IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v245y2025ics096014812500446x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of porous host materials on the compromise of thermochemical energy storage performance

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Jianbin
  • Zhang, Yong
  • Chen, Ziwei
  • Gan, Guohui
  • Su, Yuehong

Abstract

Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems address renewable energy intermittency with high energy density and negligible heat loss. CaCl2, known for its high reaction enthalpy and cost-effectiveness, faces challenges such as deliquescence and poor mass transfer. Incorporating porous host materials mitigates these issues. This study examines the impact of pore structure on TCES performance at both particle and reactor scales, utilizing five porous composites prepared via vacuum impregnation with vermiculite (V), expanded perlite (EP), pumice (Pm), silica gel (SG), and zeolite 13x (Z) as host materials. At the particle scale, macroporous composites (V-CaCl2, EP-CaCl2) achieved high gravimetric salt contents (>65%) and moderate volumetric energy density (0.55–0.65 GJ/m3) but exhibited slower reaction kinetics. Mesoporous SG-CaCl2 composite exhibited superior reaction rates and equilibrium hydration capacity, achieving sustained high-temperature output with an average temperature rise of 16.01 °C under RH=50%, albeit with a significant pressure drop across a 5 cm thick reaction bed, with a 0.2 m/s cross-sectional air velocity (101.06 Pa). EP-CaCl2 provided a balance of smooth heat release, low resistance (6.88 Pa), and favorable volumetric energy density (0.65GJ/m3). These findings underline the necessity of selecting appropriate porous host materials to optimize specific performance metrics such as energy density, reaction kinetics, and system-level thermal output characteristics, providing a pathway for designing more efficient and application-specific TCES systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Jianbin & Zhang, Yong & Chen, Ziwei & Gan, Guohui & Su, Yuehong, 2025. "Impact of porous host materials on the compromise of thermochemical energy storage performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:245:y:2025:i:c:s096014812500446x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122784
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014812500446X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.122784?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sarah Roger-Lund & Jo Darkwa & Mark Worall & John Calautit & Rabah Boukhanouf, 2024. "A Review of Thermochemical Energy Storage Systems for District Heating in the UK," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-28, July.
    2. Mukherjee, Ankit & Pujari, Ankush Shankar & Shinde, Shraddha Nitin & Kashyap, Uddip & Kumar, Lalit & Subramaniam, Chandramouli & Saha, Sandip K., 2022. "Performance assessment of open thermochemical energy storage system for seasonal space heating in highly humid environment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 204-223.
    3. Frazzica, A. & Brancato, V. & Caprì, A. & Cannilla, C. & Gordeeva, L.G. & Aristov, Y.I., 2020. "Development of “salt in porous matrix” composites based on LiCl for sorption thermal energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    4. Yan, Ting & Xie, Tian & Pan, W.G. & Wang, L.W., 2024. "Experimental study on ammonia-based thermochemical resorption thermal energy storage system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    5. Sögütoglu, L.C. & Donkers, P.A.J. & Fischer, H.R. & Huinink, H.P. & Adan, O.C.G., 2018. "In-depth investigation of thermochemical performance in a heat battery: Cyclic analysis of K2CO3, MgCl2 and Na2S," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 159-173.
    6. Gaeini, M. & Rouws, A.L. & Salari, J.W.O. & Zondag, H.A. & Rindt, C.C.M., 2018. "Characterization of microencapsulated and impregnated porous host materials based on calcium chloride for thermochemical energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1165-1177.
    7. Bryan Li & Louise Buisson & Ruby-Jean Clark & Svetlana Ushak & Mohammed Farid, 2024. "A Eutectic Mixture of Calcium Chloride Hexahydrate and Bischofite with Promising Performance for Thermochemical Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-18, January.
    8. Zhang, Yong & Chen, Ziwei & Zhang, Yanan & Su, Yuehong & Riffat, Saffa, 2024. "Parameter control in synthesis of Vermiculite-CaCl2 composite materials for thermochemical adsorption heat storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    9. N’Tsoukpoe, Kokouvi Edem & Schmidt, Thomas & Rammelberg, Holger Urs & Watts, Beatriz Amanda & Ruck, Wolfgang K.L., 2014. "A systematic multi-step screening of numerous salt hydrates for low temperature thermochemical energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 1-16.
    10. Mahon, D. & Henshall, P. & Claudio, G. & Eames, P.C., 2020. "Feasibility study of MgSO4 + zeolite based composite thermochemical energy stores charged by vacuum flat plate solar thermal collectors for seasonal thermal energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 1799-1807.
    11. Li, Wei & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Wang, Qiuwang & Zeng, Min, 2022. "Salt hydrate–based gas-solid thermochemical energy storage: Current progress, challenges, and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    12. Wang, Haomin & Liu, Xin & Liu, Xiao & Sun, Chenggong & Wu, Yupeng, 2023. "Fluidisable mesoporous silica composites for thermochemical energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    13. Zhang, Yong & Hu, Mingke & Chen, Ziwei & Su, Yuehong & Riffat, Saffa, 2024. "Exploring a novel tubular-type modular reactor for solar-driven thermochemical energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    14. Liu, Xiao & Liu, Xin & Yang, Fangming & Wu, Yupeng, 2024. "Experimental investigation of low-temperature fluidised bed thermochemical energy storage with salt-mesoporous silica composite materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    15. Xu, J.X. & Li, T.X. & Chao, J.W. & Yan, T.S. & Wang, R.Z., 2019. "High energy-density multi-form thermochemical energy storage based on multi-step sorption processes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 1131-1142.
    16. Aarts, Joey & van Ravensteijn, Bas & Fischer, Hartmut & Adan, Olaf & Huinink, Henk, 2023. "Polymeric stabilization of salt hydrates for thermochemical energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 341(C).
    17. Zhang, Yong & Hu, Mingke & Chen, Ziwei & Su, Yuehong & Riffat, Saffa, 2023. "Modelling analysis of a solar-driven thermochemical energy storage unit combined with heat recovery," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 722-737.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Tomasz Spietz & Rafał Fryza & Janusz Lasek & Jarosław Zuwała, 2025. "Thermochemical Energy Storage Based on Salt Hydrates: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-81, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Liu, Xiao & Yang, Fangming & Liu, Xin & Wu, Yupeng, 2025. "A systematic evaluation of sorption-based thermochemical energy storage for building applications: Material development, reactor design, and system integration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    2. Li, Wei & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Wang, Qiuwang & Zeng, Min, 2022. "Salt hydrate–based gas-solid thermochemical energy storage: Current progress, challenges, and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Li, Wei & Markides, Christos N. & Zeng, Min & Peng, Jian, 2024. "4E evaluations of salt hydrate-based solar thermochemical heat transformer system used for domestic hot water production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    4. Liu, Xiao & Yang, Fangming & Liu, Xin & Wang, Haomin & Wu, Yupeng, 2024. "Development and characterization of mesoporous silica-MgSO4-MgCl2 binary salt composites for low-grade heat storage in fluidized bed systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    5. Mazur, Natalia & Blijlevens, Melian A.R. & Ruliaman, Rick & Fischer, Hartmut & Donkers, Pim & Meekes, Hugo & Vlieg, Elias & Adan, Olaf & Huinink, Henk, 2023. "Revisiting salt hydrate selection for domestic heat storage applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    6. Zhang, Yong & Chen, Ziwei & Chen, Jianbin & Su, Yuehong & Riffat, Saffa, 2024. "Comparative performance analysis of microchannel flat tube heat exchangers in thermochemical energy storage systems for water heating," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    7. Shkatulov, A.I. & Houben, J. & Fischer, H. & Huinink, H.P., 2020. "Stabilization of K2CO3 in vermiculite for thermochemical energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 990-1000.
    8. Li, Wei & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Wang, Qiuwang & Zeng, Min, 2020. "Development and characteristics analysis of salt-hydrate based composite sorbent for low-grade thermochemical energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 920-940.
    9. Zhang, Yong & Hu, Mingke & Chen, Ziwei & Su, Yuehong & Riffat, Saffa, 2024. "Exploring a novel tubular-type modular reactor for solar-driven thermochemical energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    10. Hui Yang & Chengcheng Wang & Lige Tong & Shaowu Yin & Li Wang & Yulong Ding, 2023. "Salt Hydrate Adsorption Material-Based Thermochemical Energy Storage for Space Heating Application: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-54, March.
    11. Li, Wei & Xu, Shengguan & Wang, Qiuwang & Wang, Xiaoyuan & Wang, Bohong & Zeng, Min, 2025. "Adsorption thermochemical battery-based heat transformer for low-grade energy upgrading," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    12. Salviati, Sergio & Carosio, Federico & Cantamessa, Francesco & Medina, Lilian & Berglund, Lars A. & Saracco, Guido & Fina, Alberto, 2020. "Ice-templated nanocellulose porous structure enhances thermochemical storage kinetics in hydrated salt/graphite composites," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 698-706.
    13. Zhang, Yong & Hu, Mingke & Chen, Ziwei & Su, Yuehong & Riffat, Saffa, 2023. "Modelling analysis of a solar-driven thermochemical energy storage unit combined with heat recovery," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 722-737.
    14. Tomasz Spietz & Rafał Fryza & Janusz Lasek & Jarosław Zuwała, 2025. "Thermochemical Energy Storage Based on Salt Hydrates: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-81, May.
    15. Li, Wei & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Wang, Qiuwang & Zeng, Min, 2021. "Numerical analysis on the improved thermo-chemical behaviour of hierarchical energy materials as a cascaded thermal accumulator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    16. Liu, Xiao & Liu, Xin & Yang, Fangming & Wu, Yupeng, 2024. "Experimental investigation of low-temperature fluidised bed thermochemical energy storage with salt-mesoporous silica composite materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    17. Ji, Wenjie & Zhang, Heng & Liu, Shuli & Wang, Zhihao & Deng, Shihan, 2022. "An experimental study on the binary hydrated salt composite zeolite for improving thermochemical energy storage performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 1163-1173.
    18. Mohamed Zbair & Simona Bennici, 2021. "Survey Summary on Salts Hydrates and Composites Used in Thermochemical Sorption Heat Storage: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-33, May.
    19. Emanuela Mastronardo & Emanuele La Mazza & Davide Palamara & Elpida Piperopoulos & Daniela Iannazzo & Edoardo Proverbio & Candida Milone, 2022. "Organic Salt Hydrate as a Novel Paradigm for Thermal Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, June.
    20. Yihan Wang & Zicheng Zhang & Shuli Liu & Zhihao Wang & Yongliang Shen, 2023. "Development and Characteristics Analysis of Novel Hydrated Salt Composite Adsorbents for Thermochemical Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-21, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:245:y:2025:i:c:s096014812500446x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.