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Firebrick thermal energy storage could reach 170 GW in the U.S. by 2050 (pv-magazine-usa.com)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Firebrick systems powered by renewable energy could be used for up to 90% of industrial process heat applications, the Stanford study says. Meeting that demand in the U.S. would require firebrick system capacity of 2.6 TWh, with a peak discharge rate of 170 GW.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (11 children)

I would think molten metal would be more effective for this, molten sodium or lead or something? Maybe some kind of Tin/Lead eutectic like old solder?

Firebricks just seem inefficient somehow, particularly since the heat isn't going to be uniform, while molten metals or salts can circulate and convect the heat more efficiently than... air.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

I am not a material scientist, but I would wonder if molten metals would radiate too much heat to the environment causing an efficiency loss

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