Overarching Themes
Future concepts for electrochemical energy storage
The project CryPhysConcept aims to the development of future concepts for electrochemical energy storage and its implementation and introduction to the market. The main efforts of the joint project are employing modern methods of crystallography, crystal chemistry and methods for crystal structure and physical properties prediction, and the preparation and analysis. ... more
Green H2: Producing low cost and load-flexible hydrogen
Innovative electrodes improve hydrogen electrolysis for a wide output range. With their laser-etched surface structures, they are durable and have lower losses at different loads. As a result, the electrodes are particularly good at using the fluctuating supply of excess wind electricity. If upscaled, the structured electrodes can also be used in industrial applications. ... more
Thermal Storage
Increasing the storage density with salt hydrates
How can solar energy be stored better? For optimisation purposes, scientists in the ThessaPor project are developing composite materials that store solar energy thermochemically. The composites are structured so that an inorganic salt is stored in them. This makes it possible to combine the advantages of water vapour sorption storage systems with the advantages of storage systems based on the reversible hydration of salts. ... more
Phase change material is crystallised
With micro-encapsulated or emulsified organic phase change materials, the solidification temperature is frequently below the melt temperature. This so-called undercooling is a hindrance for many applications. By means of systematic investigations, the researchers achieved a fundamental understanding of the physical principles. Based on the experimental findings, models developed that make it possible to forecast the crystallisation properties. ... more
Foundry using waste heat of the furnace
In energy-intensive industries, e.g. foundry industry or cement industry, the use of waste heat for example as process or space heating energy reduces the consumption of primary energy. In the Project “IAST” researchers are testing an energy storage system for discontinuous industrial waste heat of a furnace at a foundry. The implementation and commissioning is expected to start at the end of 2014. ... more
Active coatings for heat storage
The young researcher group NEOTHERM constructs novel sorptive heat storage materials for better use of solar heat for domestic heating and the reuse of industrial waste heat. For this purpose the scale-up of suitable materials is investigated. The products could be implemented in solar thermal energy systems or in waste heat recovery devices. Special composites could also be used in heat pump applications for air conditioning. ... more
Drying with open sorption processes
A junior research group investigated heat and material transfer to an aqueous solution of lithium chloride. Such salt solutions can be used for air conditioning in buildings or waste heat. At the same time it serves as an energy storage. In addition to the salt solutions young researchers testing and synthesizing new sorbents. Also system simulations for building heating and air conditioning are planned in addition to drying applications. ... more
„SALSA“ makes steam and waste heat useable
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Novatec Solar and Köllemann are developed a salt-based latent heat storage called SALSA. This is to used for waste heat recovery in industrial processes. In the end of 2016, the storage was integrated and tested in the southern Spanish power plant PE1. ... more
Saline stores process and solar heat
Scientists at the University of Applied Sciences Stuttgart constructed an open air run sorption heat storage, that regenerates itself by process heat or solar thermal energy. Prototypes were developed, consisting of regenerator, absorber and the storage. These can be used for various cooling, heating and drying applications. By 2017, the storage is to be ready for the market. ... more
Heat storage in smallest volume
Thermochemical heat storage can achieve low cost because of its higher specific energy density as compared with conventional heat storage materials. However, the thermal conductivity of the material is limited. Therefore, scientists at the Fraunhofer UMSICHT developed new thermochemical storage materials. The researchers intend to increase the thermal conductivity of solids, specifically through the addition of special additives. ... more
