IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v103y2013icp256-265.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cyclic operation of molten-salt thermal energy storage in thermoclines for solar power plants

Author

Listed:
  • Yang, Zhen
  • Garimella, Suresh V.

Abstract

The cyclic operation of molten-salt thermal energy storage thermoclines for solar thermal power plants is systematically investigated. A comprehensive, two-temperature model is first developed for the cyclic operation of a thermocline operating with a commercially available molten salt as the heat transfer fluid and quartzite rock as the filler. Volume-averaged mass and momentum equations are employed, with the Brinkman–Forchheimer extension to the Darcy law used to model the porous-medium resistance. Energy equations for the molten salt and the filler are coupled by an interstitial Nusselt number representing the heat transfer between the phases. A finite-volume approach is employed to solve the governing equations. The model is validated against experiments from the literature and then used to systematically study the cyclic behavior of the thermocline thermal storage system. Thermal characteristics including temperature profiles and cycle efficiency are explored. Guidelines are developed for designing the dimensions and molten salt flow rates for solar thermocline systems of different power capacities. The cycle efficiency is found to be improved at smaller melt Reynolds numbers, larger length ratios (molten salt flow distance in a half-cycle to the filler particle diameter) and larger tank heights. The filler particle diameter and the tank volume are found to strongly influence the cycle efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Zhen & Garimella, Suresh V., 2013. "Cyclic operation of molten-salt thermal energy storage in thermoclines for solar power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 256-265.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:103:y:2013:i:c:p:256-265
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.09.043
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261912006848
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.09.043?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Qin, Frank G.F. & Yang, Xiaoping & Ding, Zhan & Zuo, Yuanzhi & Shao, Youyan & Jiang, Runhua & Yang, Xiaoxi, 2012. "Thermocline stability criterions in single-tanks of molten salt thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 816-821.
    2. Xu, Chao & Wang, Zhifeng & He, Yaling & Li, Xin & Bai, Fengwu, 2012. "Sensitivity analysis of the numerical study on the thermal performance of a packed-bed molten salt thermocline thermal storage system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 65-75.
    3. Yang, Zhen & Garimella, Suresh V., 2010. "Molten-salt thermal energy storage in thermoclines under different environmental boundary conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(11), pages 3322-3329, November.
    4. ASCE Editors, 1999. "1999 Conference Program," Annual Proceedings, The Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy, vol. 9.
    5. Mawire, A. & McPherson, M. & Heetkamp, R.R.J. van den & Mlatho, S.J.P., 2009. "Simulated performance of storage materials for pebble bed thermal energy storage (TES) systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(7-8), pages 1246-1252, July.
    6. Ramadan, M.R.I. & El-Sebaii, A.A. & Aboul-Enein, S. & El-Bialy, E., 2007. "Thermal performance of a packed bed double-pass solar air heater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(8), pages 1524-1535.
    7. Guillot, Stéphanie & Faik, Abdessamad & Rakhmatullin, Aydar & Lambert, Julien & Veron, Emmanuel & Echegut, Patrick & Bessada, Catherine & Calvet, Nicolas & Py, Xavier, 2012. "Corrosion effects between molten salts and thermal storage material for concentrated solar power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 174-181.
    8. Flueckiger, Scott & Yang, Zhen & Garimella, Suresh V., 2011. "An integrated thermal and mechanical investigation of molten-salt thermocline energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(6), pages 2098-2105, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Miguel J. Prieto & Juan Á. Martínez & Rogelio Peón & Lourdes Á. Barcia & Fernando Nuño, 2017. "On the Convenience of Using Simulation Models to Optimize the Control Strategy of Molten-Salt Heat Storage Systems in Solar Thermal Power Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-17, July.
    2. ELSihy, ELSaeed Saad & Mokhtar, Omar & Xu, Chao & Du, Xiaoze & Adel, Mohamed, 2023. "Cyclic performance characterization of a high-temperature thermal energy storage system packed with rock/slag pebbles granules combined with encapsulated phase change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    3. ELSihy, ELSaeed Saad & Wang, Xiaohui & Xu, Chao & Du, Xiaoze, 2021. "Numerical investigation on simultaneous charging and discharging process of molten-salt packed-bed thermocline storage tank employing in CSP plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1417-1432.
    4. Dubey, Abhayjeet kumar & Sun, Jingyi & Choudhary, Tushar & Dash, Madhusmita & Rakshit, Dibakar & Ansari, M Zahid & Ramakrishna, Seeram & Liu, Yong & Nanda, Himansu Sekhar, 2023. "Emerging phase change materials with improved thermal efficiency for a clean and sustainable environment: An approach towards net zero," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    5. Xu, Ben & Li, Peiwen & Chan, Cholik & Tumilowicz, Eric, 2015. "General volume sizing strategy for thermal storage system using phase change material for concentrated solar thermal power plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 256-268.
    6. Nithyanandam, K. & Pitchumani, R. & Mathur, A., 2014. "Analysis of a latent thermocline storage system with encapsulated phase change materials for concentrating solar power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1446-1460.
    7. Siddiqui, O. & Dincer, I., 2019. "Development and evaluation of a new hybrid ammonia fuel cell system with solar energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    8. Vannerem, S. & Neveu, P. & Falcoz, Q., 2023. "Thermal cycle performance of thermocline storage: numerical and experimental exergy analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    9. Wu, Ming & Xu, Chao & He, Ya-Ling, 2014. "Dynamic thermal performance analysis of a molten-salt packed-bed thermal energy storage system using PCM capsules," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 184-195.
    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. Chang, Zheshao & Li, Xin & Xu, Chao & Chang, Chun & Wang, Zhifeng & Zhang, Qiangqiang & Liao, Zhirong & Li, Qing, 2016. "The effect of the physical boundary conditions on the thermal performance of molten salt thermocline tank," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA), pages 190-202.
    12. Al-Azawii, Mohammad M.S. & Theade, Carter & Bueno, Pablo & Anderson, Ryan, 2019. "Experimental study of layered thermal energy storage in an air-alumina packed bed using axial pipe injections," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C), pages 409-422.
    13. Rogelio Peón Menéndez & Juan Á. Martínez & Miguel J. Prieto & Lourdes Á. Barcia & Juan M. Martín Sánchez, 2014. "A Novel Modeling of Molten-Salt Heat Storage Systems in Thermal Solar Power Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-20, October.
    14. 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.
    15. Cocco, Daniele & Serra, Fabio, 2015. "Performance comparison of two-tank direct and thermocline thermal energy storage systems for 1 MWe class concentrating solar power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 526-536.
    16. 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.
    17. Wu, Yunna & Geng, Shuai & Zhang, Haobo & Gao, Min, 2014. "Decision framework of solar thermal power plant site selection based on linguistic Choquet operator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 303-311.
    18. 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.
    19. Zanganeh, G. & Pedretti, A. & Haselbacher, A. & Steinfeld, A., 2015. "Design of packed bed thermal energy storage systems for high-temperature industrial process heat," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 812-822.
    20. Mahmood, Mariam & Traverso, Alberto & Traverso, Alberto Nicola & Massardo, Aristide F. & Marsano, Davide & Cravero, Carlo, 2018. "Thermal energy storage for CSP hybrid gas turbine systems: Dynamic modelling and experimental validation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1240-1251.
    21. Mostafavi Tehrani, S. Saeed & Shoraka, Yashar & Diarce, Gonzalo & Taylor, Robert A., 2019. "An improved, generalized effective thermal conductivity method for rapid design of high temperature shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 694-708.
    22. Mihoub, Sofiane & Chermiti, Ali & Beltagy, Hani, 2017. "Methodology of determining the optimum performances of future concentrating solar thermal power plants in Algeria," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 801-810.
    23. 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.
    24. Zhao, Bing-chen & Cheng, Mao-song & Liu, Chang & Dai, Zhi-min, 2018. "System-level performance optimization of molten-salt packed-bed thermal energy storage for concentrating solar power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 225-239.
    25. Sait, Hani H. & Martinez-Val, Jose M. & Abbas, Ruben & Munoz-Anton, Javier, 2015. "Fresnel-based modular solar fields for performance/cost optimization in solar thermal power plants: A comparison with parabolic trough collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 175-189.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Calvet, Nicolas & Gomez, Judith C. & Faik, Abdessamad & Roddatis, Vladimir V. & Meffre, Antoine & Glatzmaier, Greg C. & Doppiu, Stefania & Py, Xavier, 2013. "Compatibility of a post-industrial ceramic with nitrate molten salts for use as filler material in a thermocline storage system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 387-393.
    2. Rodríguez, I. & Pérez-Segarra, C.D. & Lehmkuhl, O. & Oliva, A., 2013. "Modular object-oriented methodology for the resolution of molten salt storage tanks for CSP plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 402-414.
    3. Fasquelle, T. & Falcoz, Q. & Neveu, P. & Hoffmann, J.-F., 2018. "A temperature threshold evaluation for thermocline energy storage in concentrated solar power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1153-1164.
    4. Filali Baba, Yousra & Al Mers, Ahmed & Ajdad, Hamid, 2020. "Dimensionless model based on dual phase approach for predicting thermal performance of thermocline energy storage system: Towards a new approach for thermocline thermal optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 440-455.
    5. Xu, Chao & Wang, Zhifeng & He, Yaling & Li, Xin & Bai, Fengwu, 2012. "Sensitivity analysis of the numerical study on the thermal performance of a packed-bed molten salt thermocline thermal storage system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 65-75.
    6. Gang Wang & Tong Wang, 2022. "Effect Evaluation of Filling Medium Parameters on Operating and Mechanical Performances of Liquid Heavy Metal Heat Storage Tank," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, November.
    7. Wang, Letian & Yang, Zhen & Duan, Yuanyuan, 2015. "Influence of flow distribution on the thermal performance of dual-media thermocline energy storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 283-292.
    8. 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.
    9. Bauer, Thomas & Pfleger, Nicole & Breidenbach, Nils & Eck, Markus & Laing, Doerte & Kaesche, Stefanie, 2013. "Material aspects of Solar Salt for sensible heat storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 1114-1119.
    10. Xu, Chao & Wang, Zhifeng & He, Yaling & Li, Xin & Bai, Fengwu, 2012. "Parametric study and standby behavior of a packed-bed molten salt thermocline thermal storage system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-9.
    11. Wu, Ming & Li, Mingjia & Xu, Chao & He, Yaling & Tao, Wenquan, 2014. "The impact of concrete structure on the thermal performance of the dual-media thermocline thermal storage tank using concrete as the solid medium," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1363-1371.
    12. Suárez, Christian & Iranzo, Alfredo & Pino, F.J. & Guerra, J., 2015. "Transient analysis of the cooling process of molten salt thermal storage tanks due to standby heat loss," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 56-65.
    13. González, Ignacio & Pérez-Segarra, Carlos David & Lehmkuhl, Oriol & Torras, Santiago & Oliva, Assensi, 2016. "Thermo-mechanical parametric analysis of packed-bed thermocline energy storage tanks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1106-1122.
    14. Chang, Zheshao & Li, Xin & Xu, Chao & Chang, Chun & Wang, Zhifeng & Zhang, Qiangqiang & Liao, Zhirong & Li, Qing, 2016. "The effect of the physical boundary conditions on the thermal performance of molten salt thermocline tank," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA), pages 190-202.
    15. Flueckiger, Scott M. & Iverson, Brian D. & Garimella, Suresh V. & Pacheco, James E., 2014. "System-level simulation of a solar power tower plant with thermocline thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 86-96.
    16. Liu, Ming & Steven Tay, N.H. & Bell, Stuart & Belusko, Martin & Jacob, Rhys & Will, Geoffrey & Saman, Wasim & Bruno, Frank, 2016. "Review on concentrating solar power plants and new developments in high temperature thermal energy storage technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1411-1432.
    17. Mao, Qianjun & Zhang, Yamei, 2020. "Thermal energy storage performance of a three-PCM cascade tank in a high-temperature packed bed system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 110-119.
    18. Wu, Ming & Xu, Chao & He, Ya-Ling, 2014. "Dynamic thermal performance analysis of a molten-salt packed-bed thermal energy storage system using PCM capsules," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 184-195.
    19. Wang, Tao & Mantha, Divakar & Reddy, Ramana G., 2013. "Novel low melting point quaternary eutectic system for solar thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 1422-1429.
    20. Peng, Hao & Li, Rui & Ling, Xiang & Dong, Huihua, 2015. "Modeling on heat storage performance of compressed air in a packed bed system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 1-9.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:103:y:2013:i:c:p:256-265. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.