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Development of an Integrated Thermal Energy Storage and Free-Piston Stirling Generator for a Concentrating Solar Power System

Author

Listed:
  • Songgang Qiu

    (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Laura Solomon

    (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Garrett Rinker

    (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

Abstract

Incorporating thermal energy storage (TES) into a concentrating solar power (CSP) system extends the power production hours, eliminating intermittency and reducing the Levelized Cost of the Energy (LCOE). The designed TES system was integrated with a 3 kW free-piston Stirling convertor. A NaF–NaCl eutectic salt was chosen as the phase change material (PCM) with a melting temperature of 680 °C. This eutectic salt has an energy density that is 5 to 10 times that of a typical molten salt PCM. In order to overcome the drawbacks of the material having a low thermal conductivity, heat pipes were embedded into the PCM to enhance the heat transfer rate within the system. Since the dish collector tracks the sun over the course of the day, two operational extremes were tested on the system; horizontal (zero solar elevation at sunrise/sunset) and vertical (solar noon). Although the system’s performance was below the expectations due to improperly sized wicks in the secondary heat pipes, the results indicated that the Stirling engine was able to produce 1.3 kWh of electricity by extracting latent heat energy from the PCM; thus, the concept of the design was validated.

Suggested Citation

  • Songgang Qiu & Laura Solomon & Garrett Rinker, 2017. "Development of an Integrated Thermal Energy Storage and Free-Piston Stirling Generator for a Concentrating Solar Power System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:9:p:1361-:d:111280
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Carmela Perozziello & Lavinia Grosu & Bianca Maria Vaglieco, 2021. "Free-Piston Stirling Engine Technologies and Models: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, October.
    2. Georg Scharinger-Urschitz & Heimo Walter & Markus Haider, 2019. "Heat Transfer in Latent High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Systems—Experimental Investigation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Yang Li & Binyu Xiong & Yixin Su & Jinrui Tang & Zhiwen Leng, 2019. "Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Power and Temperature Control Scheme for Grid-Connected DFIG-Based Dish-Stirling Solar-Thermal System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-23, April.
    4. Aridi, Rima & Faraj, Jalal & Ali, Samer & Lemenand, Thierry & khaled, Mahmoud, 2022. "A comprehensive review on hybrid heat recovery systems: Classifications, applications, pros and cons, and new systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. João Paulo N. Torres & Carlos A. F. Fernandes & João Gomes & Bonfiglio Luc & Giovinazzo Carine & Olle Olsson & P. J. Costa Branco, 2018. "Effect of Reflector Geometry in the Annual Received Radiation of Low Concentration Photovoltaic Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-15, July.
    6. Qiu, Songgang & Gao, Yuan & Rinker, Garrett & Yanaga, Koji, 2019. "Development of an advanced free-piston Stirling engine for micro combined heating and power application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 987-1000.
    7. Jan Sauer & Hans-Detlev Kühl, 2019. "Experimental Investigation of Displacer Seal Geometry Effects in Stirling Cycle Machines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-14, November.
    8. Zhu, Shunmin & Yu, Guoyao & Ma, Ying & Cheng, Yangbin & Wang, Yalei & Yu, Shaofei & Wu, Zhanghua & Dai, Wei & Luo, Ercang, 2019. "A free-piston Stirling generator integrated with a parabolic trough collector for thermal-to-electric conversion of solar energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1248-1258.
    9. Songgang Qiu & Laura Solomon & Ming Fang, 2018. "Study of Material Compatibility for a Thermal Energy Storage System with Phase Change Material," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, March.

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