Experimental Investigation of Soapstone and Granite Rocks as Energy-Storage Materials for Concentrated Solar Power Generation and Solar Drying Technology

Abstract

The intermittence of solar energy resource in concentrated solar power (CSP) generation and solar drying applications can be mitigated by employing thermal energy storage materials. Natural rocks are well recommended thermal energy storage materials as they are efficient for CSP generation. This study explores the potential of soapstone rock and also the influence of the sites’ geo-tectonic setting to soapstone and granite rocks as thermal energy storage materials. Experimental characterization was done to investigate the thermo-chemical properties (thermal stability (TGA), crystalline phases (XRD), petrographic imaging and chemical composition (XRF), and high temperature test); the thermo-physical properties (density, porosity, specific and thermal capacity (DSC), thermal diffusivity, and conductivities (LFA)); and the thermo-mechanical properties (Young’s modulus) of the rocks. Consequently, the rock with the most desired properties for thermal energy storage was the soapstone rock from the Craton geo-tectonic setting and it had a Young’s modulus of 135 GPa at room temperature. At solar drying and CSP temperatures it had thermal capacities of 3.28 MJ/(m3·K) and 4.65 MJ/(m3·K); densities of 2.785 g/cm3 and 2.77 g/cm3; and conductivities of 2.56 W/(m·K) and 2.43 W/(m·K) respectively, and had weight loss of 0.75% at 900 °C. At high temperatures, only granite from Craton had visible cracks while the other 3 rocks did not show visible signs of fracture. Conclusively, soapstone and granite from Craton in the Dodoma region and Usagaran in the Iringa geo-tectonic settings exhibit significant differences in most thermo-properties.