In this work, a hybrid thermochemistry compressed air energy storage (CAES) system is investigated. Following a review on chemical reactions investigated for use in thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems, from these chemistries, the conversion of magnesium carbonate, MgCO3, to magnesium oxide, MgO, and carbon dioxide, CO2, was further analyzed for...
The goal of this project is to better characterize particle movement in a multi-channel fluidized bed. Fluidized beds are commonly used for heat transfer with the rapid fluidization and homogeneous heat distribution. By characterizing this particle flow, it would allow for an improved understanding of the heat transfer mechanisms within...
Solar thermal energy can be stored and later converted to electrical energy using a combination of thermochemical energy storage (TCES) and a thermoelectric generator (TEG). This TEG and TCES combination illustrates a potential route for clean electricity storage from renewable energy. TCES allows for thermal energy from the sun to...
Utilization of solar energy or wind energy for electricity production is inherently challenging due to the diurnal and seasonal variations and normal intermittency. Effective, high efficiency storage methods need to be developed for further advancing renewable energy utilization. Endothermic chemical processing and thermochemical energy storage can be both employed as...
Nonthermal electrical plasmas can allow energy intensive reactions to occur without the use of high operating temperatures or pressures. This is because the collisions of electrons accelerated through an electric field with molecules is the cause of reactions as opposed to thermal collisions between molecules. In this study, the production...
Natural freshwater availability is decreasing as the global population increases. Advances in desalination technologies aim to produce fresh water in an economical way. More sustainable energy sources are desired for these desalination plants to limit the carbon footprint of water production since global carbon dioxide production is exacerbating freshwater scarcity....
Concentrated solar power (CSP) along with thermal energy storage (TES) has the potential to provide reliable energy from an intermittent source. TES is used to store energy while the sun is shining, allowing for the stored energy to be used when the sun is no longer shining. There are many...
Finding renewable sources of agricultural fertilizer will be necessary to ensure a stable food supply for future generations. Phosphorus is of particular concern, since mining phosphate rock is the main source and reserves are forecasted to deplete in the next 50 – 200 years. Human urine contains substantial amounts of...
Stranded natural gas and biogas comprise a vast energy resource that is mostly wasted via flaring. This represents an opportunity to investigate novel ways to harness this resource. Nonthermal plasmas consist of excited electrons, ions and neutral atoms/molecules that have the ability to disrupt chemical bonds at ambient temperatures and...
Effective storage and release of low-to-moderate temperature thermal energy (e.g. solar thermal or geothermal) could be transformational for applications such as space heating/cooling, domestic hot water, or off-grid cooking. Good candidates for thermal energy storage in this temperature range include latent heat storage (LHS) systems and thermochemical energy storage (TCES)...