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Enhancing the Power Performance of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: The Adoption of Passive, Fractal Supports

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  • Giorgio Amati

    (High Performance Computing Department, CINECA Rome Section, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Sauro Succi

    (Italian Institute of Technology, Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, 00161 Rome, Italy
    Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA)

  • Giacomo Falcucci

    (Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
    Department of Enterprise Engineering “Mario Lucertini”, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

We employ a three-phase thermal lattice Boltzmann model (LBM) to investigate the power performance of latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) systems based on the exploitation of phase change materials (PCMs). Different passive thermal supports are considered to increase the melting rate, including innovative, fractal, branch-like structures. Our simulations reveal that the adoption of fractal, branch-like metal supports consistently outperforms other configurations in terms of PCM melting rates. These results open the path towards novel strategies to enhance the power performance of PCM-based TES systems, offering potential benefits for energy storage applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Giorgio Amati & Sauro Succi & Giacomo Falcucci, 2023. "Enhancing the Power Performance of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: The Adoption of Passive, Fractal Supports," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-10, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:19:p:6764-:d:1245494
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giacomo Falcucci & Giorgio Amati & Pierluigi Fanelli & Vesselin K. Krastev & Giovanni Polverino & Maurizio Porfiri & Sauro Succi, 2021. "Extreme flow simulations reveal skeletal adaptations of deep-sea sponges," Nature, Nature, vol. 595(7868), pages 537-541, July.
    2. Vesselin Krassimirov Krastev & Giacomo Falcucci, 2018. "Simulating Engineering Flows through Complex Porous Media via the Lattice Boltzmann Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Mahon, Harry & O'Connor, Dominic & Friedrich, Daniel & Hughes, Ben, 2022. "A review of thermal energy storage technologies for seasonal loops," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PC).
    4. Li, Min & Mu, Boyuan, 2019. "Effect of different dimensional carbon materials on the properties and application of phase change materials: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 695-715.
    5. Giacomo Falcucci & Giovanni Polverino & Maurizio Porfiri & Giorgio Amati & Pierluigi Fanelli & Vesselin K. Krastev & Sauro Succi, 2022. "Reply to: Models of flow through sponges must consider the sponge tissue," Nature, Nature, vol. 603(7902), pages 26-28, March.
    6. Wei, Gaosheng & Wang, Gang & Xu, Chao & Ju, Xing & Xing, Lijing & Du, Xiaoze & Yang, Yongping, 2018. "Selection principles and thermophysical properties of high temperature phase change materials for thermal energy storage: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 1771-1786.
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