MSGID: 1:317/3 6476cdc0   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    The next generation of solar energy collectors could be rocks    
      
     Date:   
         May 30, 2023   
     Source:   
         American Chemical Society   
     Summary:   
         The next generation of sustainable energy technology might be   
         built from some low-tech materials: rocks and the sun. Using a new   
         approach known as concentrated solar power, heat from the sun is   
         stored then used to dry foods or create electricity. A team has   
         found that certain soapstone and granite samples from Tanzania   
         are well suited for storing this solar heat, featuring high energy   
         densities and stability even at high temperatures.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
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   The next generation of sustainable energy technology might be built   
   from some low-tech materials: rocks and the sun. Using a new approach   
   known as concentrated solar power, heat from the sun is stored then used   
   to dry foods or create electricity. A team reporting in ACS Omega has   
   found that certain soapstone and granite samples from Tanzania are well   
   suited for storing this solar heat, featuring high energy densities and   
   stability even at high temperatures.   
      
   Energy is often stored in large batteries when not needed, but these can   
   be expensive and require lots of resources to manufacture. A lower-tech   
   alternative is thermal energy storage (TES), which collects energy as   
   heat in a liquid or solid, such as water, oil or rock. When released,   
   the heat can power a generator to produce electricity. Rocks such as   
   granite and soapstone are specifically formed under high heat and found   
   across the globe, which might make them favorable TES materials. However,   
   their properties can vary greatly based on where in the world they were   
   formed, possibly making some samples better than others. In Tanzania,   
   the Craton and Usagaran geological belts meet, and both contain granite   
   and soapstone. So, Lilian Deusdedit Kakoko, Yusufu Abeid Chande Jande   
   and Thomas Kivevele from Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science   
   and Technology and Ardhi University wanted to investigate the properties   
   of soapstone and granite found in each of these belts.   
      
   The team collected several rock samples from the belts and analyzed   
   them. The granite samples contained a large amount of silicon oxides,   
   which added strength. However, the Craton granite contained other   
   compounds, including muscovite, which are susceptible to dehydration   
   and could make the rock unstable at high temperatures. Magnesite was   
   found in the soapstone, which conferred a high density and thermal   
   capacity. When heated to temperatures over 1800 degrees Fahrenheit,   
   both soapstone samples and the Usagaran granite had no visible cracks,   
   but the Craton granite fell apart. Additionally, the soapstone was more   
   likely to release its stored heat than the granite. In all, the Craton   
   soapstone had the best performance as a TES, able to absorb, store and   
   transmit heat effectively while maintaining good chemical stability and   
   mechanical strength. However, the other rocks might be better suited   
   for a lower-energy TES application, such a solar dryer. The researchers   
   say that though further experiments are needed, these samples show good   
   promise in being a sustainable energy storage material.   
      
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Matter_&_Energy   
                   # Thermodynamics # Solar_Energy # Energy_Technology #   
                   Energy_and_Resources   
             o Earth_&_Climate   
                   # Energy_and_the_Environment # Renewable_Energy #   
                   Sustainability # Environmental_Science   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Renewable_energy o Solar_power o Solar_cell o Wind_power o   
             Geothermal_power o Distributed_generation o Greenhouse_effect   
             o Hadley_cell   
      
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   Story Source: Materials provided by American_Chemical_Society. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Lilian Deusdedit Kakoko, Yusufu Abeid Chande Jande, Thomas Kivevele.   
      
         Experimental Investigation of Soapstone and Granite Rocks as   
         Energy- Storage Materials for Concentrated Solar Power Generation   
         and Solar Drying Technology. ACS Omega, 2023; 8 (21): 18554 DOI:   
         10.1021/ acsomega.3c00314   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230530125428.htm   
      
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