A Sulfur Cycle for Solar Energy Storage
S. Himmelstein | May 04, 2017A closed sulfur-sulfuric acid cycle is being developed for large-scale chemical storage of solar power and its overnight use as an energy source. The research is being conducted by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, and partners as part of the EU-funded PEGASUS project.
The initiative seeks to demonstrate an innovative solar power tower facility combining a solar absorber with a thermochemical solar power storage system based on elemental sulfur and sulfuric acid. The technology will be tested under real conditions at the Jülich Solar Power Tower Facility in Germany.
The sulfur-based technology for solar energy storage will be tested at the Jülich solar power tower. Source: DLR
The partial project executed by KIT focuses on technical implementation of combustion, starting with a lab-scale sulfur burner for stable combustion in the 10 to 50 kilowatt range at high power densities under atmospheric conditions and temperatures higher than 1,400 degrees Celsius. Power density in particular allows for the effective use of sulfur as a fuel for electricity production.
Elemental sulfur is produced by conversion of sulfur dioxide into sulfur and sulfuric acid. The focused sunlight of the solar power plant supplies the process heat with the energy and temperature required to close the sulfur cycle and to convert sulfuric acid back into sulfur dioxide in the presence of catalysts. Sulfur dioxide also is the combustion product of sulfur.
Prototypes of the key components, such as the solar absorber, sulfuric acid evaporator, sulfur trioxide decomposer, and sulfur burner are under development. Materials required for heat absorption, transfer, and storage and for the catalysts will be tested for efficiency and long-term stability.
PEGASUS project partners also include the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Center for Research and Technology CERTH (Greece). The industry partners are Brightsource Industries from Israel, Processi Innovativi, Italy, and Baltic Ceramics, Poland.
I would probably be the first NIMBY on the block for that plant. I cannot imagine how horrifically bad a leak would be to anyone down-wind.
Would much rather see a nuke plant in my back yard or neighborhood. This is borderline insane, but I suppose if there is nothing but welded up high alloy piping, then go for it.
In reply to #1
I agree. The Union Carbide Methyl Isocyanate leak in MP, IND is an example of the horror in case of a leak. Now, imagine the ISIS run a program all over the world, creating leaks and terror.