Pyrolysis of Methane and Ethane in a Compression–Expansion Process as a New Concept for Chemical Energy Storage: A Kinetic and Exergetic Investigation

The production of chemical energy carriers utilizing electrical from renewable sources is essential for the future system. A motored piston engine may be used as a reactor to convert mechanical by pyrolysis methane and ethane; this analyzed here. modeled compression–expansion cycle with detailed kinetics. main products are hydrogen high-energy hydrocarbons such acetylene, ethylene, benzene. To reach required high temperatures conversion after compression, educt diluted argon. influence operating conditions (temperature, pressure, dilution) on product gas composition, stored exergy, ratio exergy gain work input (efficiency) investigated. >80% predicted an argon dilution 93 mol% at inlet 573 K (methane) 473 (ethane), respectively. storage power 7.5 kW 6 (ethane) 400 ccm four-stroke single-cylinder efficiency 75% 70% Conditions identified, where yields target species achieved, soot formation can avoided.