Hydration performance and cycling stability of three TCM: MgSO4, ZnSO4 and FeSO4

Thermochemical heat storage materials offer high-energy storage densities and clean means of long-term solar energy storage. The aim of the study is to assess the potential heat storage efficiency of salt hydrates, based on sufficient hydration/dehydration performance, water sorption and cyclicability. MgSO4 7H(2)O, ZnSO4 7H(2)O and FeSO4 7H(2)O were evaluated based on preselected criteria. The main highlights of the dehydration result show that higher enthalpy was obtained for MgSO4 and ZnSO4, shows 2256 and 1731 J g(-1) enthalpy, respectively. During hydration process, six water molecules were absorb by MgSO4 and ZnSO4 after pre-dehydrated temperature 150 degrees C and 120 degrees C, respectively. The cycle stability of MgSO4 and ZnSO4 showed better performance which give rise 1210 g(-1) and 1155 J g(-1) enthalpy, respectively. It was expected that FeSO4 would show higher cyclicability due to their higher enthalpy (1400 J g(-1)) in the first round; however, overhydration does not permit it to released larger energy. The impact of relative humidity on water sorption performance and rate of hydration were reported which showed that MgSO4 and ZnSO4 can uptake maximum water under 85% and 75% relative humidity. Ongoing studies and the booming progress of ZnSO4 7H(2)O illustrate that likewise MgSO4 7H(2)O, it is also the potential candidate and can be use in thermochemical heat storage devices. To bring zinc sulfate heptahydrate into market, more detail studies in fields of evaluation of advanced materials and development of efficient and compact prototypes are still required.