IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v172y2021icp46-56.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Thermal performance analysis of multi-slab phase change thermal energy storage unit with heat transfer enhancement approaches

Author

Listed:
  • Zhou, Dan
  • Wu, Shaowen
  • Wu, Zhigen
  • Yu, Xingjuan

Abstract

A novel multi-slab thermal energy storage (TES) unit with NaNO3 as PCM is designed for concentrating solar thermal power plants due to its easy manufacture and high energy storage density. A numerical model, based on the k−ε turbulence model, is used in studying the thermal performance of the system. To enhance the efficiency, two heat transfer enhancement methods are compared with the original unit, which is adding plate fins or 10 wt%EG into NaNO3. The numerical model is validated to be reliable for simulating the heat transfer with natural convection by a lab-built rig. The numerical results show that adding fins shortens the phase change time by up to 18% with an HTF flow rate of 4.0 × 10−3 m3/s in each channel and adding 10 wt%EG is the most effective way to enhance the heat transfer. The role of natural convection in heat transfer is analyzed. In practical applications, the sensible heat during the charging/discharging process cannot be neglected, which occupies 45%–55% of the total heat stored/released. This paper is expected to provide a detailed investigation of the thermal performance of the unit with two different thermal enhancement methods to give some rational advice in optimizing the system design and operation.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhou, Dan & Wu, Shaowen & Wu, Zhigen & Yu, Xingjuan, 2021. "Thermal performance analysis of multi-slab phase change thermal energy storage unit with heat transfer enhancement approaches," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 46-56.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:172:y:2021:i:c:p:46-56
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.02.144
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148121003232
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2021.02.144?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. Solangi, K.H. & Islam, M.R. & Saidur, R. & Rahim, N.A. & Fayaz, H., 2011. "A review on global solar energy policy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 2149-2163, May.
    2. Kenisarin, Murat M., 2010. "High-temperature phase change materials for thermal energy storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 955-970, April.
    3. Dolado, Pablo & Lazaro, Ana & Marin, Jose M. & Zalba, Belen, 2011. "Characterization of melting and solidification in a real-scale PCM–air heat exchanger: Experimental results and empirical model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 2906-2917.
    4. Raul, Appasaheb & Saha, Sandip K. & Jain, Mohit, 2020. "Transient performance analysis of concentrating solar thermal power plant with finned latent heat thermal energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 1957-1971.
    5. Ibrahim, Nasiru I. & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A. & Rahman, Saidur & Yilbas, Bekir S. & Sahin, Ahmet Z., 2017. "Heat transfer enhancement of phase change materials for thermal energy storage applications: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 26-50.
    6. Wang, Wei-Wei & Wang, Liang-Bi & He, Ya-Ling, 2015. "The energy efficiency ratio of heat storage in one shell-and-one tube phase change thermal energy storage unit," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 169-182.
    7. 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.
    8. Gasia, Jaume & Miró, Laia & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2016. "Materials and system requirements of high temperature thermal energy storage systems: A review. Part 2: Thermal conductivity enhancement techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1584-1601.
    9. Fan, Liwu & Khodadadi, J.M., 2011. "Thermal conductivity enhancement of phase change materials for thermal energy storage: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 24-46, January.
    10. Vignarooban, K. & Xu, Xinhai & Arvay, A. & Hsu, K. & Kannan, A.M., 2015. "Heat transfer fluids for concentrating solar power systems – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 383-396.
    11. Sharma, Atul & Tyagi, V.V. & Chen, C.R. & Buddhi, D., 2009. "Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 318-345, February.
    12. Tian, Y. & Zhao, C.Y., 2013. "A review of solar collectors and thermal energy storage in solar thermal applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 538-553.
    13. Herrmann, Ulf & Kelly, Bruce & Price, Henry, 2004. "Two-tank molten salt storage for parabolic trough solar power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 883-893.
    14. Palacios, A. & Barreneche, C. & Navarro, M.E. & Ding, Y., 2020. "Thermal energy storage technologies for concentrated solar power – A review from a materials perspective," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 1244-1265.
    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. Zhao, Yaohua & Liu, Zichu & Quan, Zhenhua & Jing, Heran & Yang, Mingguang, 2022. "Experimental investigation and multi-objective optimization of ice thermal storage device with multichannel flat tube," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 28-46.

    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. Rostami, Sara & Afrand, Masoud & Shahsavar, Amin & Sheikholeslami, M. & Kalbasi, Rasool & Aghakhani, Saeed & Shadloo, Mostafa Safdari & Oztop, Hakan F., 2020. "A review of melting and freezing processes of PCM/nano-PCM and their application in energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. Huang, Zhaowen & Gao, Xuenong & Xu, Tao & Fang, Yutang & Zhang, Zhengguo, 2014. "Thermal property measurement and heat storage analysis of LiNO3/KCl – expanded graphite composite phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 265-271.
    5. Pintaldi, Sergio & Perfumo, Cristian & Sethuvenkatraman, Subbu & White, Stephen & Rosengarten, Gary, 2015. "A review of thermal energy storage technologies and control approaches for solar cooling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 975-995.
    6. Tao, Y.B. & He, Ya-Ling, 2018. "A review of phase change material and performance enhancement method for latent heat storage system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 245-259.
    7. Khamlich, Imane & Zeng, Kuo & Flamant, Gilles & Baeyens, Jan & Zou, Chongzhe & Li, Jun & Yang, Xinyi & He, Xiao & Liu, Qingchuan & Yang, Haiping & Yang, Qing & Chen, Hanping, 2021. "Technical and economic assessment of thermal energy storage in concentrated solar power plants within a spot electricity market," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    8. Islam, Md Tasbirul & Huda, Nazmul & Abdullah, A.B. & Saidur, R., 2018. "A comprehensive review of state-of-the-art concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies: Current status and research trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 987-1018.
    9. Sara Pascual & Pilar Lisbona & Luis M. Romeo, 2022. "Thermal Energy Storage in Concentrating Solar Power Plants: A Review of European and North American R&D Projects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-32, November.
    10. Jin, Kaiyuan & Wirz, Richard E., 2020. "Sulfur heat transfer behavior in vertically-oriented and nonuniformly‑heated isochoric thermal energy storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    11. Hirbodi, Kamran & Enjavi-Arsanjani, Mahboubeh & Yaghoubi, Mahmood, 2020. "Techno-economic assessment and environmental impact of concentrating solar power plants in Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    12. Mao, Qianjun, 2016. "Recent developments in geometrical configurations of thermal energy storage for concentrating solar power plant," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 320-327.
    13. Li, Zhi & Lu, Yiji & Huang, Rui & Chang, Jinwei & Yu, Xiaonan & Jiang, Ruicheng & Yu, Xiaoli & Roskilly, Anthony Paul, 2021. "Applications and technological challenges for heat recovery, storage and utilisation with latent thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    14. Zeinelabdein, Rami & Omer, Siddig & Gan, Guohui, 2018. "Critical review of latent heat storage systems for free cooling in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2843-2868.
    15. Kenisarin, Murat & Mahkamov, Khamid, 2016. "Passive thermal control in residential buildings using phase change materials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 371-398.
    16. 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.
    17. Lin, Yaxue & Alva, Guruprasad & Fang, Guiyin, 2018. "Review on thermal performances and applications of thermal energy storage systems with inorganic phase change materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PA), pages 685-708.
    18. Mohamed, Shamseldin A. & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A. & Ibrahim, Nasiru I. & Zahir, Md. Hasan & Al-Ahmed, Amir & Saidur, R. & Yılbaş, B.S. & Sahin, A.Z., 2017. "A review on current status and challenges of inorganic phase change materials for thermal energy storage systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1072-1089.
    19. Jankowski, Nicholas R. & McCluskey, F. Patrick, 2014. "A review of phase change materials for vehicle component thermal buffering," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1525-1561.
    20. Sakai, Hiroki & Sheng, Nan & Kurniawan, Ade & Akiyama, Tomohiro & Nomura, Takahiro, 2020. "Fabrication of heat storage pellets composed of microencapsulated phase change material for high-temperature applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).

    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:renene:v:172:y:2021:i:c:p:46-56. 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.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    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.