Thermochemical energy storage based on nano-structured oxides

全球风能和太阳能等可变可再生能源（VRE）的发电量不断增加，加拿大能源监管机构预测，到2040年，VRE将占加拿大发电量的10%。为了在非高峰时段存储多余的电力并允许更多的VRE进入电网，开发下一代大容量长期耐用的储能技术至关重要。虽然抽水蓄能和压缩空气储能是电网规模储能的选择，但它们通常取决于位置和地理位置。相比之下，热化学能量储存更灵活，并提供各种输出，如热，电，化学能载体和原料。热化学储能系统还可以提供清洁的工业过程热量和绿色化学原料，以使该行业脱碳，该行业目前占加拿大温室气体排放量的1/3左右。然而，仍然需要努力通过对热化学过程中的物理和化学的基本理解来开发这项技术。该计划的长期目标是了解氧化物颗粒中电热化学相互作用和热/质传输的动力学，从而能够开发热化学储能技术。在未来五年内，非化学计量的载氧氧化物（OC）的氧化还原循环将被研究。氧化还原循环的优点是在充电/放电过程中保持晶格结构，以及高放电温度，从而获得良好的热效率和灵活的输出。将实现四个短期目标。首先，氧化还原降解机制的纳米结构的氧化物将更好地理解通过实验研究。其次，在充电/放电过程中的电热化学相互作用的反应动力学将使用实验和数值方法进行研究。第三，热/质传输和反应动力学之间的关系将确定基于氧化还原过程的多物理建模。最后，根据技术经济分析框架，对技术性能进行评估，并为材料开发和系统设计提供反馈。这使得该团队能够在探索计划中将基础研究与技术创新联系起来。 该计划将在纳米材料制造，动力学测量和建模，多物理模拟和技术经济分析的多学科研究中培养高素质人才（HQP），并为他们提供指导，合作和交流的发展机会。这些将为HQP在学术界和工业界的职业生涯做好准备。在该项目中获得的新知识和培训的HQP将使加拿大在可再生能源，能源储存和工业脱碳的全球领导地位中受益。

The amount of electricity generated from variable renewable energy (VRE) such as wind and solar increases constantly globally and the Canada Energy Regulator predicted VRE will make up to 10% of the electricity generation in Canada in 2040. To store the excess electricity in off-peak hours and allow more VRE into the grid, it is essential to develop next-generation large-capacity long-durable energy storage technologies. While pumped hydro and compressed air energy storage are options for grid-scale energy storage, they are often location- and geography-dependent. Thermochemical energy storage, by contrast, is more flexible and provides various outputs such as heat, electricity, chemical energy carriers and feedstocks. Thermochemical energy storage systems can also supply clean industrial process heat and green chemical feedstocks to decarbonize the industry, which currently accounts for around 1/3 of the greenhouse gas emitted in Canada. Yet efforts are still needed to develop this technology through the fundamental understanding of physics and chemistry in the thermochemical processes. The long-term objective of this program is to understand the kinetics of electro-thermo-chemical interactions and heat/mass transport in oxide particles, which enables the development of thermochemical energy storage technologies. Over the next five years, the non-stoichiometric oxygen carrying oxides (OCs) redox cycle will be studied. The advantages of the redox cycle are the preserved lattice structures in the charging/discharging processes and the high discharging temperatures for good thermal efficiency and flexible outputs. Four short-term objectives will be addressed. First, the redox degradation mechanism of the nano-structured oxides will be better understood through experimental investigations. Second, the reaction kinetics among the electro-thermo-chemical interactions in the charging/discharging processes will be investigated using both experimental and numerical methods. Third, the relationship between the heat/mass transport and reaction kinetics will be determined based on the multi-physics modelling of the redox process. Lastly, the technology performance will be evaluated and feedback will be provided for the material development and system design based on the techno-economic analysis framework. This allows the team to bridge the fundamental research with technology innovation in this Discovery program. This program will train highly qualified personnel (HQP) in the multi-disciplinary studies in nanomaterial fabrication, kinetics measurement and modelling, multi-physics simulation and techno-economic analysis, and provide them development opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and communication. These will prepare HQP for both academia and industry careers. The new knowledge gained and the HQP trained in this program will benefit Canada in the global leading role of renewable energy, energy storage and industry decarbonization.