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Importance of reactor design on efficient utilisation of thermochemical heat storage materials for background space heating

S. Hosouli, R.J. Sutton, Justin Searle Orcid Logo, Eifion Jewell Orcid Logo, Jonathon Elvins

Journal of Energy Storage, Volume: 142, Start page: 119509

Swansea University Authors: Justin Searle Orcid Logo, Eifion Jewell Orcid Logo, Jonathon Elvins

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.est.2025.119509

Abstract

Thermochemical storage materials allow harvesting and storage of thermal energy (e.g. from industrial waste heat) potentially reducing emissions to atmosphere and time-shifting the hitherto wasted energy for later use in heating buildings. Reported thermochemical storage densities vary widely, with...

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Published in: Journal of Energy Storage
ISSN: 2352-152X
Published: Elsevier BV 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70981
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Reported thermochemical storage densities vary widely, with many studies overestimating laboratory-scale data when linearly scaling to practical reactor sizes. Presently, an experimental and design model analysis has been carried out on a stacked bed reactor using varying material depths to evaluate thermal performance, energy storage capacity and environmental impact in a modelled industrial scenario. Using a bench top reactor, the depth of the thermochemical storage material (CaCl2/ vermiculite) was varied between 30 and 60 mm with variations in input flow rate of moist air between 5 and 40 LPM. Maximum temperature uplift (11&#x2013;13 &#xB0;C) and energy densities (80&#x2013;110 kWh/m3) were obtained with 30&#x2013;40 mm of material with high flow rates. The experimental results were utilised in a design simulation to identify the optimum thermodynamic and low carbon impact material depth and inter gap spacing in order maximise the effective reactor storage density. Multiple 30 mm layers with a small interlayer gap provided the best energy density (59.2 kWh/m3), opposed to fewer 60 mm layers with a large interlayer gap (15.1 kWh/m3). Thermal performance of a single space cabin heated via harvested industrial waste heat is modelled, with subsequent LCA analysis to determine carbon impact compared with heating via electricity and gas alternatives. 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spelling 2026-01-05T15:45:01.4556727 v2 70981 2025-11-24 Importance of reactor design on efficient utilisation of thermochemical heat storage materials for background space heating 0e3f2c3812f181eaed11c45554d4cdd0 0000-0003-1101-075X Justin Searle Justin Searle true false 13dc152c178d51abfe0634445b0acf07 0000-0002-6894-2251 Eifion Jewell Eifion Jewell true false 8f619d25f6c30f8af32bc634e4775e21 Jonathon Elvins Jonathon Elvins true false 2025-11-24 EAAS Thermochemical storage materials allow harvesting and storage of thermal energy (e.g. from industrial waste heat) potentially reducing emissions to atmosphere and time-shifting the hitherto wasted energy for later use in heating buildings. Reported thermochemical storage densities vary widely, with many studies overestimating laboratory-scale data when linearly scaling to practical reactor sizes. Presently, an experimental and design model analysis has been carried out on a stacked bed reactor using varying material depths to evaluate thermal performance, energy storage capacity and environmental impact in a modelled industrial scenario. Using a bench top reactor, the depth of the thermochemical storage material (CaCl2/ vermiculite) was varied between 30 and 60 mm with variations in input flow rate of moist air between 5 and 40 LPM. Maximum temperature uplift (11–13 °C) and energy densities (80–110 kWh/m3) were obtained with 30–40 mm of material with high flow rates. The experimental results were utilised in a design simulation to identify the optimum thermodynamic and low carbon impact material depth and inter gap spacing in order maximise the effective reactor storage density. Multiple 30 mm layers with a small interlayer gap provided the best energy density (59.2 kWh/m3), opposed to fewer 60 mm layers with a large interlayer gap (15.1 kWh/m3). Thermal performance of a single space cabin heated via harvested industrial waste heat is modelled, with subsequent LCA analysis to determine carbon impact compared with heating via electricity and gas alternatives. The carbon impact varies with reactor design and operational use, but cabins utilised over multiple years show a significantly improved carbon footprint. Journal Article Journal of Energy Storage 142 119509 Elsevier BV 2352-152X Salt in matrix; Thermochemical; Calcium chloride; Reactor design; CO2 analysis 10 1 2026 2026-01-10 10.1016/j.est.2025.119509 COLLEGE NANME Engineering and Applied Sciences School COLLEGE CODE EAAS Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee The authors would like to acknowledge support through the funding of the SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council [EP/N020863/1], Innovate UK [920036], and the European Regional Development Fund [c80892] through the Welsh Government. 2026-01-05T15:45:01.4556727 2025-11-24T15:22:20.6248596 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering S. Hosouli 1 R.J. Sutton 2 Justin Searle 0000-0003-1101-075X 3 Eifion Jewell 0000-0002-6894-2251 4 Jonathon Elvins 5 70981__35899__00f66f70a2c241d99ef8b788a6fb8567.pdf 70981.VoR.pdf 2026-01-05T15:36:58.5446695 Output 7701975 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Importance of reactor design on efficient utilisation of thermochemical heat storage materials for background space heating
spellingShingle Importance of reactor design on efficient utilisation of thermochemical heat storage materials for background space heating
Justin Searle
Eifion Jewell
Jonathon Elvins
title_short Importance of reactor design on efficient utilisation of thermochemical heat storage materials for background space heating
title_full Importance of reactor design on efficient utilisation of thermochemical heat storage materials for background space heating
title_fullStr Importance of reactor design on efficient utilisation of thermochemical heat storage materials for background space heating
title_full_unstemmed Importance of reactor design on efficient utilisation of thermochemical heat storage materials for background space heating
title_sort Importance of reactor design on efficient utilisation of thermochemical heat storage materials for background space heating
author_id_str_mv 0e3f2c3812f181eaed11c45554d4cdd0
13dc152c178d51abfe0634445b0acf07
8f619d25f6c30f8af32bc634e4775e21
author_id_fullname_str_mv 0e3f2c3812f181eaed11c45554d4cdd0_***_Justin Searle
13dc152c178d51abfe0634445b0acf07_***_Eifion Jewell
8f619d25f6c30f8af32bc634e4775e21_***_Jonathon Elvins
author Justin Searle
Eifion Jewell
Jonathon Elvins
author2 S. Hosouli
R.J. Sutton
Justin Searle
Eifion Jewell
Jonathon Elvins
format Journal article
container_title Journal of Energy Storage
container_volume 142
container_start_page 119509
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 2352-152X
doi_str_mv 10.1016/j.est.2025.119509
publisher Elsevier BV
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
document_store_str 1
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description Thermochemical storage materials allow harvesting and storage of thermal energy (e.g. from industrial waste heat) potentially reducing emissions to atmosphere and time-shifting the hitherto wasted energy for later use in heating buildings. Reported thermochemical storage densities vary widely, with many studies overestimating laboratory-scale data when linearly scaling to practical reactor sizes. Presently, an experimental and design model analysis has been carried out on a stacked bed reactor using varying material depths to evaluate thermal performance, energy storage capacity and environmental impact in a modelled industrial scenario. Using a bench top reactor, the depth of the thermochemical storage material (CaCl2/ vermiculite) was varied between 30 and 60 mm with variations in input flow rate of moist air between 5 and 40 LPM. Maximum temperature uplift (11–13 °C) and energy densities (80–110 kWh/m3) were obtained with 30–40 mm of material with high flow rates. The experimental results were utilised in a design simulation to identify the optimum thermodynamic and low carbon impact material depth and inter gap spacing in order maximise the effective reactor storage density. Multiple 30 mm layers with a small interlayer gap provided the best energy density (59.2 kWh/m3), opposed to fewer 60 mm layers with a large interlayer gap (15.1 kWh/m3). Thermal performance of a single space cabin heated via harvested industrial waste heat is modelled, with subsequent LCA analysis to determine carbon impact compared with heating via electricity and gas alternatives. The carbon impact varies with reactor design and operational use, but cabins utilised over multiple years show a significantly improved carbon footprint.
published_date 2026-01-10T05:34:07Z
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