Birmingham Centre of Cryogenic Energy Storage (BCCES)

Cryogenic Energy Storage Research @ Birmingham

British Cryogenic Cluster

Cluster Day 2014

Dr K D Dearn Co-Director BCCES

(School of Mechanical Engineering)

Contents of presentation

Energy storage and liquid air

The EPSRC BCCES project

Research themes of the BCCES

Thematic areas and examples

Supporting facilities and capabilities

Partner organisations

Contents

2

3

Growing recognition for role of storage

In November 2012, in a speech at the Royal Society, the Chancellor George Osborne said that the UK must take a global lead in developing a series of low carbon technologies, including energy storage:

A number of new funding sources for storage demonstration and capital became available. Recently major new projects were announced including a major Centre for Cryogenic Energy Storage at UoB

Greater capability to store electricity is crucial for these power sources to be viable. It promises savings on UK energy spend of up to £10bn a year by 2050 as extra capacity for peak load is less necessary.

One of the UK Government’s ‘Eight Great Technologies’:

Energy storage has “the potential for delivering massive benefits – in terms of savings on UK energy spend, environmental benefits, economic growth and in enabling UK business to exploit these technologies internationally.”

Liquid Air in energy and transport systems

Opportunities for industry and innovation Report published by CLCF, 9 May 2013, some conclusions:

A single gasometer-style tank of liquid air could make good the

loss of 5GW of wind power for three hours.

Smaller systems can provide zero-emission back-up and reserve services to replace diesel gen-sets.

Reduce diesel consumption in buses or freight vehicles by 25% using a liquid air Dearman engine/diesel hybrid.

Cut emissions from refrigeration on food lorries by 80%.

Zero-emission liquid air city cars or vehicles at a fraction of current fuel costs and with lower lifecycle vehicle emissions than electric or hydrogen vehicles.

www.liquidair.org.uk

Overview of the BCCES Project

5

BCCES Project PI – Professor Richard Williams

Director of BCCES – Professor Yulong Ding

Total £12.5M (£6.0M EPSRC capital grant; £5.5M Industrial Contribution; £1.0M Institutional Contribution)

Key research themes

Novel Materials

Thermodynamic and generation processes

Systems integration, control and optimisation

Applications

Materials to address materials challenges

Components/devices to address process challenges

Systems to address energy management challenges

Economics & Policy to address investment decisions and policy options challenges

Applications to address industrial take-up challenges

6

Overview of the BCCES Project

Aim: address scientific, technological and engineering challenges associated with cold and cryogenic energy storage (CES)

7

Overview of the BCCES Project

Academia Industry Policy

Research Develop Demonstrate

Whole system approach

Overview of the BCCES Project

8

Outreach and Events

Examples of planned events and workshops held:

Miniaturisation of liquefaction Process (workshop)

Liquid Air Council meeting (Birmingham City Council)

IMechE Clean & Cool Summit (July 2014)

9

Research themes of the BCCES

Research Themes – Four interlinked thematic areas

Theme 1: Novel materials

Theme 2: Thermodynamic and generation processes

Theme 3: Systems integration and optimisation

Theme 4: Applications

Theme 1 Novel Materials

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for cold and CES storage (-200~0°C)

Linking property - process - structure relationships

Multi-scale phenomena of composite materials 10

BCCES research

Aim: to develop high energy density, wide temperature range, long life and low costs

Novel Materials – formulation and characterisation Developing the techniques to characterise efficient energy storage materials

Chemical: DSC – TGA – MS – FT – IR

Thermophysical: Rheometer & thermal conductivity meter (-150~+600°C)

Mechanical: Micro/ nano indentation (-30~+700°C); in-stitu cryo mechanical test stage (77K & 4K); nano-mechanical test units for TEM

Microstructural: Cryo Raman spectrometer; heat and environmental cell for TEM; cryogenic stage for FIB; cryogenic transfer stage for FIB and TEM

11

BCCES facilities and capabilities

Theme 2 Thermodynamic cycles and processes

Combined cycles for peak saving and CO2 capture

12

BCCES research

Aim: to develop new thermodynamic cycles/ processes for CES technology

Helium cycle • Electricity generation efficiency>~68% • CO2 capture ~ 100% (dry ice) • Round trip efficiency for ES > ~ 65% • Fuel consumption reduction ~ 50%

Oxygen cycle • Electricity generation efficiency>~70% • CO2 capture ~ 100% (dry ice) • Round trip efficiency for ES > ~ 65% • Fuel consumption reduction ~ 50%

Thermodynamic and generation processes

Experimental thermodynamic systems

Stirling engine testing facility

Reciprocating engine test bed

13

BCCES facilities and capabilities

Theme 3 System integration and optimisation

Integration of multi-energy storage technologies

Dynamic optimisation

14

BCCES research

Aim: to understand dynamic interactions between supply and demand for CES

Systems integration and optimization

Energy storage grid integration emulator

Real-time power system simulator

Emulator – real-time emulator interface

Dynamic system simulator and control system

15

BCCES facilities and capabilities

Theme 4 Applications

Many potential applications

centralized energy systems, distributed energy systems, renewable energy resources and industrial waste heat recovery

16

BCCES research

Aim: to facilitate industrial applications of the CES technology

CES pilot plant

17

BCCES facilities and capabilities

Supported by laboratories and facilities at:

University of Birmingham Chemical Engineering – Brand new 2202m laboratory

Mechanical Engineering – Brand new 1502m laboratory

Metallurgy and Materials – existing laboratory and Centre for Electron Microscopy (CEM)

Electrical Engineering – Brand new laboratory

Pilot plant

University of Hull Laboratory space provided

18

BCCES facilities and capabilities

Web grows…

19

Partner Organisations

Industry

Academia

RTOs

Developing of new generation of skilled

cryogenic scientist and engineers, to face challenges

associated with cold and cryogenic energy storage

(CES)

Addressing the scientific, technological and engineering challenges associated with

cold and cryogenic energy storage (CES)

Contact:

Dr Jonathan Radcliffe

j.radcliffe@bham.ac.uk

Or visit:

Birmingham Centre for Cryogenic Energy Storage

Centre for Low Carbon Futures

Liquid Air Energy Network

20

For more information

Chen H, Cong TN, Yang W et al. Progress in electrical energy storage system: A critical review. Progress in Natural Science 2009; 19: 291-312

Li Y. Cryogen Based Energy Storage: Process Modelling and Optimisation. Leeds: University of Leeds; 2011.

Li Y, Chen H, Zhang X et al. Renewable energy carriers: Hydrogen or liquid air/nitrogen? Applied Thermal Engineering 2010; 30: 1985-90

Li Y, Wang X, Ding Y. A cryogen-based peak-shaving technology: systematic approach and techno-economic analysis. International Journal of Energy Research 2011

Li Y, Jin Y, Chen H et al. An integrated system for thermal power generation, electrical energy storage and CO2 capture. International Journal of Energy Research 2011; 35: 1158-67

Li Y, Wang X, Jin Y, Ding Y. An integrated solar-cryogen hybrid power system. Renewable Energy 2012; 37: 76-81.

Ding Y, Wen D, Dearman PT, inventors; Highview Enterprises Limited, assignee. Cryogenic engines. US. 2009.

Chen H, Ding Y, Li Y et al. Air fuelled zero emission road transportation: A comparative study. Applied Energy 2011; 88: 337-342.

21

References