Numerical Assessment on Fin Design Parameters Employed for Augmentation of Natural Convection and Fluid Flow in a Horizontal Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Unit

The present work focus on the thermal performance of a horizontal concentric heat exchanger, which is numerically investigated to evaluate the heat transfer enhancement process by adding fins with different configurations. As a part of this investigation, the melting process is simulated from the onset of phase change to the offset involving physics of natural convection in PCM fluid pool. The investigation is carried out by ANSYS Fluent code, which is an efficient numerical analysis tool for investigating fluid flow and convective heat transfer phenomena during PCM melting process. The attention is mainly focused on the extension of contact area between the PCM body and cylindrical capsule to enhance heat transfer rates to PCM bodies during the melting process by employing longitudinal fins in the enclosed capsule. Two commercial PCMs: RT50 and C58, are introduced in a 2D cylindrical pipe with their thermo-physical properties as input for modelling. The selected modelling approach is validated against experimental result with respect to the total enthalpy changes that qualify our model to run in the proceeding calculation. It is ensured that an isothermal boundary condition (373 K) is applied to the inner pipe throughout the series of simulation cases and the corresponding Rayleigh number (Ra) ranges from 104 - 105 and Prandtl number (Pr) 0.05 - 0.07. Finally, parametric study is carried out to evaluate the effect of length, thickness and number of longitudinal fins on the thermal performance of PCM-LHTES (Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage) system associated with the physics of natural convection process during PCM melting.

Heat transfer and parametric studies of an encapsulated phase change material based cool thermal energy storage system

This work investigates the transient behaviour of a phase change material based cool thermal energy storage (CTES) system comprised of a cylindrical storage tank filled with encapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) in spherical container integrated with an ethylene glycol chiller plant. A simulation program was developed to evaluate the temperature histories of the heat transfer fluid (HTF) and the phase change material at any axial location during the charging period. The results of the model were validated by comparison with experimental results of temperature profiles of HTF and PCM. The model was also used to investigate the effect of porosity, Stanton number, Stefan number and Peclet number on CTES system performance. The results showed that increase in porosity contributes to a higher rate of energy storage. However, for a given geometry and heat transfer coefficient, the mass of PCM charged in the unit decreases as the increase in porosity. The St number as well as the Ste number is also influential in the performance of the unit. The model is a convenient and more suitable method to determine the heat transfer characteristics of CTES system. The results reported are much useful for designing CTES system.

Operating performance of novel reverse-cycle defrosting method based on thermal energy storage for air source heat pump

To solve the fundamental problem of insufficient heat available during defrosting while ensuring the efficient and safe system operation for air-source heat pumps (ASHPs). A novel reverse-cycle defrosting (NRCD) method based on thermal energy storage to eliminate frost off the outdoor coil surface was developed. Comparative experiments using both the stand reverse cycle defrosting (SRCD) method and the NRCD method were carried out on an experimental ASHP unit with a nominal 2.5 kW heating capacity. The results indicate that during defrosting operation, using the NRCD method improves discharge and suction pressures by 0.24 MPa and 0.19 MPa, respectively, shortens defrosting duration by 60%, and reduces the defrosting energy consumption by 48.1% in the experimental environment, compared with those by the use of SRCD method. Therefore, using the NRCD method can shorten the defrosting duration, improve the indoor thermal comfort, and reduce the defrosting energy consumption in defrosting.

Research on Operation of Electrothermal Integrated Energy System Including Heat Pump and Thermal Storage Units Based on Capacity Planning

In view of the Three North areas existing wind power absorption and environment pollution problems,the previous scholars have improved the wind abandon problem by adding electrothermal coupling equipment or optimizing power grid operation.In this paper,an electrothermal integrated energy system including heat pump and thermal storage units was proposed.The scheduling model was based on the load data and the output characteristics of power units,each power unit capacity was programmed without constraints,and the proposed scheduling model was compared with the traditional combined heat and power scheduling model.Results showed that the investment and pollutant discharge of the system was reduced respectively.Wind power was fully absorbed.Compared with the traditional thermal power unit,the proportion of the output was significantly decreased by the proposed model.The proposed system could provide a new prospect for wind power absorption and environment protection.

Thermal energy storage inside the chamber with a brick wall using the phase change process of paraffinic materials:A numerical simulation

Phase change materials are one of the potential resources to replace fossil fuels in regards of supplying the energy of buildings.Basically,these materials absorb or release heat energy with the help of their latent heat.Phase change materials have low thermal conductivity and this makes it possible to use the physical properties of these materials in the tropical regions where the solar radiation is more direct and concentrated over a smaller area.In this theoretical work,an attempt has been made to study the melting process of these materials by applying constant heat flux and temperature.It was found that by increasing the thickness of phase change materials’layers,due to the melting,more thermal energy is stored.Simultaneously it reduces the penetration of excessive heat into the chamber,so that by increasing the thickness of paraffin materials up to 20 mm,the rate of temperature reduction reaches more than 18%.It was also recognized that increasing the values of constant input heat flux increases buoyancy effects.Increasing the Stefan number from 0.1 to 0.3,increases the temperature by 6%.

Heat Storage Performance of PCM in a Novel Vertical Pointer-Shaped Finned Latent Heat Tank

The heat storage performance of latent heat storage systems is not good due to the poor thermal conductivity of phase change materials.In this paper,a new type of pointer-shaped fins combining rectangular and triangular fins has been employed to numerically simulate the melting process in the heat storage tank,and the fin geometry parameter effects on heat storage performance have been studied.The results indicate that compared with the bare tube and the rectangular finned tank,the melting time of the phase change material in the pointer-shaped finned tank is reduced by 64.2%and 15.1%,respectively.The closer the tip of the triangular fin is to the hot wall,the better the heat transfer efficiency.The optimal height of the triangular fin is about 8 mm.Increasing the number of fins from 4 to 6 and from 6 to 8 reduces the melting time by 16.0%and 16.7%respectively.However,increasing the number of fins from 8 to 10 only reduces the melting time by 8.4%.When the fin dimensionless length is increased from 0.3 to 0.5 and from 0.5 to 0.7,the melting time is shortened by 17.5%and 13.0%.But the melting time is only reduced by 2.9%when the dimensionless fin length is increased from 0.7 to 0.9.For optimising the design of the thermal storage system,the results can provide a reference value.

Influence of the Fin Design on the Melting and Solidification Process of NANO3 in a Thermal Energy Storage System

The melting and solidification process of sodium nitrate, which is used as energy storage material, is studied in a vertical arranged energy storage device with two different bimetal finned tube designs （with and without additional lateral fins） for enhancing the heat transfer. The finned tube design consists of a plain steel tube while the material for the longitudinal （axial） fins is aluminum. The investigation analyses the influence of the lateral fins on the charging and discharging process. Three-dimensional transient numerical simulations are performed using the ANSYS Fluent 14.5 software. The results show that, every obstruction given by lateral fins reduces the melting and solidification velocity in direction to the outer shell.

Advances in thermal energy storage development at the German Aerospace Center(DLR)

Thermal energy storage(TES)is a key technology for renewable energy utilization and the improvement of the energy efficiency of heat processes.Sectors include industrial process heat and conventional and renewable power generation.TES systems correct the mismatch between supply and demand of thermal energy.In the medium to high temperature range(100~1000℃),only limited storage technology is commercially available and a strong effort is needed to develop a range of storage technologies which are efficient and economical for the very specific requirements of the different application sectors.At the DLR's Institute of Technical Thermodynamics,the complete spectrum of high temperature storage technologies,from various types of sensible over latent heat to thermochemical heat storages are being developed.Different concepts are proposed depending on the heat transfer fluid(synthetic oil,water/steam,molten salt,air)and the required temperature range.The aim is the development of cost effective,efficient and reliable thermal storage systems.Research focuses on characterization of storage materials,enhancement of internal heat transfer,design of innovative storage concepts and modelling of storage components and systems.Demonstration of the storage technology takes place from laboratory scale to field testing(5 kW^1 MW).The paper gives an overview on DLR's current developments.

Experimental Investigation on Prototype Latent Heat Thermal Battery Charging and Discharging Function Integrated with Solar Collector

This paper reports the performance investigation of a newly developed Latent Heat Thermal Battery(LHTB)integrated with a solar collector as the main source of heat.The LHTB is a new solution in the field of thermal storage and developed based on the battery concept in terms of recharge ability,portability and usability as a standalone device.It is fabricated based on the thermal battery storage concept and consists of a plate-fin and tube heat exchanger located inside the battery casing and paraffin wax which is used as a latent heat storage material.Solar thermal energy is absorbed by solar collector and transferred to the LHTB using water as Heat Transfer Fluid(HTF).Charging experiments have been conducted with a HTF at three different temperatures of 68°C,88°C and 108°C and three different flow rates of 30,60 and 120 l/h.It is followed by discharging experiments on fully charged LHTB at three different temperatures of 68°C,88°C and 108°C using HTF at three different flow rates of 30,60 and 120 l/h.It is found that both higher HTF inlet temperature and flow rate have a positive impact on stored thermal energy.However,charging efficiency was decreased by increasing the HTF flow rate.The highest charging efficiency of 29%was achieved using HTF of 108°C at a flow rate of 30 l/h.Most of paraffin melted in this case,while part of the paraffin remained solid in other experiments.On the other hand,the results from discharging experiments revealed that both recovered thermal energy and recovery efficiency increased by either increasing the LHTB temperature or HTF flow rate.Highest recovered thermal energy of 5,825 KJ at 35%recovery efficiency achieved at LHTB of 108°C using 120 l/h of HTF.

Research of Thermal Energy Storage Technology in the Solar Thermodynamic Power

Recently, although renewable energy has a great development, primary source is still thermal power generation, which uses fossil fuel as the energy source. Supply and demand of fossil fuel are essential for social and economy development. However, development pattern that excessively relies on the natural source is impossible to provide a sustainable development way for us. As a result, we should combine renewable energy with new energy technology as the aim of economy. It means that it is urgent to exploit new energy. Meanwhile, the ratio of energy waste cannot be ignored. How to decrease energy waste is also significant. Construction sector costs a lot of energy, which is mainly used for heating and refrigeration. In the new energy generation technology, thermal energy can be transformed to electricity with combination of BIPV and thermal energy storage technology. Photovoltaic generation has a great progress in the building construction. As a result, the thermal energy storage technology becomes the key link in the production chain. In this paper, feasibility of applying phase-change material (PCM) in the thermal energy storage will be analyzed. And analysis results are provided with a relative mathematical model.

UTES （Underground Thermal Energy Storage）---Applications and Market Development in Sweden

The market for shallow geothermal solutions has been continuously growing in Sweden and is recognized as a cost effective and environmental sound way for space heating. In later years, UTES （underground thermal energy storage） systems have become fTequently installed for combined heating and cooling of commercial and institutional buildings. After 20 years, operational experiences of these systems are proved to be energy efficient, technically safe and profitable. In this paper, the current statistics of UTES applications are given as well as market trends and technical development. The goal is to encourage designers and installers in other counties to use this promising technology.

Comparative study on heat transfer enhancement of metal foam and fins in a shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage unit

Metal foam and fins are two popular structures that are employed to enhance the heat transfer of phase change materials in shell-and-tube heat storage units.However,it remains unclear which structure is better in terms of energy storage performance.In this study,the heat transfer enhancement performances of metal foam and fins are compared to provide guidance on the optimal structure to be chosen for practical applications.Three fin structures(four fins,two vertical fins,and two horizontal fins)are considered.Under the full configuration(volume fraction of metal=3%),the unit with four fins was found to have a faster melting rate than those with vertical or horizontal fins.In other words,increasing the number of fins helps to accelerate the melting process.Nevertheless,the unit with metal foam enhancement has the highest melting rate.Under the half configuration(volume fraction of metal=1.5%),the melting rate of the unit enhanced by metal foam is significantly decreased,whereas there is no remarkable changes in the units enhanced by fins.However,metal foam is still shown to be the best thermal enhancer.The energy storage rate of the unit enhanced by metal foam can be up to 10 times higher than that of the unit enhanced by fins.

Recent Progress on Thermal Energy Storage for Coal-Fired Power Plant

With countries proposing the goal of carbon neutrality,the clean transformation of energy structure has become a hot and trendy issue internationally.Renewable energy generation will account for the main proportion,but it also leads to the problem of unstable electricity supply.At present,large-scale energy storage technology is not yet mature.Improving the flexibility of coal-fired power plants to suppress the instability of renewable energy generation is a feasible path.Thermal energy storage is a feasible technology to improve the flexibility of coal-fired power plants.This article provides a review of the research on the flexibility transformation of coal-fired power plants based on heat storage technology,mainly including medium to low-temperature heat storage based on hot water tanks and high-temperature heat storage based on molten salt.The current technical difficulties are summarized,and future development prospects are presented.The combination of the thermal energy storage system and coal-fired power generation system is the foundation,and the control of the inclined temperature layer and the selection and development of molten salt are key issues.The authors hope that the research in this article can provide a reference for the flexibility transformation research of coal-fired power plants,and promote the application of heat storage foundation in specific coal-fired power plant transformation projects.

Seasonal thermal energy storage using natural structures:GIS-based potential assessment for northern China

Seasonal thermal energy storage(STES)allows storing heat for long-term and thus promotes the shifting of waste heat resources from summer to winter to decarbonize the district heating(DH)systems.Despite being a promising solution for sustainable energy system,large-scale STES for urban regions is lacking due to the relatively high initial investment and extensive land use.To close the gap,this study assesses the potentials of using two naturally available structures for STES,namely valley and ground pit sites.Based on geographical information system(GIS)methods,the available locations are searched from digital elevation model and selected considering several criteria from land uses and construction difficulties.The costs of dams to impound the reservoir and the yielded storage capacities are then quantified to guide the choice of suitable sites.The assessment is conducted for the northern China where DH systems and significant seasonal differences of energy demand exist.In total,2,273 valley sites and 75 ground pit sites are finally identified with the energy storage capacity of 15.2 billion GJ,which is much larger than the existing DH demand in northern China.The results also prove that 682 valley sites can be achieved with a dam cost lower than 20 CNY/m^(3).By conducting sensitivity analysis on the design dam wall height and elevations,the choices of available natural structures are expanded but practical issues about water pressures and constructions are also found.Furthermore,the identified sites are geographically mapped with nearest urban regions to reveal their roles in the DH systems.In general,560 urban regions are found with potential STES units and most of them have STES storage capacities larger than their own DH demand.The novel planning methodology of this study and publicly available datasets create possibilities for the implementations of large-scale STES in urban DH systems.

Sensitivity analysis of borehole thermal energy storage: examining key factors for system optimization

Borehole thermal energy storage(BTES)systems have garnered significant attention owing to their efficacy in storing thermal energy for heating and cooling applications.Accurate modeling is paramount for ensuring the precise design and operation of BTES systems.This study conducts a sensitivity analysis of BTES modeling by employing a comparative investigation of five distinct parameters on a wedge-shaped model,with implications extendable to a cylindrical configuration.The parameters examined included two design factors(well spacing and grout thermal conductivity),two operational variables(charging and discharging rates),and one geological attribute(soil thermal conductivity).Finite element simulations were carried out for the sensitivity analysis to evaluate the round-trip efficiency,both on a per-cycle basis and cumulatively over three years of operation,serving as performance metrics.The results showed varying degrees of sensitivity across different models to changes in these parameters.In particular,the round-trip efficiency exhibited a greater sensitivity to changes in spacing and volumetric flow rate.Furthermore,this study underscores the importance of considering the impact of the soil and grout-material thermal conductivities on the BTES-system performance over time.An optimized scenario is modelled and compared with the base case,over a comparative assessment based on a 10-year simulation.The analysis revealed that,at the end of the 10-year period,the optimized BTES model achieved a cycle efficiency of 83.4%.This sensitivity analysis provides valuable insights into the merits and constraints of diverse BTES modeling methodologies,aiding in the selection of appropriate modeling tools for BTES system design and operation.

Synthesis and characterization of salt-impregnated anodic aluminum oxide composites for low-grade heat storage

Thermochemical heat storage(THS)systems have recently attracted a lot of attention in research and development.In this study,an anodic aluminum oxide(AAO)template,fabricated by a two-step anodization method,was used for the first time as the matrix material for a THS system.Different salts were studied as thermochemical materials for their suitability in low-grade heat storage application driven by solar energy for an open system.Compositions were prepared by absorbing CaCl2,MgCl2,LiCl,LiNO3 and mixtures of these salts under a vacuum in an AAO matrix.Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to examine the morphology of the produced AAO composites.Thermal energy storage capacities of the composites were characterized using a differential scanning calorimeter.Characterization analysis showed that anodized Al plates were suitable matrix materials for THS systems,and composite sorbent prepared with a 1:1 ratio LiCl/LiNO3 salt mixture had the highest energy value among all composites,with an energy density of 468.1 k J·kg-1.

Comprehensive Molten Salt Storage Shell and Supporting Structure Design and Analysis-Part I:A Conductive and Convective Theoretical Heat Transfer Analysis for Molten Salt Cylindrical Shells at 565℃ and 700℃

In this paper a full theoretical thermal analysis of a large molten salt container,80-foot in diameter and 46-foot high,including a four-foot elliptic shell roof,is presented for two temperatures,the standard 565℃ and a futuristic 700℃,which substantially improves the efficiency of the molten salt containers through the use of a highly stable chloride salt called SS700(SaltStream 700).The theoretical analysis includes conductive and convective heat transfer analysis in the steel container,elliptic roof shell,the fiberglass insulation,and firebrick insulation,and includes thermal insulation designs to safeguard against energy losses at high temperatures.The underlying soil and the high temperature concrete foundation were analyzed theoretically using conductive heat transfer,however the area surrounding the soil surface around the bottom of the molten salt storage tank had convective heat transfer analysis included.The final designs presented in this paper seek to limit heat losses to a maximum of 250 W/m^(2) while being able to operate at a minimum external ambient temperature of-10℃,which determines the thicknesses of the fiberglass and firebrick insulation.

Thermal Distribution Performance of NPCM: NaCl, NaNO₃and KNO₃in the Thermal Storage System

The experiment is studied on thermal distribution in the thermal energy storage system with non-phase change materials (NPCM): NaNO3, KNO3 and NaCl in the range of 25°C - 250°C. The cylindrical storage system was made of stainless steel with 25.6 cm-diameter and 26.8 cm-height that was contained of these NPCM. There was one pipe for heat transfer fluid (HTF) with 1.27 cm-diameter that manipulates in the storage tank and submerges to NPCM. The inner pipe was connected to the 2.27 cm-diameter outer HTF tube. The tube was further connected to the thermal pump, heater and load. The pump circulates the synthetic oil (Thermia oil) within the pipe for heat transferring purposes (charging and discharging). An electric heater is used as the heat source. The limitation of the charging oil temperature is maintained at 250°C with the flow rates in the range of 0.58 to 1.45 kg/s whereas the inlet temperature of the discharge oil is maintained at 25°C. Thermal performances of TES (thermal energy storage) such as charging and discharging times, radial thermal distribution, energy storage capacity and energy efficiency have been evaluated. The experimental results show that the radial thermal distribution of NaCl for TR inside, TR middle and TR outside was optimum of temperature down to NaNO3 and KNO3 respectively. Comparison of NPCMs with oil, flow rates for NaCl were charging and discharging heat transfer than KNO3 and NaNO3. The thermal stored NaCl ranged from 5712 - 5912 J;KNO3 ranged from 7350 - 7939 J and NaNO3 ranged from 6623 - 6930 J respectively. The thermal energy stored for experimental results got with along the KNO3, NaNO3 and NaCl respectively. The thermal energy efficiency of NaCl, KNO3 and NaNO3 was in the range 66% - 70%.

Comparison and Performance Analysis of Heat Storage Equipment in Solar Heating System

Solar heating system is widely used recently. Heat storage equipment is the guarantee for steady performance of solar heating system. A design of latent heat storage exchanger with submerged coil was introduced with the structure, working principle, and the main advantages. This heat exchanger was integrated into solar heating system as the heat storage equipment. Advantage comparison of the designed heat exchanger in solar heating system with hot water tank was carried out. The analysis results show that the latent heat storage exchanger is superior to hot water tank obviously. The heat exchanger performance parameters and variations of these parameters are got： （1） with the increase of phase change material （PCM） volume ratio, heat storage equipment volume ratio decreases; （2） heat storage efficiency has the same varying tendency with outdoor and air temperature; while the bigger PCM volume ratio is, the weaker the effect of outdoor air temperature on heat storage efficiency is; （3） heat storage capacity and heat storage efficiency increase together; when PCM volume ratio is big, heat storage efficiency is high and the system can begin operating effcienfly and quickly; （4） with the increase of heat storage capacity, life cyde operation cost （LCOC） of system increases gradually in high speed; but with the increase of PCM volume ratio, the difference between the two systems LCOCs becomes smaller and smaller; （5） the reasonable range of PCM volume ratio is 0.5 - 0.7. Temperature characteristic analysis shows that, with the filled PCM, heat storage medium temperature presents several segments at different time, under conditions of different heat storage capacity and different PCM state.

Thermal energy storage as a way to improve transcritical CO_(2) heat pump performance by means of heat recovery cycles

Electrification of the heating sector is a major target of energy transition towards a more sustainable,efficient,and less polluted future.Heat pumps are considered more suitable than electrical heaters or fossil-fueled boilers;however,common refrigerants cause ozone layer depletion,which exacerbates the greenhouse effect.Natural refrigerants,such as CO_(2),perform comparably and even better than hydrofluorocarbons while minimizing the negative aspects.This study presents a model of a water-heater CO_(2) transcritical heat pump in a configuration that increases the overall coefficient of performance(COP)by introducing thermal energy storage(TES).The thermodynamic cycle was divided into two separate phases.After heating the TES(charging),warm water was used as the heating fluid in the evaporator to increase the evaporation temperature and pressure of CO_(2),which reduced the work of the compressor.As the water temperature decreased progressively,the discharge cycles improved the total COP.The case study focuses on dairy processes and suggests a more straightforward and cheaper method to improve cycle efficiency than the current processes,such as ejector-expansion systems or double compression.