Special Focus : ACHEMA 2012
is still a lot of scope for improved performance. In Japan, large sodium- sulphur batteries have already been installed as storage devices to support a wind power plant. Lithium-ion batteries could theoretically provide a workable solution but short-circuiting problems still need to be resolved before a practical solution can be assured.
Other practical issues
that need solving focus on energy containment technologies. Providing compact, space-saving solutions is vital. For example, housing of control units
requires a considerable amount of space even when they are installed directly next to a wind power plant or a photovoltaic array. There are also a variety of complex chemical energy
storage challenges that need to be resolved. In situ hydrogen production by electrolysis may initially appear to be an
obvious solution. But is hydrogen really a suitable primary storage medium? The costs of transporting hydrogen, the energy losses in
the production chain from the electrolytic cell via compression and transport through to its re-conversion into electricity currently exceed 70 per cent. There is also the issue of deploying the necessary infrastructure. How realistic is it to install millions of hydrogen-powered fuel cells for domestic use? Production of methanol or ethanol may be a more attractive option for vast countries with a less well developed energy infrastructure, such as China, India or Brazil. In other countries methane may well become the storage system of choice, particularly if they already have a (natural) gas network. Biomass could be directly integrated into the system as
bio natural gas, and more so, once efficient processes for converting lignocellulosic materials into biogas have been discovered. Whatever energy storage requirements and transportation
demands you face there is no doubt that the Innovative Energy Carriers and Storage Special Show will be one of the best ways of examing the multi-faceted energy storage challenges that we all face. The Special Show will help you quickly gain a global perspective of how best to resolve these fast-moving issues. ■
For more information, visit
www.achema.de ABB
Index of Advertisers – Process 6
BHDT Beamex Bekaert
Brabender Technologie Continental Disc Desmi Dresser Roots Entecon FLIR Flexim Flexitallic Geanne HO-Matic Hillesheim
Barriquand Technologies Thermiques Cashco Hilliard Honeywell
50
www.engineerlive.com
24A 52 24 19
17A 15 47 27
29A 39 10 51 45 13
10 14 16 8
Hilliard Huber Inpro/Seal Jacob Pipework Systems Knick Litremeter M+W Process Industries Maag Pump Systems Maxon Mercury HMI ProMinent Fluid Controls Rotronic SpinTek Filtration Vacon WEG
Index of Advertisers – Chemical
Mehrer ProMinent Fluid Controls Sandvik
5A 5 1
13A 2
5A
28A 9
33A 20A 5
29 33 20
39A 17
10A 30
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