SUMMARY
UCLA researchers in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering have developed a low-cost and long-life energy storage system that provides long discharge duration, and can be scaled for on-site or grid storage applications.
BACKGROUND
Energy storage is one of the major challenges facing the energy industry as requirements take effect for replacing more fossil fuel electricity plants with renewable power. Lithium-ion batteries have not emerged as the solution to this problem because of their high cost, short discharge duration, and relatively brief useful life, as well as safety issues related to thermal management and chemical components. Most other storage technologies also share some of these problems.
INNOVATION
UCLA researchers have developed a thermal energy storage system that combines off-the-shelf industrial components into a simple and elegant design that overcomes the shortfalls of other storage technologies. It is particularly well suited for use with intermittent energy sources, such as renewables. Incoming power is converted to heat and stored in a block of material capable of withstanding high temperature, such as refractory concrete, perforated with an air flow channel. This thermal energy storage unit then takes the place of a combustor in a combined heat and power cycle, which recovers the stored input energy on demand.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
- On-site energy storage for commercial and industrial consumers
- Grid-scale energy storage
ADVANTAGES
- Easy to manufacture
- Long useful life, with no degradation from use
- 100% discharge depth
- Long discharge duration (>24 hours)
- Low levelized cost
- Competitive capital expense
- Low operating expense
- No chemical hazards
- Small footprint
- High reliability
- Highly responsive
- Combined heat and power system
PATENT STATUS
United States Of America Issued Patent 10,415,431 09/17/2019 2016-097
United States Of America Published Patent Application 20190301749 10/03/2019 2017-539