Solar Energy Storage

Solar energy received on the ground by weather, day and night, seasonal effects, with a discontinuity and instability. Therefore, solar energy storage is necessary, especially for largescale use of solar energy even more necessary. Solar energy can not be directly stored, must be converted into other forms of energy to be stored. High-capacity, long, economical storage of solar energy is technically more difficult. Built in the early of this century, almost no consideration of solar devices solar energy storage problem is the solar energy storage technology is not mature, slow development, research needs to be strengthened.

Thermal energy storage

1Sensible heat storage. Using the sensible heat energy storage materials is the easiest energy storage methods. In practice, water, sand, gravel and soil can be used as materials for energy storage, in which the maximum heat capacity of water, used more often. Seventies and eighties there were cross-use of water and soil seasonal storage of solar energy coverage. But the material was heat small energy storage are subject to certain restrictions. 2Latent heat storage. When using phase change materials in the latent heat released and inhaled energy storage, the storage energy, and constant temperature conditions in the decentralization of heat. Commonly used in the solar low-temperature storage salts containing crystal water storage capacity, such as 10 water sulfate / water, calcium chloride, sodium hydrogen phosphate 12-water. But in use to solve the problem of cold and stratified to ensure that the operating temperature and service life. Medium temperature solar storage temperature is generally above 100 , 500 below, usually at about 300 . Suitable for medium temperature storage of materials: high-pressure hot water, organic fluids, eutectic salt. Solar heat storage temperature is generally above 500 , the material currently being tested: sodium, molten salt. Very high temperature above 1000 storage, alumina and germanium oxide can fire the ball. Chemical heat storage. Heat storage using chemical reactions, heat storage, small size, light weight, detachable storage of chemical reaction, exothermic reaction occurs only when necessary, stored for a long time. Really can be used for the chemical reaction heat storage must meet the following conditions: reaction reversibility, and no side effects; responsive; reaction products and can easily separate stable storage; the reactants and products non-toxic, noncorrosive, non-flammable ; reaction heat a large, low price of reactants, has selected some chemical endothermic reaction can basically meet the above conditions, such as Ca (OH) 2 thermal decomposition reaction, the use of the endothermic reaction heat storage, through the use of heat exothermic reaction releases heat. However, Ca (OH) 2 dehydration temperature is higher than the atmospheric pressure 500 , using solar energy at this temperature is very difficult to achieve dehydration, addition of catalyst can reduce the reaction temperature, but still quite high. Therefore, thermal energy storage of chemical reactions still need to conduct in-depth research, find it difficult practical. Heat can be used for storage of other chemical reactions also metal hydride thermal decomposition reaction of ammonium hydrogen sulfate cycle reactions.

4Plastic crystal thermal storage. In 1984, the United States to market a home heating plastic crystalline materials. Scientific name plastic crystal Neopentyl Glycol (NPG), it and the liquid crystal is similar to a three-dimensional periodic crystals, but the mechanical properties such as plastic. It at a constant temperature heat storage and heat, but not to rely on solid-liquid phase change thermal energy storage, but the plastic crystal molecular structure by solid solid phase change thermal energy storage. Plastic crystal at constant temperature 44 , the absorption of solar energy and stored energy during the day and at night to store heat released during the day. NPG in the United States and the application of heat storage performance of extensive research, the plastic melt into the crystal glass and organic fibers can be used for thermal storage wall, the ratio will be adjusted after the addition of glass and plastic fiber crystal wall panel made of , to refrigeration cooling. Also carried out on the plastic crystal of some experimental studies, but not practical application. 5Solar thermal storage tank. Solar Pond is a salt has a salt gradient pond can be used for collection and storage of solar energy. Because of its simple, low cost and suitable large-scale use, causing peoples attention. 60 years later, many countries have carried out studies solar pond, Israel has also built a pool of three solar power stations. 70 years later, our country has carried out studies solar pond, initially to get some applications.

Energy Storage
Difficult than the thermal energy storage of electrical energy storage, commonly used batteries, are research and development of superconducting energy storage. The invention of lead-acid batteries in the world more than 100 years of history, which uses a reversible chemical energy and electrical energy conversion, charging and discharging. Lead-acid battery prices low, but life is short, heavy, require regular maintenance. Recently, the successful development of lowmaintenance, maintenance-free lead-acid batteries, it will improve performance. At present, the photovoltaic systems for energy storage devices, most lead-acid batteries. 1908 Invention of nickel copper, nickel iron alkaline batteries, the use of easy maintenance, long life, light weight, but the price is more expensive, generally small in the case of storage of energy use. Energy storage density of existing low battery, it is difficult to meet the high-capacity, long storage of electrical energy requirements. Newly developed silver-zinc batteries are the battery, potassium batteries, sodium sulfur batteries. Certain metals or alloys become superconductors at very low temperatures, in theory, power can no resistance in a superconducting coil storage of an infinite long time. The superconducting energy storage without storing any other direct energy conversion power, high efficiency, rapid start, can be installed in any location, especially near the center of consumption, does not produce any pollution, but technically is not superconducting energy storage Mature, the need to continue research and development.