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Thermal batteries based on inverse barocaloric effects.
Zhe Zhang1,2, Kuo Li3, Shangchao Lin4
1Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China.
Science Advances
|February 17, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed barocaloric thermal batteries using ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) to capture low-temperature waste heat. These batteries store heat through pressure changes, offering efficient energy recovery and advancing waste heat utilization.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Thermodynamics
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Low-temperature waste heat is abundant but difficult to harvest and reuse effectively.
- Existing thermal energy storage solutions often face limitations in efficiency and stability.
- Developing novel materials and concepts is crucial for advancing waste heat recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and demonstrate a novel barocaloric thermal battery concept.
- To investigate the inverse barocaloric effect in ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) for thermal energy storage.
- To assess the feasibility of using pressure-induced phase transitions for efficient heat harvesting and storage.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) as the active material.
- Employing pressurization and depressurization cycles to induce thermal charging and discharging.
- Characterizing the material's phase transitions and barocaloric response.
- Quantifying the energy storage density and efficiency.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a barocaloric thermal battery based on the inverse barocaloric effect of NH4SCN.
- Achieved a heat discharge of 43 J g⁻¹, which is 11 times the input mechanical energy.
- Confirmed stable, long-duration heat storage due to the thermodynamic equilibrium of the pressure-restrained phase.
- Established a solid microscopic mechanism underpinning the battery's performance.
Conclusions:
- Barocaloric thermal batteries offer a promising new avenue for harvesting and reusing low-temperature waste heat.
- The large inverse barocaloric effect in NH4SCN enables efficient thermal energy storage.
- This technology has the potential to significantly improve waste heat utilization across various applications.
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