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Optimization of thermal performance in thermocline tank thermal energy storage system with the multilayered PCM(s) for CSP tower plants

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  • Elfeky, K.E.
  • Li, Xinyi
  • Ahmed, N.
  • Lu, Lin
  • Wang, Qiuwang

Abstract

The current paper presents two parametric studies (inverse Stefan number and dimensionless temperature difference) to optimize the values of latent heat and melting temperature of multilayered phase change materials (MLPCM(s)) in thermocline tank for concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. Spherical capsules filled with PCM(s) of different thermo-physical properties are used to fill the bed region, and the molten salt is used as heat transfer fluid (HTF). The numerical model that has been developed uses the Dispersion-Concentric (D-C) equations. By using MATLAB, the governing equations are solved and validated against the experimental results. The results show that in the optimal configuration of the case (B), the values of InvSte number and dimensionless temperature (θm) are equal to 1.2 and 0.8 for the top PCM layer, respectively; 0.75 and 0.55 for the middle PCM layer, respectively; and 0.65 and 0.3 for the bottom PCM layer, respectively. Moreover, it is also found that to obtain the best design and distribution of temperature for a thermocline tank consisting of three layers of PCM, the top PCM layer should melts by ΔT = 55.4 °C below the HTF charging inlet temperature, the PCM layer at the bottom should solidifies by ΔT = 83.1 °C above HTF discharging inlet temperature.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:243:y:2019:i:c:p:175-190
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.03.182
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    5. 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).
    6. Advaith, S. & Parida, Dipti Ranjan & Aswathi, K.T. & Dani, Nikhil & Chetia, Utpal Kumar & Chattopadhyay, Kamanio & Basu, Saptarshi, 2021. "Experimental investigation on single-medium stratified thermal energy storage system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 146-155.
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    9. Elfeky, Karem Elsayed & Mohammed, Abubakar Gambo & Wang, Qiuwang, 2021. "Cycle cut-off criterion effect on the performance of cascaded, sensible, combined sensible-latent heat storage tank for concentrating solar power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    10. Lioua Kolsi & Ahmed Kadhim Hussein & Walid Hassen & Lotfi Ben Said & Badreddine Ayadi & Wajdi Rajhi & Taher Labidi & Ali Shawabkeh & Katta Ramesh, 2023. "Numerical Study of a Phase Change Material Energy Storage Tank Working with Carbon Nanotube–Water Nanofluid under Ha’il City Climatic Conditions," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-27, February.
    11. Elfeky, Karem Elsayed & Mohammed, Abubakar Gambo & Wang, Qiuwang, 2022. "Thermo-economic evaluation of PCM layer thickness change on the performance of the hybrid heat storage tank for concentrating solar power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    12. Fang, Yi & Paul, Manosh C. & Varjani, Sunita & Li, Xian & Park, Young-Kwon & You, Siming, 2021. "Concentrated solar thermochemical gasification of biomass: Principles, applications, and development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
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