Thermal Energy Storage Device

Proposition

Hi Marcin had some ideas about an energy storage system that I wanted to share with you all at OSE. The system would be able to store energy as heat which can then be used to drive a steam engine for electricity production. The system is solid state and has no moving parts like pumps etc. Renewable energy is not used widely as the main problem is energy storage. I saw that you have a huge battery but it is expensive to manufacture recycle etc,. The device is nothing exotic; it works using eddy current induction to heat a completely sealed vessel which contains molten salt whose heat is in turn used to drive steam enines etc. The vessel is completely sealed as there is no need of pumps to transport heated salts or fluids as it works by induction. This makes it quite inexpensive and would have a high energy density. The molten salt is saltpetre and has been used extensively in various industries and so good working knowledge exists. This molten salt system is also used in solar thermal power generation stations like Ausra. This device does not have a patent and I have not applied for one anywhere. This can also be used to store energy generated by various sources like wind turbines etc as only electricity is required by the device. Do let me know what you think and let us see if this is a feasibile method.

Response

Srikanth,

Thank you for bringing this up. There are several points about this that could actuallly make this work - so I would like to pursue feasibility analysis with you. This is certainly not a crazy idea - but it does require serious technical due diligence. Also, this would be another motivation to get the steam engine into completion.

Please send me further technical details on the design. Let's aim to specify components and the design, and let's come up with a realistic bill of materials and cost. If we can do this, and if we can peer review the design itself, I propose that we fund this and build it in the near term.

Let me know more about your background, and how you can help make this happen. Are you familiar with induction circuitry?

This is definitely worth exploring - as molten salt storage is certainly on our radar - and this could really put us forward on the solar turbine project.

Marcin