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Latent heat augmentation of thermocline energy storage for concentrating solar power – A system-level assessment

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  • Flueckiger, Scott M.
  • Garimella, Suresh V.

Abstract

Molten-salt thermocline tanks are a low-cost energy storage option for concentrating solar power plants. Despite the potential economic advantage, the capacity of thermocline tanks to store sufficient amounts of high-temperature heat is limited by the low energy density of the constituent sensible-heat storage media. A promising design modification replaces conventional rock filler inside the tank with an encapsulated phase-change material (PCM), contributing a latent heat storage mechanism to increase the overall energy density. The current study presents a new finite-volume approach to simulate mass and energy transport inside a latent heat thermocline tank at low computational cost. This storage model is then integrated into a system-level model of a molten-salt power tower plant to inform tank operation with respect to realistic solar collection and power production. With this system model, PCMs with different melting temperatures and heats of fusion are evaluated for their viability in latent heat storage for solar plants.

Suggested Citation

  • Flueckiger, Scott M. & Garimella, Suresh V., 2014. "Latent heat augmentation of thermocline energy storage for concentrating solar power – A system-level assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 278-287.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:116:y:2014:i:c:p:278-287
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.11.059
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    Cited by:

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    3. Elfeky, K.E. & Li, Xinyi & Ahmed, N. & Lu, Lin & Wang, Qiuwang, 2019. "Optimization of thermal performance in thermocline tank thermal energy storage system with the multilayered PCM(s) for CSP tower plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C), pages 175-190.
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    6. Zhao, Bing-chen & Cheng, Mao-song & Liu, Chang & Dai, Zhi-min, 2016. "Thermal performance and cost analysis of a multi-layered solid-PCM thermocline thermal energy storage for CSP tower plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 784-799.
    7. Khalil Anwar, M. & Yilbas, B.S. & Shuja, S.Z., 2016. "A thermal battery mimicking a concentrated volumetric solar receiver," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 16-30.
    8. Xu, Ben & Li, Peiwen & Chan, Cholik, 2015. "Application of phase change materials for thermal energy storage in concentrated solar thermal power plants: A review to recent developments," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 286-307.
    9. Galione, P.A. & Pérez-Segarra, C.D. & Rodríguez, I. & Oliva, A. & Rigola, J., 2015. "Multi-layered solid-PCM thermocline thermal storage concept for CSP plants. Numerical analysis and perspectives," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 337-351.
    10. Elfeky, K.E. & Mohammed, A.G. & Ahmed, N. & Lu, Lin & Wang, Qiuwang, 2020. "Thermal and economic evaluation of phase change material volume fraction for thermocline tank used in concentrating solar power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    11. Ahmed, N. & Elfeky, K.E. & Lu, Lin & Wang, Q.W., 2020. "Thermal performance analysis of thermocline combined sensible-latent heat storage system using cascaded-layered PCM designs for medium temperature applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 684-697.
    12. Zhang, Maolong & Xu, Chao & Du, Xiaoze & Amjad, Muhammad & Wen, Dongsheng, 2017. "Off-design performance of concentrated solar heat and coal double-source boiler power generation with thermocline energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 697-710.
    13. Elfeky, Karem Elsayed & Mohammed, Abubakar Gambo & Ahmed, Naveed & Wang, Qiuwang, 2023. "Thermo-mechanical investigation of the multi-layer thermocline tank for parabolic trough power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    14. Yunshen Zhang & Yun Guo & Jiaao Zhu & Weijian Yuan & Feng Zhao, 2024. "New Advances in Materials, Applications, and Design Optimization of Thermocline Heat Storage: Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-41, May.
    15. Alam, Tanvir E. & Dhau, Jaspreet S. & Goswami, D. Yogi & Stefanakos, Elias, 2015. "Macroencapsulation and characterization of phase change materials for latent heat thermal energy storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 92-101.
    16. Mostafavi Tehrani, S. Saeed & Shoraka, Yashar & Nithyanandam, Karthik & Taylor, Robert A., 2019. "Shell-and-tube or packed bed thermal energy storage systems integrated with a concentrated solar power: A techno-economic comparison of sensible and latent heat systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 887-910.
    17. Alberto Romero & Ricardo Chacartegui & Emanuele Garone, 2020. "Modeling, Simulation and Optimal Operation of Multi-Extraction Packed-Bed Thermal Storage Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, May.
    18. Romaní, Joaquim & Gasia, Jaume & Solé, Aran & Takasu, Hiroki & Kato, Yukitaka & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2019. "Evaluation of energy density as performance indicator for thermal energy storage at material and system levels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 954-962.
    19. Tanaka, Yasuto & Mesfun, Sennai & Umeki, Kentaro & Toffolo, Andrea & Tamaura, Yutaka & Yoshikawa, Kunio, 2015. "Thermodynamic performance of a hybrid power generation system using biomass gasification and concentrated solar thermal processes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 664-672.
    20. Manfrida, Giampaolo & Secchi, Riccardo & Stańczyk, Kamil, 2016. "Modelling and simulation of phase change material latent heat storages applied to a solar-powered Organic Rankine Cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 378-388.
    21. Zhao, Bing-chen & Cheng, Mao-song & Liu, Chang & Dai, Zhi-min, 2017. "Cyclic thermal characterization of a molten-salt packed-bed thermal energy storage for concentrating solar power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 761-773.
    22. ELSihy, ELSaeed Saad & Cai, Changrui & Li, Zhenpeng & Du, Xiaoze & Wang, Zuyuan, 2024. "Performance investigation on the cascaded packed bed thermal energy storage system with encapsulated nano-enhanced phase change materials for high-temperature applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    23. Tehrani, S. Saeed Mostafavi & Taylor, Robert A. & Saberi, Pouya & Diarce, Gonzalo, 2016. "Design and feasibility of high temperature shell and tube latent heat thermal energy storage system for solar thermal power plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA), pages 120-136.
    24. Liu, Y.K. & Tao, Y.B., 2018. "Thermodynamic analysis and optimization of multistage latent heat storage unit under unsteady inlet temperature based on entransy theory," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 488-496.

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