Development of advanced thermal energy storage materials for healthcare and CHP

Purpose and goal:

The goal of the project is to develop of advanced thermal energy storage materials across temperature range to address Climate Change and Sustainability across diverse applications: Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare to Combined Heat and Power

Generation. We have developed a low temperature PCM with a melting point of 4 0C for vaccine storage and transportation, and a high temperature PCM with melting point of 151 0C for CHP generation with KPI < 850 SEK/kWh. The PCM products (designed for different applications) were introduced at the “Energy Smart Buildings´´ fair in 2023.

Expected results and effects:

Commercial grades for six selected PCM candidates (for steam production and vaccine transport) have completed 1200 cycles. Two commercial candidates were selected. PCM was integrated into stainless steel spheres (patented method).

The performance of high temp. PCM was verified in a 10 kWh energy storage pilot. The measured energy storage capacity was 10,3 kWh with 7,3 kW delivery power at 149 0C.

The COP is 85%. External heat exchanger was used to intensify the heat transfer. The low temp PCM revealed specified properties delivering a 5-6 0C environment for vaccine transport . Approach and implementation:

Jointly SPL and IPL have developed high temp. PCM for CHP and low temp. PCM for vaccine transport.

Every product was investigated via 1200 stability cycles including measurement for heat of fusion/solidification using the DTA method. The governing criteria are safety, cycling stability, material compatibility and commercialization. The industrial method of encapsulating the PCM into stainless steel spheres was developed and patented.

The 10 kWh TES pilot was built and tested under a realistic environment that mimicked solar concentrator specification. Measured COP is 85%.