ABSTRACT
Real-world performance of technologies is key to enabling their use outside of research applications. To this end, a lab-scale electrically charged thermal storage system (38 kWht) was designed, built, commissioned, and tested at the University of South Australia to evaluate the applicability of thermal storage at temperatures >700°C. While complications arose due to power supply issues and inadequate charge rates, the design was nonetheless capable of charging at temperatures >700°C, while the average bed temperature was in excess of 500°C. During discharging, the addition of aluminium as a phase change material was able to help sustain an outlet temperature of >600°C for an extended period of time, while the outlet temperature was maintained above 200°C for nearly five hours. During construction and testing there were key lessons learnt about mechanical and charging design, which will be crucial to ensure deployment of this type of technology in future energy systems.
