Advances in thermal energy storage development at the German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Abstract

Thermal energy storage (TES) is a key technology for renewable energy utilization and the improvement of the energy efficiency of heat processes. Sectors include industrial process heat and conventional and renewable power generation. TES systems correct the mismatch between supply and demand of thermal energy. In the medium to high temperature range (100 - 1000 °C), only limited storage technology is commercially available and a strong effort is needed to develop a range of storage technologies which are efficient and economical for the very specific requirements of the different application sectors. At the DLR’s Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, the complete spectrum of high temperature storage technologies, from various types of sensible over latent heat to thermochemical heat storages are being developed. Different concepts are proposed depending on the heat transfer fluid (synthetic oil, water/steam, molten salt, air) and the required temperature range. The aim is the development of cost effective, efficient and reliable thermal storage systems. Research focuses on characterization of storage materials, enhancement of internal heat transfer, design of innovative storage concepts and modelling of storage components and systems. Demonstration of the storage technology takes place from laboratory scale to field testing (5 kW - 1 MW). The paper gives an overview on DLR’s current developments.