Fluidisation of Thermochemical Energy Storage Materials: Degradation Assessment

Composite zeolites impregnated with anhydrous salt particles are promising materials for use in domestic thermochemical energy storage (TCES), however they have limited power output. Fluidization has the potential to increase the mass and heat transfer of TCES systems. In this study, a composite TCES material of LiX zeolite impregnated with MgCl2 salt is produced. This material and a LiX zeolite batch are then fluidized at different gas velocities to study whether degradation of these particles occurs when fluidizing. Images of the particles after fluidizing are analyzed using a validated method utilizing microscope images and specialized software used to study whether fragmentation or abrasion have been induced by fluidization. Composite particles were found to have increased average diameter by 7%−8%, which could be due to imperfect dehydration of these particles after the impregnation process, but also due to observed salt conglomerates present on the surface of some particles. Overall, excess degradation was not found due to fluidization at any gas velocity. No mass loss was measured in any sample after fluidization, and no appreciable fragmentation was observed. The LiX zeolite and composite particles measured 0.6192 mm and 0.6799 mm prior to fluidization and measured 0.6405 mm and 0.7088 mm after fluidization. However, this change is not statistically significant, and it is shown that a change in diameter is unlikely. Despite this, some fines have been produced which were found to have an average diameter of 3.60 μm (σ = 1, ±2.34 μm), and as such present a hazard if inhaled.