors remain insufficiently characterized. This study systematically elucidates water vapor transport mechanisms between air and physical adsorption materials in thermochemical reactors, with emphasis on transient humidity transfer phenomena during incomplete charging and discharging cycles. Moisture saturation was defined as the key parameter for standardized humidity analysis. Results indicate that uncontrolled saturation arises from thermally driven vapor depression, in which water vapor desorbed from materials or transported by inlet air undergoes progressive condensation during downstream migration. Moisture saturation dynamics were governed by coupled effects of inlet air temperature, flow velocity, and relative humidity. Reverse charging was shown to effectively reduce maximum moisture saturation in cases where materials remained incompletely hydrated after prior discharging. Optimization of inlet air conditions through controlled transitions from low-temperature, high-velocity states to a predesigned charging protocol achieved a 45.7% reduction in maximum moisture saturation (from 1.38 to 0.75). In addition, preheating prior to discharging significantly suppressed reactor moisture saturation, thereby mitigating material failure risks.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

thermochemical heat storage materials / material failure risk / reverse charging / variable operating conditions

References

[1] National Bureau of Statistics of China . China Statistical Yearbook 2023. Beijing: China Statistics Press, 2023,

[2] Xu C , Yu Z , Xie Y , Ren Y , Ye F , Ju X . Study of the hydration behavior of zeolite-MgSO₄ composites for long-term heat storage. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2018, 129: 250–259

[3] Hao C , Feng G , Ma C , Barreneche C , She X . Performance analysis of a novel multi-module columnar packed bed reactor with salt hydrates for thermochemical heat storage. Journal of Energy Storage, 2024, 86: 111170

[4] Mahon D , Henshall P , Claudio G , Eames P C . Feasibility study of MgSO₄ + zeolite based composite thermochemical energy stores charged by vacuum flat plate solar thermal collectors for seasonal thermal energy storage. Renewable Energy, 2020, 145: 1799–1807

[5] Wang D , Zhang J , Xia Y , Han Y , Wang S . Investigation of adsorption performance deterioration in silica gel-water adsorption refrigeration. Energy Conversion and Management, 2012, 58: 157–162

[6] Kohler T , Biedermann T , Müller K . Experimental study of MgCl₂·6H₂O as thermochemical energy storage material. Energy Technology: Generation, Conversion, Storage, Distribution, 2018, 6(10): 1935–1940

[7] Gaeini M , Rouws A L , Salari J W O , Zondag H A , Rindt C C M . Characterization of microencapsulated and impregnated porous host materials based on calcium chloride for thermochemical energy storage. Applied Energy, 2018, 212: 1165–1177

[8] N’Tsoukpoe K E , Schmidt T , Remmelberg H U , Watts B A , Ruck W K L . A systematic multi-step screening of numerous salt hydrates for low temperature thermochemical energy storage. Applied Energy, 2014, 124: 1–16

[9] Yan T , Li T , Xu J , Chao J . Understanding the transition process of phase change and dehydration reaction of salt hydrate for thermal energy storage. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2020, 166: 114655

[10] Donkers P A J , Beckert S , Pel L , Stallmach F , Steiger M , Adan O C G . Water transport in MgSO₄·7H₂O during dehydration in view of thermal storage. Journal of Physical Chemistry C: Nanomaterials and Interfaces, 2015, 119(52): 28711–28720

[11] Clark R , Gholamibozanjani G , Woods J , Kaur S , Odukomaiya A , Hallaj S , Farid M . Experimental screening of salt hydrates for thermochemical energy storage for building heating application. Journal of Energy Storage, 2022, 51: 104415

[12] Rammelberg H U , Osterland T , Priehs B , Opel O , Ruck W K L . Thermochemical heat storage materials—performance of mixed salt hydrates. Solar Energy, 2016, 136: 571–589

[13] Pathak A D , Tranca I , Nedea S V , Zondag H A , Rindt C C M , Smeulders D M J . First-principles study of chemical mixtures of CaCl₂ and MgCl₂ hydrates for optimized seasonal heat storage. Journal of Physical Chemistry C: Nanomaterials and Interfaces, 2017, 121(38): 20576–20590

[14] Li W , Klemeš J J , Wang Q , Zeng M . Development and characteristics analysis of salt-hydrate based composite sorbent for low-grade thermochemical energy storage. Renewable Energy, 2020, 157: 920–940

[15] Zhang X , Wang F , Zhang Q , Lei X , Wang Y , Zhang Y , Cheng C , Jin T . Heat storage performance analysis of ZMS-Porous media/CaCl₂/MgSO₄ composite thermochemical heat storage materials. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2021, 230: 111246

[16] Zhang Y , Miao Q , Jia X , Jin Y , Li Z , Tan L , Ding Y . Diatomite-based magnesium sulfate composites for thermochemical energy storage: preparation and performance investigation. Solar Energy, 2021, 224: 907–915

[17] Yang H , Wang C , Tong L , Yin S , Wang L , Ding Y . Investigation of thermochemical energy storage materials for building heating applications: desorption behaviours of MgSO₄·7H₂O-silica gel composite. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024, 502: 157859

[18] Zhang Y , Wang R , Li T . Thermochemical characterizations of high-stable activated alumina/LiCl composites with multistage sorption process for thermal storage. Energy, 2018, 156: 240–249

[19] Kim H , Hong S K , Kang J G , Moon S W , Kin G , Yoon S , Wei D , Moon H , Kim B S . Exploration adsorption characteristics of zeolite 13X depending on humidity and flow rate in sorption thermal energy storage applications. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2024, 221: 125049

[20] Abohamzeh E , Hosseinizadeh S E , Frey G . Numerical investigation and response surface optimization of a sorption heat storage systems performance using Y-shaped fins. Journal of Energy Storage, 2024, 84: 110803

[21] Ye H , Tao Y , Chang H , He Y . Structure optimization of a novel porous tree-shaped fin for improving thermochemical heat storage performance. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2023, 225: 120190

[22] Luo X , Li W , Zhang L , Zeng M , Klemes J J , Wang Q . Effects evaluation of Fin layouts and configurations on discharging performance of double-pipe thermochemical energy storage reactor. Energy, 2023, 282: 128821

[23] Wang C , Yang H , Nie B , Zuo B , Li Z , Han J , Tong L , Wang L , Ding Y . Discharging behavior of a shell-and-tube based thermochemical reactor for thermal energy storage: modeling and experimental validation. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2022, 183: 122160

[24] Rui J , Luo Y , Wang M , Peng J , She X . Design and performance evaluation of an innovative salt hydrates-based reactor for thermochemical energy storage. Journal of Energy Storage, 2022, 55: 105799

[25] Manila M R , Mitra S , Dutta P . Studies on dynamics of two-stage air cooled water/silica gel adsorption system. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2020, 178: 115552

[26] Farcot L , Le Pierrès N , Michel B , Fourmigue J F , Papillon P . Numerical investigations of a continuous thermochemical heat storage reactor. Journal of Energy Storage, 2018, 20: 109–119

[27] Michel B , Neveu P , Mazet N . Comparison of closed and open thermochemical processes, for long-term thermal energy storage applications. Energy, 2014, 72: 702–716

[28] Li W , Guo H , Zeng M , Wang Q . Performance of SrBr₂·6H₂O based seasonal thermochemical heat storage in a novel multilayered sieve reactor. Energy Conversion and Management, 2019, 198: 111843

[29] Muthusamy J P , Abanades S , Shamim T , Calvet N . Numerical modeling and optimization of an entrained particle-flow thermochemical solar reactor for metal oxide reduction. Energy Procedia, 2015, 69: 947–956

[30] Zhang Y , Hu M , Chen Z , Su Y , Riffat S . Performance study of a thermochemical energy storage reactor embedded with a microchannel tube heat exchanger for water heating. Journal of Energy Storage, 2024, 78: 110043

[31] Serbezov A , Sotirchos S V . On the formulation of linear driving force approximations for adsorption and desorption of multicomponent gaseous mixtures in sorbent particles. Separation and Purification Technology, 2001, 24(1): 343–367

[32] Sircar S , Hufton J R . Why does the linear driving force model for adsorption kinetics work. Adsorption, 2000, 6(2): 137–147

[33] Ruivo C R , Figueiredo A R , Costa J J . Correlations for the mass transfer coefficient in desiccant matrices when using linear driving force and pseudo-gas-side-controlled models. Energy, 2014, 75: 613–623

[34] Zeng C , Liu S , Yang L , Han X , Song M , Shukla A . Investigation of a three-phase thermochemical reactor through an experimentally validated numerical modelling. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2019, 162: 114223

[35] Xu J , Wei Q , Peng S , Yu Y . Error of saturation vapor pressure calculated by different formulas and its effect on calculation of reference evapotranspiration in high latitude cold region. Procedia Engineering, 2012, 28: 43–48

[36] Mohammed R H , Mesalhy O , Elsayed M L , Hou S , Su M , Chow L C . Physical properties and adsorption kinetics of silica-gel/water for adsorption chillers. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2018, 137: 368–376

[37] Aydin D , Casey S P , Chen X , Riffat S . Numerical and experimental analysis of a novel heat pump driven sorption storage heater. Applied Energy, 2018, 211: 954–974

[38] Ren J , Bai C , Chang C , Peng X , Li B , Jing Q . Experimental and numerical simulation study on the dispersion and explosion process of solid-liquid-air mixed three phase components. Combustion and Flame, 2024, 261: 113336

[39] Yuan Y , Cao J , Zhang Z , Xiao Z , Wang X . Experimental and numerical simulation study of a novel double shell-passes multi-layer helically coiled tubes heat exchanger. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2024, 227: 125497

[40] Han X , Liu S , Zeng C , Yang L , Shukla A , Shen Y . Investigating the performance enhancement of copper fins on trapezoidal thermochemical reactor. Renewable Energy, 2020, 150: 1037–1046

[41] Bellia L , Błaszczak U , Fragliasso F , Gryko L . Matching CIE illuminants to measured spectral power distributions: a method to evaluate non-visual potential of daylight in two European cities. Solar Energy, 2020, 208: 830–858

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press