A novel thermochemical energy storage and transportation concept based on concentrated solar irradiation-aided CaO-looping

To overcome the temporal and regional gap of surplus solar energy, the concept of thermochemical heat storage is discussed. In this particular case, the application of CaO and CaCO3 as energy carrying compounds for a trans-regional energy distribution concept is analyzed regarding the effective energetic and exergetic storage density. In a comprehensive sensitivity analysis, the influences of reaction temperature, conversion and heat recovery strategies are worked out. It can be seen that the effective storage density is strongly influenced by the preheating of reactants from ambient to reaction temperature. Thus, high conversion rates during forward and reverse reaction as well as improved heat recovery ratios are necessary to achieve a high energetic storage density. In case of effective exergetic storage density, carbonation temperature reaches an optimum. The method presented in this contribution can be applied to similar thermochemical heat storage systems and the results are of great importance for the process design and development of the suggested concept.