Enabling high-density energy storage: Design characteristics of Thermal Matrix Energy Storage and a highly conductive gas mixture

Thermal Matrix Energy Storage (TMES) is a rapidly emerging, environmentally attractive, and scalable option for economical bulk energy storage. Its tremendous scalability readily enables commercial- to utility-scale management and balancing of highly variable generation and load. Scalability combined with TMES peak operating temperatures of 1,250 to 2,500 Kelvin make this heat-based storage technology unique in reaching high energy densities. Promising storage applications include high temperature industrial processes and large scale electrical energy storage. TMES is further poised to play a critical role in the new field of coal- and gas-fired generating plant recycling, enabling cost-effective transformation of high air-pollution power producing facilities into grid-scale green energy storage operations, supporting high-penetrations of renewable wind and solar power generation. Research has focused on meeting stringent green targets while ensuring that costs are driven out of the design without sacrificing safety, product life, and reliability. A key part of this development, a high heat transfer gas mixture with low aerodynamic loading is proposed, and controlled test results against known gases and interaction with graphite are presented. Behavior is examined through several test fixtures specifically designed to provide critical heat transport characteristics and performance for a range of temperatures and pressures. Additional detail presented includes TMES chamber design, insulation design, and expected longevity.