Thermal energy storage plays an important role in retaining energy overages for utilization during energy demand periods. These types of energy sources, such as solar and wind, are intermittent in nature and benefit from thermal energy storage (TES) as the key to heat recovery and performance. Optimization of these types of thermal conversion systems will only be possible if they can be integrated with thermal energy storage. Although there are many material types that will store and release thermal energy, phase change materials have been shown to be the most effective due to their high latent heat of fusion and low thermal conductivity. Nanoparticle additives and nanocomposites for use in polymer/paraffin type materials have the potential to enhance thermal properties of phase change materials. Current ridged polymers with nanocomposites have shown issues with agglomeration of the nanoparticles in high temperature polymer synthesis leading to poor thermal storage efficiency. Smart Rocks use a nanoparticle core “pearl” encased in multiple absorber and containment shell materials which have shown thermal stability and enhancement in a variety of thermal cycles and are environmentally friendly with no thermal runaway hazards. Smart Rocks are a non-electric chemical heat storage system with a thermal conductivity much lower than those for metals or ceramic materials, making them good thermal insulators. Smart Rocks TES system, which can be linked in tandem as small module units, has the potential to reduce the size of current thermal storage units and the potential in battery storage to increase the available power from a battery and decrease the time required to recharge a battery.

Smart rocks for thermal energy storage

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.