Thermal Energy Storage Systems： Power-to-Heat Concepts in Solid Media Storage for High Storage Densities

The German Aerospace Center has merged a wide range of technological research and development for future cars in a project called ＂Next Generation Car＂. Within this large research project, three vehicle concepts for different applications （urban, regional and interurban） and with different powertrains （fuel-cell, battery and hybrid） will be developed. Research questions on different levels from conceptual question about vehicle modularity down to detailed technological aspects like combining hydrogen storage with cabin climatization and a systematic investigation of different thermal energy storage systems for electric vehicles concepts are covered by this project. To the latter, the contribution shows an overview about three thermal storage technologies--sensible solid media, metallic latent and thermochemical thermal energy storage systems--and details about the development of an electrically heated （power-to-heat） solid media storage system to achieve high storage densities and to allow flexible thermal discharging values. Central works target the identification of suitable thermal management solutions in future electric vehicle concepts to increase range, efficiency and flexibility.

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.

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.

Using Parallel Packed Bed within a High Temperature Thermal Energy Storage System for CSP-Plants

In order to optimize the electricity yield of CSP （concentrated solar power） plants, TES （thermal energy storage） systems are regarded as an essential component. Furthermore, for many electricity grid operators, it is important to have spinning reserves in the grid and dispatchable power available, both offered by CSP-plants with integrated thermal energy storage. Enolcon is developing a new TES-system since several years. The system itself was designed to offer a principle simple and robust setup （with regard to execution and operation） and which is reducing the electricity costs of CSP-power plants by the consequent use of state of the art technology. Furthermore, such system shall be open to future developments of CSP-systems with regard to increasing steam temperatures and steam pressure. Such TES-system shall be commercially available for large scale application already in year 2014/2015. The key elements of the enolcon-TES are the open cycle using always ambient air with an air-air-heat exchanger and the arrangement of the storage material in such way to minimize the pressure losses and the own electricity consumption. The development is progressing in a structured way by studies, engineering works, TES-pilot plants, isothermal air flow test plant for the verification of the CFD-calculations, and since end of 2012 by the operation of a high temperature TES-module with all features of the large scale modules.

Thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupled simulation of the land subsidence due to aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system in soft soils

Aquifer thermal energy storage(ATES)system has received attention for heating or cooling buildings.However,it is well known that land subsidence becomes a major environmental concern for ATES projects.Yet,the effect of temperature on land subsidence has received practically no attention in the past.This paper presents a thermo-hydro-mechanical(THM)coupled numerical study on an ATES system in Shanghai,China.Four water wells were installed for seasonal heating and cooling of an agriculture greenhouse.The target aquifer at a depth of 74e104.5 m consisted of alternating layers of sand and silty sand and was covered with clay.Groundwater level,temperature,and land subsidence data from 2015 to 2017 were collected using field monitoring instruments.Constrained by data,we constructed a field scale three-dimensional(3D)model using TOUGH(Transport of Unsaturated Groundwater and Heat)and FLAC3D(Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua)equipped with a thermo-elastoplastic constitutive model.The effectiveness of the numerical model was validated by field data.The model was used to reproduce groundwater flow,heat transfer,and mechanical responses in porous media over three years and capture the thermo-and pressure-induced land subsidence.The results show that the maximum thermoinduced land subsidence accounts for about 60%of the total subsidence.The thermo-induced subsidence is slightly greater in winter than that in summer,and more pronounced near the cold well area than the hot well area.This study provides some valuable guidelines for controlling land subsidence caused by ATES systems installed in soft soils.

Exergy Analysis of Charge and Discharge Processes of Thermal Energy Storage System with Various Phase Change Materials:A Comprehensive Comparison

Thermal energy storage(TES) is of great importance in solving the mismatch between energy production and consumption.In this regard,choosing type of Phase Change Materials(PCMs) which are widely used to control heat in latent thermal energy storage systems,plays a vital role as a means of TES efficiency.However,this field suffers from lack of a comprehensive investigation on the impact of various PCMs in terms of exergy.To address this issue,in this study,in addition to indicating the melting temperature and latent heat of various PCMs,the exergy destruction and exergy efficiency of each material are estimated and compared with each other.Moreover,in the present work the impact of PCMs mass and ambient temperature on the exergy efficiency is evaluated.The results proved that higher latent heat does not necessarily lead to higher exergy efficiency.Furthermore,to obtain a suitable exergy efficiency,the specific heat capacity and melting temperature of the PCMs must also be considered.According to the results,LiF-CaF_(2)(80.5%:19.5%,mass ratio) mixture led to better performance with satisfactory exergy efficiency(98.84%) and notably lower required mass compared to other PCMs.Additionally,the highest and lowest exergy destruction are belonged to GR25 and LiF-CaF_(2)(80.5:19.5) mixture,respectively.

Vertically aligned montmorillonite aerogel-encapsulated polyethylene glycol with directional heat transfer paths for efficient solar thermal energy harvesting and storage

The conversion and storage of photothermal energy using phase change materials(PCMs)represent an optimal approach for harnessing clean and sustainable solar energy.Herein,we encapsulated polyethylene glycol(PEG)in montmorillonite aerogels(3D-Mt)through vacuum impregnation to prepare 3D-Mt/PEG composite PCMs.When used as a support matrix,3D-Mt can effectively prevent PEG leakage and act as a flame-retardant barrier to reduce the flammability of PEG.Simultaneously,3D-Mt/PEG demonstrates outstanding shape retention,increased thermal energy storage density,and commendable thermal and chemical stability.The phase transition enthalpy of 3D-Mt/PEG can reach 167.53 J/g and remains stable even after 50 heating-cooling cycles.Furthermore,the vertical sheet-like structure of 3D-Mt establishes directional heat transport channels,facilitating efficient phonon transfer.This configuration results in highly anisotropic thermal conductivities that ensure swift thermal responses and efficient heat conduction.This study addresses the shortcomings of PCMs,including the issues of leakage and inadequate flame retardancy.It achieves the development and design of 3D-Mt/PEG with ultrahigh strength,superior flame retardancy,and directional heat transfer.Therefore,this work offers a design strategy for the preparation of high-performance composite PCMs.The 3D-Mt/PEG with vertically aligned and well-ordered array structure developed in this research shows great potential for thermal management and photothermal conversion applications.

Enhanced properties of stone coal-based composite phase change materials for thermal energy storage

Phase change materials (PCMs) can be incorporated with low-cost minerals to synthesize composites for thermal energy storage in building applications.Stone coal (SC) after vanadium extraction treatment shows potential for secondary utilization in composite preparation.We prepared SC-based composite PCMs with SC as a matrix,stearic acid (SA) as a PCM,and expanded graphite (EG) as an additive.The combined roasting and acid leaching treatment of raw SC was conducted to understand the effect of vanadium extraction on promoting loading capacity.Results showed that the combined treatment of roasting at 900℃ and leaching increased the SC loading of the composite by 6.2%by improving the specific surface area.The loading capacity and thermal conductivity of the composite obviously increased by 127%and 48.19%,respectively,due to the contribution of 3wt% EG.These data were supported by the high load of 66.69%and thermal conductivity of 0.59 W·m^(-1)·K-1of the designed composite.The obtained composite exhibited a phase change temperature of 52.17℃,melting latent heat of 121.5 J·g^(-1),and good chemical compatibility.The SC-based composite has prospects in building applications exploiting the secondary utilization of minerals.

Self‑Assembly of Binderless MXene Aerogel for Multiple‑Scenario and Responsive Phase Change Composites with Ultrahigh Thermal Energy Storage Density and Exceptional Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

The severe dependence of traditional phase change materials(PCMs)on the temperature-response and lattice deficiencies in versatility cannot satisfy demand for using such materials in complex application scenarios.Here,we introduced metal ions to induce the self-assembly of MXene nanosheets and achieve their ordered arrangement by combining suction filtration and rapid freezing.Subsequently,a series of MXene/K^(+)/paraffin wax(PW)phase change composites(PCCs)were obtained via vacuum impregnation in molten PW.The prepared MXene-based PCCs showed versatile applications from macroscale technologies,successfully transforming solar,electric,and magnetic energy into thermal energy stored as latent heat in the PCCs.Moreover,due to the absence of binder in the MXene-based aerogel,MK3@PW exhibits a prime solar-thermal conversion efficiency(98.4%).Notably,MK3@PW can further convert the collected heat energy into electric energy through thermoelectric equipment and realize favorable solar-thermal-electric conversion(producing 206 mV of voltage with light radiation intensity of 200 mw cm^(−2)).An excellent Joule heat performance(reaching 105℃with an input voltage of 2.5 V)and responsive magnetic-thermal conversion behavior(a charging time of 11.8 s can achieve a thermal insulation effect of 285 s)for contactless thermotherapy were also demonstrated by the MK3@PW.Specifically,as a result of the ordered arrangement of MXene nanosheet self-assembly induced by potassium ions,MK3@PW PCC exhibits a higher electromagnetic shielding efficiency value(57.7 dB)than pure MXene aerogel/PW PCC(29.8 dB)with the same MXene mass.This work presents an opportunity for the multi-scene response and practical application of PCMs that satisfy demand of next-generation multifunctional PCCs.

Development status and prospect of underground thermal energy storage technology

Underground Thermal Energy Storage(UTES)store unstable and non-continuous energy underground,releasing stable heat energy on demand.This effectively improve energy utilization and optimize energy allocation.As UTES technology advances,accommodating greater depth,higher temperature and multi-energy complementarity,new research challenges emerge.This paper comprehensively provides a systematic summary of the current research status of UTES.It categorized different types of UTES systems,analyzes the applicability of key technologies of UTES,and evaluate their economic and environmental benefits.Moreover,this paper identifies existing issues with UTES,such as injection blockage,wellbore scaling and corrosion,seepage and heat transfer in cracks,etc.It suggests deepening the research on blockage formation mechanism and plugging prevention technology,improving the study of anticorrosive materials and water treatment technology,and enhancing the investigation of reservoir fracture network characterization technology and seepage heat transfer.These recommendations serve as valuable references for promoting the high-quality development of UTES.

Evaluation and Optimization of the Thermal Storage Performance of a Triplex-Tube Thermal Energy Storage System with V-Shaped Fins

Adding fins to a shell-and-tube phase change thermal storage is a simple and effective way to enhance the performance of the phase change heat storage unit,and the proper arrangement of the fins is essential to enhance the performance of the storage unit.To enhance the performance of the triplex-tube thermal storage unit,a novel V-shaped fin structure is presented in this paper.And the heat storage performance of the thermal storage system is studied by numerical simulation.Firstly,the performance of the triplex-tube thermal energy storage unit with different arrangements of V-shaped fins is investigated by a two-dimensional model and compared with the use of the traditional rectangular fin structure,and the optimal fin arrangement is derived.The results show that the V-shaped fins with the optimal arrangement can decrease the time for the PCM melting in the heat storage unit by 31.92%compared to the conventional rectangular fins.On this basis,the influence of fin angle and thickness on the heat storage unit was studied.Then,a three-dimensional model of the thermal storage unit was established.And the effect of the flow parameters(inlet temperature,inlet flow rate)of the heat transfer fluid(HTF)on its performance was discussed in detail.Finally,the stored energy analysis of the whole thermal storage unit is carried out.

Performance in the Discharge Process of a Novel Zeolite-Water Adsorption Thermal Energy Storage System

In order to effectively recover low and medium grade heat energy,a novel combined cooling and heating storage system based on zeolite-water is proposed in this paper.The system coupled the zeolite-water adsorption process with the water evaporation refrigeration process during discharging process to realize generating cold energy and heat energy simultaneously.A more accurate kinetic model of zeolite and water adsorption is developed,and the thermodynamic performance of discharging process of the system is numerically analyzed.The results show the system has the higher energy conversion coefficient of 1.49 and the higher energy density of 1216.6 kJ/kg-zeolite.The change laws of system performances,such as energy generated,energy conversion coefficient and energy density,with key parameters during discharging process are revealed.The study provides a way for efficient utilization of low and medium grade heat energy.

Packed Bed Thermocline Thermal Energy Storage for Medium-Temperature Concentrating Solar Systems: Numerical and Experimental Study

Thermal Energy Storage is becoming a necessary component of sustainable energy production systems as it helps alleviate intrinsic limitations of Renewable Energy Sources, such as intermittent use and mismatch between power demand and supply. This paper discusses a packed bed thermocline tank as a thermal energy storage solution. Firstly, this paper presents the development of a numerical model calculating heat transfers within the tank, based on a discretization over several nodes and the nodal formulation of the heat balance equation. The model considers a filler material and a heat transferring fluid and uses the finite difference method to calculate the temperature evolution of the two media across the tank. The model was validated with two different packed bed systems from the literature during a discharging process, presenting a good fit with the experimental results. Secondly, the experimental packed bed is presented and characterized for a charging cycle from ambient temperature to approximately 180?C. The charging experiment was accurately reproduced with the numerical model requiring minimal computational time. Two additional charging modes were simulated with different inlet HTF conditions: constant temperature and varying temperature following the profile produced by a thermal solar collector field. The temperature profiles obtained from the three charging modes were analysed and compared to each other. The proposed numerical and experimental tools will be used in future studies for a better understanding of the design and operating conditions of packed bed thermal energy storage systems.

Scattered Co-anchored MoS_(2)synergistically boosting photothermal capture and storage of phase change materials

Pristine phase change materials(PCMs)suffer from inherent deficiencies of poor solar absorption and photothermal conversion.Herein,we proposed a strategy of co-incorporation of zero-dimensional(OD)metal nanoparticles and two-dimensional(2D)photothermal materials in PCMs for efficient capture and conversion of solar energy into thermal energy.Highly scattered Co-anchored MoS_(2)nanoflower cluster serving as photon and phonon triggers was prepared by in-situ hydrothermal growth of ZIF67 polyhedron on 2D MoS_(2)and subsequent high-temperature carbonization.After encapsulating thermal storage unit(paraffin wax),the obtained composite PCMs integrated high-performance photothermal conversion and thermal energy storage capability.Benefiting from the synergistic enhancement of OD Co nanoparticles with localized surface plasmon resonance effect,carbon layer with the conjugation effect and 2D MoS_(2)with strong solar absorption,composite PCMs exhibited a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 95.19%,Additionally,the resulting composite PCMs also demonstrated long-term thermal sto rage stability and durable structu ral stability after 300 thermal cycles.The proposed collabo rative co-incorporation strategy provides some innovative references for developing next-generation photothermal PCMs in solar energy utilization.

Modified sepiolite stabilized stearic acid as a form-stable phase change material for thermal energy storage

Sepiolite(ST) was used as a supporting matrix in compiste phase change materials(PCMs) due to its unique microstructure, good thermal stability, and other raw material advantages. In this paper, microwave acid treatment were innovatively used for the modification of sepiolite. The modified sepiolite(ST_(m)) obtained in different hydrochloric acid concentrations(0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mol·L^(-1)) was added to stearic acid(SA) via vacuum impregnation method. The thermophysical properties of the composites were changed by varying the hydrochloric acid concentration. The SA-ST_(m0.5)obtained by microwave acid treatment at 0.5 mol·L^(-1)hydrochloric acid concentration showed a higher loading capacity(82.63%) than other composites according to the differential scanning calorimeter(DSC) analysis. The melting and freezing enthalpies of SA-ST_(m0.5)were of 152.30 and 148.90 J·g^(-1), respectively. The thermal conductivity of SA-ST_(m0.5)was as high as 1.52 times that of pure SA. In addition, the crystal structure, surface morphology, and microporous structure of ST_(m)were studied, and the mechanism of SAST_(m0.5)performance enhancement was further revealed by Brunauere Emmett Teller(BET) analysis. Leakage experiment showed that SAST_(m0.5)had a good morphological stability. These results demostrate that SA-ST_(m0.5)has a potential application in thermal energy storage.

Integrating thermal energy storage and microwave absorption in phase change material-encapsulated core-sheath MoS_(2)@CNTs

Developing advanced nanocomposite integrating solar-driven thermal energy storage and thermal management functional microwave absorption can facilitate the cutting-edge application of phase change materials(PCMs).To conquer this goal,herein,two-dimensional MoS_(2) nanosheets are grown in situ on the surface of one-dimensional CNTs to prepare core-sheath MoS_(2)@CNTs for the encapsulation of paraffin wax(PW).Benefiting from the synergistic enhancement photothermal effect of MoS_(2) and CNTs,MoS_(2)@CNTs is capable of efficiently trapping photons and quickly transporting phonons,thus yielding a high solar-thermal energy conversion and storage efficiency of 94.97%.Meanwhile,PW/MoS_(2)@CNTs composite PCMs exhibit a high phase change enthalpy of 101.60 J/g and excellent lo ng-term thermal storage durability after undergoing multiple heating-cooling cycles.More attractively,PW/MoS_(2)@CNTs composite PCMs realize thermal management functional microwave absorption in heat-related electronic application scenarios,which is superior to the single microwave absorption of traditional materials.The minimum reflection loss(RL) for PW/MoS_(2)@CNTs is-28 dB at 12.91 GHz with a 2.0 mm thickness.This functional integration design provides some insightful references on developing advanced microwave absorbing composite PCMs,holding great potential towards high-efficiency solar energy utilization and thermally managed microwave absorption fields.

Research progress on protective coatings against molten nitrate salts for thermal energy storage in concentrating solar power plants

Concentrating solar power(CSP) has garnered considerable global attention as a reliable means of generating bulk electricity, effectively addressing the intermittent nature of solar resources.The integration of molten salt technology for thermal energy storage(TES) has further contributed to the growth of CSP plants;however, the corrosive nature of molten salts poses challenges to the durability of container materials, necessitating innovative corrosion mitigation strategies.This review summarizes scientific advancements in high-temperature anticorrosion coatings for molten nitrate salts, highlighting the key challenges and future trends.It also explores various coating types, including metallic, ceramic, and carbon-based coatings, and compares different coating deposition methods.This review emphasizes the need for durable coatings that meet long-term performance requirements and regulatory limitations, with an emphasis on carbon-based coatings and emerging nanomaterials.A combination of multiple coatings is required to achieve desirable anticorrosion properties while addressing material compatibility and cost considerations.The overall goal is to advance the manufacturing, assembly, and performance of CSP systems for increased efficiency, reliability, and durability in various applications.

Numerical study on the thermal performance of packed-bed latent heat thermal energy storage system with biomimetic alveoli structure capsule

Bionics provides a positive and beneficial impact on the development of various materials and systems, which has been widely used in energy storage, heat transfer enhancement, and solar thermochemical reactions. In this paper, the idea of heat storage unit with biomimetic alveoli structure is proposed and introduced to increase the heat transfer area and improve the thermal performance of the packed-bed latent heat thermal energy storage(LHTES) system. The effects of heat storage unit structure on temperature distribution, liquid fraction, thermal storage capacity, and other performance indexes of the conventional model and biomimetic model are analyzed. The numerical results indicate that the biomimetic alveoli structure can improve the thermal response of heat storage unit, increase the specific surface area, and achieve a faster heat storage process of the packed-bed compared with the conventional structure. Among various existing models, the double-cell model has a significant improvement.Compared with the conventional model, the maximum increase of liquid fraction and charging efficiency are 9.8% and 6.4%,respectively. This study can provide references to optimize packed-bed LHTES and improve its thermal performance under practical conditions.

Coupled Thermal and Mechanical Dynamic Performances of the Molten Salt Packed-Bed Thermal Energy Storage System

In this paper,the thermal and mechanical dynamic performances of molten salt packed-bed thermal energy storage(TES)system are investigated by coupling Finite Volume Method(FVM)and Finite Element Method(FEM).Firstly,an integration model coupling FVM and FEM in packed-bed tank is developed.Particularly,the pore water static pressure caused by the liquid level of molten salt is applied in the coupled method.Based on this model,the dynamic characteristics of thermal and stress distributions are simulated.Finally,the effects of porosity,inlet temperature and velocity on the thermal and stress performances are analyzed.The results indicate that the temperature and stress of the wall increase during the discharging process,and the peak stress occurs at the tank bottom connecting with the ground foundation.The method of increasing porosity is helpful to improve the discharging power,but the plastic failure on the wall would probably occur due to the higher stress level.Increasing inlet temperature has negative influence on the thermal and safety performances,because lower discharging power and higher stress would be produced adversely.Although the lower stress can be achieved when the higher inlet velocity is adopted,the effective discharge time would be decreased significantly.

Design and Construction Challenges for a Hybrid Air and Thermal Energy Storage System Built in the Post-Mining Shaft

Compressed Air Energy Storage(CAES)is one of the methods that can solve the problems with intermittency and unpredictability of renewable energy sources.A side effect of air compression is a fact that a large amount of heat is generated which is usually wasted.In the development of CAES systems,the main challenge,apart from finding suitable places for storing compressed air,is to store this heat of compression process so that it can be used for heating the air directed to the expander at the discharging stage.The paper presents the concept of a hybrid compressed air and thermal energy storage(HCATES)system,which may be a beneficial solution in the context of the two mentioned challenges.Our novel concept assumes placing the thermal energy storage(TES)system based on the use of solid storage material in the volume of the post-mining shaft forms a sealed air pressure reservoir.Implementation of proposed systems within heavily industrialized agglomerations is a potential pathway for the revitalization of post-mine areas.The potential of energy capacity of such systems for the Upper Silesian region could exceed the value of 10 GWh.In the paper,the main construction challenges related to this concept are shown.The issues related to the possibility of storing air under high pressure in the shaft from the view of the rock mass strength are discussed.The overall concept of the TES system installation solution in the shaft barrel is presented.The basic problems related to heat storage in the cylindrical TES system with a non-standard structure of high slenderness are also discussed.The numerical calculations were based on the results of experiments performed on a laboratory stand,the geometry of which is to reflect the construction of a TES tank in a post-mining shaft.The article presents the results of numerical analysis showing the basic aspects related to difficulties that may occur at the construction stage and during the operation of the proposed HCATES system.The paper focuses on the methodology for determining the energy and exergy efficiency of a section of a Thermal Energy Storage tank,and presents the differences in the performance of this tank depending on its geometric dimensions,which are determined by the different sizes of mine shafts.