scholarly journals Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Unit for Heating Applications Based on a Nanocomposite Organic PCM

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria K. Koukou ◽  
George Dogkas ◽  
Michail Gr. Vrachopoulos ◽  
John Konstantaras ◽  
Christos Pagkalos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Behavior ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Solidification Processes

A small-scale latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) unit for heating applications was studied experimentally using an organic phase change material (PCM). The unit comprised of a tank filled with the PCM, a staggered heat exchanger (HE) for transferring heat from and to the PCM, and a water pump to circulate water as a heat transfer fluid (HTF). The performance of the unit using the commercial organic paraffin A44 was studied in order to understand the thermal behavior of the system and the main parameters that influence heat transfer during the PCM melting and solidification processes. The latter will assist the design of a large-scale unit. The effect of flow rate was studied given that it significantly affects charging (melting) and discharging (solidification) processes. In addition, as organic PCMs have low thermal conductivity, the possible improvement of the PCM’s thermal behavior by means of nanoparticle addition was investigated. The obtained results were promising and showed that the use of graphite-based nanoplatelets improves the PCM thermal behavior. Charging was clearly faster and more efficient, while with the appropriate tuning of the HTF flow rate, an efficient discharging was accomplished.

Exergy-Based Optimization of Sub- and Supercritical Thermal Energy Storage Systems

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis A. Tse ◽  
Reza Baghaei Lakeh ◽  
Richard E. Wirz ◽  
Adrienne S. Lavine
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Mass Flow Rate ◽  
Mass Flow ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Energy And Exergy

In this work, energy and exergy analyses are applied to a thermal energy storage system employing a storage medium in the two-phase or supercritical regime. First, a numerical model is developed to investigate the transient thermodynamic and heat transfer characteristics of the storage system by coupling conservation of energy with an equation of state to model the spatial and temporal variations in fluid properties during the entire working cycle of the TES tank. Second, parametric studies are conducted to determine the impact of key variables (such as heat transfer fluid mass flow rate and maximum storage temperature) on both energy and exergy efficiencies. The optimum heat transfer fluid mass flow rate during charging must balance exergy destroyed due to heat transfer and exergy destroyed due to pressure losses, which have competing effects. Similarly, the optimum maximum storage fluid temperature is evaluated to optimize exergetic efficiency. By incorporating exergy-based optimization alongside traditional energy analyses, the results of this study evaluate the optimal values for key parameters in the design and operation of TES systems, as well as highlight opportunities to minimize thermodynamic losses.

A General Model for Analyzing the Thermal Characteristics of a Class of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 185-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kang Yanbing ◽  
Zhang Yinping ◽  
Jiang Yi ◽  
Zhu Yingxin
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
General Model ◽  
Thermal Characteristics ◽  
System Structure ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid

The present study describes and classifies latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) systems according to their structural characteristics. A general model is developed for analyzing the thermal characteristics of the various typical LHTES systems to simulate thermal characteristics such as instantaneous heat transfer rate, instantaneous thermal storage capacity, etc. of the various typical LHTES systems. The model can calculate some important but difficult to measure system parameters for monitoring the charging or discharging processes of the systems. The model is verified using experimental data in the literature. Results from the model can be used to discuss the influence of the characteristic geometric parameters of LHTES units, the physical properties of the phase change material (PCM), the flow type and the velocity of heat transfer fluid (HTF) on the system thermal performance and to identify the key factors influencing the system thermal performance. The general model can be used to select and optimize the system structure and to simulate the thermal behavior of various typical LHTES systems.

Energy and Exergy Analysis of Thermal Energy Storage Prototype by Using Concrete Material in Thailand

2016 ◽  
Vol 839 ◽  
pp. 14-22
Author(s):  
Rungrudee Boonsu ◽  
Sukruedee Sukchai
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Saturated Steam ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Flow Rates

The research was performed on thermal energy storage prototype in Thailand. Concrete was used as the solid media sensible heat material in order to fulfill local material utilization which is easy to handle and low cost. Saturated steam was used for heat transfer fluid. The thermal energy storage prototype was composed of pipes embedded in a concrete storage block. The embedded pipes were used for transporting and distributing the heat transfer medium while sustaining the pressure. The heat exchanger was composed of 16 pipes with an inner diameter of 12 mm and wall thickness of 7 mm. They were distributed in a square arrangement of 4 by 4 pipes with a separation of 80 mm. The storage prototype had the dimensions of 0.5 x 0.5 x 4 m. The charging temperature was maintained at 180°C with the flow rates of 0.009, 0.0012 and 0.014 kg/s whereas the inlet temperature of the discharge was maintained at 110°C. The performance evaluation of a thermal energy storage prototype was investigated in the part of charging/discharging. The experiment found that the increase or decrease in storage temperature depends on the heat transfer fluid temperature, flow rates, and initial temperature. The energy efficiency of the thermal energy storage prototype at the flow rate of 0.012 kg/s was the best because it dramatically increased and gave 41% of energy efficiency in the first 45 minutes after which it continued to rise yet only gradually. Over 180 minutes of operation time, the energy efficiency at this flow rate was 53% and the exergy efficiency was 38%.

scholarly journals Optimum Placement of Heating Tubes in a Multi-Tube Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1232
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ghalambaz ◽  
Hayder I. Mohammed ◽  
Ali Naghizadeh ◽  
Mohammad S. Islam ◽  
Obai Younis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Taguchi Method ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Storage Systems ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Energy Storage Systems

Utilizing phase change materials in thermal energy storage systems is commonly considered as an alternative solution for the effective use of energy. This study presents numerical simulations of the charging process for a multitube latent heat thermal energy storage system. A thermal energy storage model, consisting of five tubes of heat transfer fluids, was investigated using Rubitherm phase change material (RT35) as the. The locations of the tubes were optimized by applying the Taguchi method. The thermal behavior of the unit was evaluated by considering the liquid fraction graphs, streamlines, and isotherm contours. The numerical model was first verified compared with existed experimental data from the literature. The outcomes revealed that based on the Taguchi method, the first row of the heat transfer fluid tubes should be located at the lowest possible area while the other tubes should be spread consistently in the enclosure. The charging rate changed by 76% when varying the locations of the tubes in the enclosure to the optimum point. The development of streamlines and free-convection flow circulation was found to impact the system design significantly. The Taguchi method could efficiently assign the optimum design of the system with few simulations. Accordingly, this approach gives the impression of the future design of energy storage systems.

scholarly journals Latent Heat Phase Change Heat Transfer of a Nanoliquid with Nano–Encapsulated Phase Change Materials in a Wavy-Wall Enclosure with an Active Rotating Cylinder

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2590
Author(s):  
S. A. M. Mehryan ◽  
Kaamran Raahemifar ◽  
Leila Sasani Gargari ◽  
Ahmad Hajjar ◽  
Mohamad El Kadri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Wavy Wall ◽  
Governing Equations ◽  
Stefan Number ◽  
Change Material

A Nano-Encapsulated Phase-Change Material (NEPCM) suspension is made of nanoparticles containing a Phase Change Material in their core and dispersed in a fluid. These particles can contribute to thermal energy storage and heat transfer by their latent heat of phase change as moving with the host fluid. Thus, such novel nanoliquids are promising for applications in waste heat recovery and thermal energy storage systems. In the present research, the mixed convection of NEPCM suspensions was addressed in a wavy wall cavity containing a rotating solid cylinder. As the nanoparticles move with the liquid, they undergo a phase change and transfer the latent heat. The phase change of nanoparticles was considered as temperature-dependent heat capacity. The governing equations of mass, momentum, and energy conservation were presented as partial differential equations. Then, the governing equations were converted to a non-dimensional form to generalize the solution, and solved by the finite element method. The influence of control parameters such as volume concentration of nanoparticles, fusion temperature of nanoparticles, Stefan number, wall undulations number, and as well as the cylinder size, angular rotation, and thermal conductivities was addressed on the heat transfer in the enclosure. The wall undulation number induces a remarkable change in the Nusselt number. There are optimum fusion temperatures for nanoparticles, which could maximize the heat transfer rate. The increase of the latent heat of nanoparticles (a decline of Stefan number) boosts the heat transfer advantage of employing the phase change particles.

Effect of High Temperatures and Heating Rates on High Strength Concrete for Use as Thermal Energy Storage

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emerson E. John ◽  
W. Micah Hale ◽  
R. Panneer Selvam
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
High Temperatures ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Heat Transfer Fluid ◽  
Heating Rates ◽  
Storage Media ◽  
Concrete Mixtures

In recent years due to rising energy costs as well as an increased interest in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, there is great interest in developing alternative sources of energy. One of the most viable alternative energy resources is solar energy. Concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies have been identified as an option for meeting utility needs in the U.S. Southwest. Areas where CSP technologies can be improved are improved heat transfer fluid (HTF) and improved methods of thermal energy storage (TES). One viable option for TES storage media is concrete. The material costs of concrete can be very inexpensive and the costs/ kWhthermal, which is based on the operating temperature, are reported to be approximately $1. Researchers using concrete as a TES storage media have achieved maximum operating temperatures of 400°C. However, there are concerns for using concrete as the TES medium, and these concerns center on the effects and the limitations that the high temperatures may have on the concrete. As the concrete temperature increases, decomposition of the calcium hydroxide (CH) occurs at 500°C, and there is significant strength loss due to degeneration of the calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H). Additionally concrete exposed to high temperatures has a propensity to spall explosively. This proposed paper examines the effect of heating rates on high performance concrete mixtures. Concrete mixtures with water to cementitious material ratios (w/cm) of 0.15 to 0.30 and compressive strengths of up to 180 MPa (26 ksi) were cast and subjected to heating rates of 3, 5, 7, and 9° C/min. These concrete mixtures are to be used in tests modules where molten salt is used as the heat transfer fluid. Molten salt becomes liquid at temperatures exceeding 220°C and therefore the concrete will be exposed to high initial temperatures and subsequently at controlled heating rates up to desired operating temperatures. Preliminary results consistently show that concrete mixtures without polypropylene fibres (PP) cannot resist temperatures beyond 500° C, regardless of the heating rate employed. These mixtures spall at higher temperatures when heated at a faster rate (7° C/min). Additionally, mixtures which incorporate PP fibres can withstand temperatures up to 600° C without spalling irrespective of the heating rate.

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