Characterization of desert sand as a sensible thermal energy storage medium

Miguel Diago, Alberto Crespo Iniesta, Thomas Delclos, Audrey Soum-Glaude, Tariq Shamim, Nicolas Calvet

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Desert sand from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considered as a possible sensible heat, thermal energy storage (TES) material. Its thermal stability, specific heat capacity and tendency to agglomerate are studied at high temperatures. The analyses show that it is possible to use desert sand as a TES material up to 800-1000 °C. Above 800 °C, weak agglomeration effects start to become significant. The samples become solid above 1000 °C. This may represent a major operating limit depending on the handling mechanism in place for the possible transport of the sand. The sand chemical composition is analyzed with the XRF and XRD techniques, which reveal the dominance of quartz and carbonates. Finally, the spectral absorptivity of the samples is measured before and after a thermal cycle, as it may be possible to use the desert sand not only as a TES material but also as a direct solar absorber.

Original languageBritish English
Title of host publicationSolarPACES 2015
Subtitle of host publicationInternational Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems
EditorsVikesh Rajpaul, Christoph Richter
ISBN (Electronic)9780735413863
DOIs
StatePublished - 31 May 2016
Event21st International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2015 - Cape Town, South Africa
Duration: 13 Oct 201516 Oct 2015

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume1734
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Conference

Conference21st International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2015
Country/TerritorySouth Africa
CityCape Town
Period13/10/1516/10/15

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