High-Temperature Sensible Heat-Based Thermal Energy Storage Materials Made of Vitrified MSWI Fly Ashes

• Published in: Waste and biomass valorization Vol. 6; no. 6; pp. 1003 - 1014
• Main Authors: Meffre, Antoine, Py, Xavier, Olives, Régis, Bessada, Catherine, Veron, Emmanuel, Echegut, Patrick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.12.2015; Springer
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Engineering; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Industrial Pollution Prevention; Material chemistry; Original Paper; Renewable and Green Energy; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Fly ash; CSP; Thermal energy storage; Recycled waste; High temperature; MWSI
• ISSN: 1877-2641; 1877-265X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12649-015-9409-9

New materials for high-temperature thermal energy storage (TES) systems are highly needed today to enhance the development of adiabatic compressed air energy storage (ACAES) and concentrated solar power (CSP) processes. Vitro-ceramics obtained industrially by plasma torch vitrification of municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash have been studied and their major related properties characterized. As sensible heat-based TES materials, the glass form is relevant up to 600 °C, while the ceramic can be used up to 1100 °C. Their densities, thermal capacity, thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion and Young modulus fall within current ranges of values of refractory materials. Their major original advantages are their sustainable character, wide availability, wide operational temperature range up to 1100 °C and low cost. Considering their potential new use in TES, the energy payback of the plasma torch waste treatment is in the range of only 12 days for the ACAES and 1.6–7.4 months for CSP applications, respectively, before 35 years of expected operation.