Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently found that ancient firebrick technology could be a low-tech, low-cost method of storing carbon-free energy that makes renewable energy economically viable.
One of the obstacles to the large-scale adoption of clean energy is how to deal with excess electricity generated when demand is low. Although there are currently storage options such as batteries or pumping systems, they are also very costly, making renewable energy and fossil Fuel is less profitable than the reason.
According to MIT, firebricks are basically made of a clay that can withstand high temperatures dating back to 3000 and Hittite times. Researchers redrew the Firebrick concept into what they call a Firebrick resistive-heating energy storage system, or FIRES, which is described in detail in a paper published in The Electricity Journal.
The basic idea is to convert this excess electricity into heat that is absorbed and stored in refractory bricks for later use. For example, the FIRES system can use this redundant output to power resistive heaters that heat large numbers of refractory bricks that can then be covered with an insulative housing so that the energy can later be used for industrial applications or heating, or even switched Call back, all of which may change the landscape of renewable energy.
MIT said:
"The technology itself is old, but its potential practicality can give a new perspective to the rapid rise of distributed renewables and may even re-price electricity." FIRES may actually raise the minimum electricity price in the utility market, which is currently high When it comes to production, electricity prices may be almost zero, for example on a sunny day when the solar yield is at its peak. "
However, by heating a large amount of Firebrick to transfer most of the excess output to thermal storage and then selling the heat directly or using it to drive the turbine and produce electricity when needed, FIRES can basically set the lower limit of the market price, which may It is the price of natural gas. This, in turn, may help to make it more profitable to encourage more expansion of carbon-free electricity, such as solar, wind and nuclear energy.
One of the highlights of Firebrick is that it is one-tenth to one-fortieth cheaper than a program that routinely stores excess power, such as batteries or pumping systems. Today's refractory bricks can withstand temperatures up to 1600 degrees Celsius (2912 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher by changing their chemical composition or stacking. For example, silicon carbide that has been mass-produced worldwide, such as sandpaper, may be a potential material for high thermal conductivity of refractory bricks.
Researchers at MIT are currently working to improve the system and plan to build a real-world prototype to see if it can work on a larger scale. Such innovative ideas originate from the old, time-tested technology, but the game rules for renewable energy can be changed at any time in the future.
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