Volume Sizing for Thermal Storage With Phase Change Material for Concentrated Solar Power Plant

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Xu ◽  
Peiwen Li ◽  
Cholik Chan
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Storage Tank ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Change Material

With a large capacity thermal storage system using phase change material (PCM), Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a promising technology for high efficiency of solar energy utilization. In a thermal storage system, a dual-media thermal storage tank is typically adopted in industry for the purpose of reducing the use of the heat transfer fluid (HTF). While the dual-media sensible heat storage system has been well studied, a dual-media latent heat storage system (LHSS) still needs more attention and study; particularly, the sizing of volumes of storage tanks considering actual operation conditions is of significance. In this paper, a strategy for LHSS volume sizing is proposed, which is based on computations using an enthalpy-based 1D model. One example of 60MW solar thermal power plant with 35% thermal efficiency is presented. In the study, potassium hydroxide (KOH) is adopted as PCM and Therminol VP-1 is used as HTF. The operational temperatures of the storage system are 390°C and 310°C, respectively for the high and low temperatures. The system is assumed to operate for 100 days with 6 hours charge and 6 hours discharge every day. From the study, the needed height of the thermal storage tank is calculated from using the strategy of tank sizing. The method for tank volume sizing is of significance to engineering application.

Feasibility Study of an Innovative Dry-Cooling System With Phase-Change Material Storage for Concentrated Solar Power Multi-MW Size Power Plant

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Pistocchini ◽  
Mario Motta
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Steam Condensation ◽  
Change Material

This work concerns the economic potential assessment of an innovative hybrid-cooling system for steam condensation in concentrated solar power plants. The system consists of an air-cooled condenser (ACC) working in parallel to a latent heat storage with phase-change material (PCM). The purpose of the hybrid system is to store some of the latent heat of steam condensation during the turbine operation and reject it at night, in order to shift a share of the cooling work and exploit the high diurnal temperature range of desert areas. System’s energy and economic performances are assessed by the parametric analysis of a theoretical case study, referred to an existing solar power plant and based on historical meteorological data. The analysis considers an ideal “perfect” PCM storage system, namely with no technological barriers, and different cost scenarios. The simulation campaign outcome indicates how the innovative solution can provide just a slight improvement of the plant performance, which is anyway significant in qualitative terms since the risk of breakdowns of turbine operation during the hottest summer days is avoided. It is remarkable that the introduction of the heat storage allows for a reduction of the ACC installed power. The economic feasibility of the proposed solution follows on mainly from the comparison between the investment cost increase —due to the PCM storage—and savings—due to reduction of the installed ACC modules. The hybrid-cooling system would be an attractive alternative to standard systems if the PCM storage cost could be contained by increasing the conductivity of the PCM material. As an alternative, a cheaper heat storage technology (e.g., a water thermocline) could be coupled to an indirect-cooling system.

scholarly journals Performance Improvement of a Household Refrigerator using Phase Change Material

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 032-041
Author(s):  
Pradeep N ◽  
Somesh Subramanian S
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Latent Heat Storage ◽  
Peak Loads ◽  
Change Material

Thermal energy storage through phase change material has been used for wide applications in the field of air conditioning and refrigeration. The specific use of this thermal storage has been for energy storage during low demand and release of this energy during peak loads with potential to provide energy savings due to this. The principle of latent heat storage using phase change materials (PCMs) can be incorporated into a thermal storage system suitable for using deep freezers. The evaporator is covered with another box which has storage capacity or passage through phase change material. The results revealed that the performance is increased from 3.2 to 3.5 by using PCM.

Energy Storage Start-up Strategies for Concentrated Solar Power Plants With a Dual-Media Thermal Storage System

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Xu ◽  
Peiwen Li ◽  
Cho Lik Chan
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Storage Tank ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Hot Start

A concentrated solar power (CSP) plant typically has thermal energy storage (TES), which offers advantages of extended operation and power dispatch. Using dual-media, TES can be cost-effective because of the reduced use of heat transfer fluid (HTF), usually an expensive material. The focus of this paper is on the effect of a start-up period thermal storage strategy to the cumulative electrical energy output of a CSP plant. Two strategies—starting with a cold storage tank (referred to as “cold start”) and starting with a fully charged storage tank (referred to as “hot start”)—were investigated with regards to their effects on electrical energy production in the same period of operation. An enthalpy-based 1D transient model for energy storage and temperature variation in solid filler material and HTF was applied for both the sensible heat storage system (SHSS) and the latent heat storage system (LHSS). The analysis was conducted for a CSP plant with an electrical power output of 60 MWe. It was found that the cold start is beneficial for both the SHSS and LHSS systems due to the overall larger electrical energy output over the same number of days compared to that of the hot start. The results are expected to be helpful for planning the start-up operation of a CSP plant with a dual-media thermal storage system.

Optimal Design of HFC Solar Plant by Using Phase Change Material for Heat Storage

2015 ◽  
Vol 806 ◽  
pp. 203-213
Author(s):  
Tina Kegl
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Optimal Design ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Phase Change Material ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Storage Materials ◽  
Heat Storage Materials ◽  
Solar Receiver ◽  
Change Material

This paper deals with an optimal design solar tower power plant. Special attention is focused on the central receiver system and heat storage materials. In order to get an effective power plant, a simple mathematical model to calculate the solar energy, concentrated on the solar receiver during one year, is developed. The model can predict the delivered energy in dependence on the arrangement of the heliostats and the height of the solar receiver. By using an optimizer, a plant of 5 MW power is optimized in order to produce a maximum of electrical energy during the year on the prescribed area. On the basis of analysis of heat storage materials, KNO3, acting as phase change material (PCM), is shown to be suitable for heat storage from the thermal, physical, kinetic, chemical, and economic point of view.

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