Investigation of heat transfer in biochar-based thermal backfill for energy storage facilities

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4. Investigation of heat transfer in biochar-based thermal backfill for energy storage facilities

To improve the efficiency of thermal energy storage systems like underground crude oil pipelines in permafrost zones, crude oil storage tanks, and subsurface cold storage, the designated temperature around those facilities must be maintained utilizing thermal backfill. Biochar is a highly chemically stable and low thermally conductive material, which makes it suitable as a backfill for thermal energy systems. However, the utilization of biochar in thermal energy storage units is barely explored. The present work investigates the heat transfer in biochar-based thermal backfill (BBTB) for energy storage facilities. The prohibition potential of heat transfer of BBTB was investigated by fabricating a soil-biochar composite column by amending 5% biochar with highly plastic silty soil. For heat transfer investigation, a heater rod was inserted at the center of the soil column, and temperature sensors were installed at different radial distances. The spatio-temporal distribution of temperature was measured during heating and ambient cooling. The study reveals that BBTB exhibits lower temperatures than bare soil. The maximum temperature difference between bare soil and BBTB was noted to be 11°C, primarily due to the lower thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of biochar. The newly proposed BBTB has shown the potential to restrict heat transfer from the source.

9th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics (ICEG2023)

Geo-Energy