Can thermal energy storage be integrated into coal-fired steam power plants?

In the FLEXI- TES joint project, the flexibilization of coal-fired steam power plants by integrating thermal energy storage (TES) into the power plant process is being investigated. In the concept phase at the beginning of the research project, various storage integration concepts were developed and evaluated.

Should thermal energy storage be integrated into power plants?

For conventional power plants, the integration of thermal energy storage (TES) into the power plant process opens up a promising option for meeting future technical requirements in terms of flexibility while at the same time improving economic efficiency.

Can direct steam generation concentrating solar power plants use water as heat transfer fluid?

Direct steam generation (DSG) concentrating solar power (CSP) plants uses water as heat transfer fluid, and it is a technology available today. It has many advantages, but its deployment is limited due to the lack of an adequate long-term thermal energy storage (TES) system. This paper presents a new TES concept for DSG CSP plants.

How can electricity be stored?

To store electrical energy, it must be converted to a different form: chemical (batteries), potential energy (pumped hydro, compressed air), or thermal energy (heat). Moreover, electricity can be used to produce gases or liquid fuels, which can be stored with the appropriate infrastructure.

Does a direct steam generation (DSG) CSP plant improve thermal efficiency?

5. Conclusions A direct steam generation (DSG) CSP plant holds the potential to achieve markedly higher overall thermal efficiency in comparison to existing molten salt or thermal oil CSP plants.

What is steam accumulation?

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed. Steam accumulation is one of the most effective ways of thermal energy storage (TES) for the solar thermal energy (STE) industry.