Latent heat storage for solar energy systems: Transient simulation of refrigerant storage

This paper presents a brief review of the available latent heat storage systems for solar energy utilization. A new concept of latent heat storage of solar energy via the refrigerant-absorbent mass storage in absorption cycle heat pump systems used for solar space heating/cooling has been proposed and assessed thermodynamically. A computer modelling and numerical simulation study shows that the concept of refrigerant storage is fundamentally sound, technically feasible and yields the following advantages over other storage methods: (i) the storage capacity per unit volume is high as the latent heat of vaporization of the refrigerant is high; (ii) the heat loss from the storage to the surroundings is minimum as the storage temperature is near the ambient; (iii) prolonged energy storage is possible with no degradation in system performance and hence suitable for combined solar heating and airconditioning. The effects of operating parameters on the energy storage concentration and storage efficiency have been studied in detail.     

Review on storage materials and thermal performance enhancement techniques for high temperature phase change thermal storage systems

Designing a cost-effective phase change thermal storage system involves two challenging aspects: one is to select a suitable storage material and the other is to increase the heat transfer between the storage material and the heat transfer fluid as the performance of the system is limited by the poor thermal conductivity of the latent heat storage material. When used for storing energy in concentrated solar thermal power plants, the solar field operation temperature will determine the PCM melting temperature selection. This paper reviews concentrated solar thermal power plants that are currently operating and under construction. It also reviews phase change materials with melting temperatures above 300 °C, which potentially can be used as energy storage media in these plants. In addition, various techniques employed to enhance the thermal performance of high temperature phase change thermal storage systems have been reviewed and discussed. This review aims to provide the necessary information for further research in the development of cost-effective high temperature phase change thermal storage systems.     

Latent heat storage

The investigations of materials presumably suitable as storage media for latent heat indicate that water, some salt hydrates and eutectic mixtures of water and salt hydrates possess extreme heats of fusion. Their melting points, ranging from about -50° to + 130°C, fit well for storing low grade heat in residential energy systems. Detailed experimental investigations on a large number of these media show, however, that only a few of them satisfy the quality requirments for practical application in storage units. Flexible flat-plate storage containers especially developed for selected salt hydrates which expand on melting also show satisfactory performance over long periods of operation. In the case of water and selected water-salt hydrate eutectics the volume increases on solidification, and the expansion of solid storage material, being very inhomgeneous, breaks even flexible containers after only a few storage cycles. This ruinous local expansion can be avoided, however, by adding a small amount of special, lower melting salt hydrate eutectics which homogenize the crystallization and solidification of the storage medium.     

Experimental evaluation of commercial heat exchangers for use as PCM thermal storage systems

Phase change materials (PCM) possess a great capacity of accumulation of energy in their temperature of fusion thanks to the latent heat. These materials are used in applications where it is necessary to store energy due to the temporary phase shift between the offer and demand of thermal energy. Thus, possible applications are the solar systems as well as the recovery of residual heat for its posterior use in other processes. In spite of this great potential, the practical feasibility of latent heat storage with PCM is still limited, mainly due to a rather low thermal conductivity. This low conductivity implies small heat transfer coefficients and, consequently, thermal cycles are slow and not suitable for most of the potential applications.     

Performance enhancement in latent heat thermal storage system: A review

Phase change material (PCM) based latent heat thermal storage (LHTS) systems offer a challenging option to be employed as an effective energy storage and retrieval device. The performance of LHTS systems is limited by the poor thermal conductivity of PCMs employed. Successful large-scale utilization of LHTS systems thus depends on the extent to which the performance can be improved. A great deal of work both experimental and theoretical on different performance enhancement techniques has been reported in the literature. This paper reviews the implementation of those techniques in different configurations of LHTS systems. The influence of enhancement techniques on the thermal response of the PCM in terms of phase change rate and amount of latent heat stored/retrieved has been addressed as a main aspect. Issues related to mathematical modeling of LHTS systems employing enhancement techniques are also discussed.     

Selection of metal hydrides-based thermal energy storage: Energy storage efficiency and density targets

Thermo-chemical energy storage based on metal hydrides has gained tremendous interest in solar heat storage applications such as concentrated solar power systems (CSP) and parabolic troughs. In such systems, two metal hydride beds are connected and operating in an alternative way as energy storage or hydrogen storage. However, the selection of metal hydrides is essential for a smooth operation of these CSP systems in terms of energy storage efficiency and density. In this study, thermal energy storage systems using metal hydrides are modeled and analyzed in detail using first law of thermodynamics. For these purpose, four conventional metal hydrides are selected namely LaNi₅, Mg, Mg₂Ni and Mg₂FeH₆. The comparison of performance is made in terms of volumetric energy storage and energy storage efficiency. The effects of operating conditions (temperature, hydrogen pressure and heat transfer fluid mass flow rates) and reactor design on the aforementioned performance metrics are studied and discussed in detail. The preliminary results showed that Mg-based hydrides store energy ranging from 1.3 to 2.4 GJ m^?3 while the energy storage can be as low as 30% due to their slow intrinsic kinetics. On the other hand, coupling Mg-based hydrides with LaNi₅ allow us to recover heat at a useful temperature above 330 K with low energy density ca.500 MJ m^?3 provided suitable operating conditions are selected. The results of this study will be helpful to screen out all potentially viable hydrides materials for heat storage applications.     

Recent progress in thermal energy storage materials

本文结合储热材料的分类、特点、应用及存在的问题对储热材料的最新研究进展进行了综述,主要包括有机相变储热材料、熔融盐类相变储热材料、合金相变储热材料及复合类储热材料。探讨了储热材料成分组成、制备工艺及性能特点,进一步介绍了其最新研究进展,并对储热材料的下一步研究进行了展望,提出开发高性能纳微复合结构储热材料是未来研究的重点。     

Economic evaluation of latent heat thermal energy storage using embedded thermosyphons for concentrating solar power applications

An economic evaluation of a latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) system for large scale concentrating solar power (CSP) applications is conducted. The concept of embedding gravity-assisted wickless heat pipes (thermosyphons) within a commercial-scale LHTES system is explored through use of a thermal network model. A new design is proposed for charging and discharging a large-scale LHTES system. The size and cost of the LHTES system is estimated and compared with a two-tank sensible heat energy storage (SHTES) system. The results suggest that LHTES with embedded thermosyphons is economically competitive with current SHTES technology, with the potential to reduce capital costs by at least 15%. Further investigation of different phase change materials (PCMs), thermosyphon working fluids, and system configurations has the potential to lead to designs that can further reduce capital costs beyond those reported in this study.     

Energy and exergy analyses of an ice-on-coil thermal energy storage system

In this study, energy and exergy analyses are carried out for the charging period of an ice-on-coil thermal energy storage system. The present model is developed using a thermal resistance network technique. First, the time-dependent variations of the predicted total stored energy, mass of ice, and outlet temperature of the heat transfer fluid from a storage tank are compared with the experimental data. Afterward, performance of an ice-on-coil type latent heat thermal energy storage system is investigated for several working and design parameters. The results of a comparative study are presented in terms of the variations of the heat transfer rate, total stored energy, dimensionless energetic/exergetic effectiveness and energy/exergy efficiency. The results indicate that working and design parameters of the ice-on-coil thermal storage tank should be determined by considering both energetic and exergetic behavior of the system. For the current parameters, storage capacity and energy efficiency of the system increases with decreasing the inlet temperature of the heat transfer fluid and increasing the length of the tube. Besides, the exergy efficiency increases with increasing the inlet temperature of the heat transfer fluid and increasing the length of the tube.     

Performance analysis of a direct-contact thermal energy storage-solidification

Performance of a direct-contact latent heat energy storage during discharging process has been investigated. The storage medium used is sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate of which the melting temperature is 48°C and the heat exchanging fluid is heat transfer oil. An empirical expression to evaluate the volumetric heat transfer coefficient has been carried out. A lumped analysis is also found to be quite suitable to analyze the temperature of the storage medium and its solid fraction including the temperature of the oil leaving the storage. The results agree well with those of the experiments.     

Form-stable phase change materials for thermal energy storage

The present paper considers the state of investigations and developments in form-stable phase change materials for thermal energy storage. Paraffins, fatty acids and their blends, polyethylene glycol are widely used as latent heat storage component in developing form-stable materials while high-density polyethylene (HDPE), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) triblock copolymer, Eudragit S, Eudragit E, poly (vynil chloride) (PVC), poly (vynil alcohol) (PVA) and polyurethane block copolymer serve as structure supporting component. A set of organic and metallo-organic materials with high transition heat in solid-solid state is considered as perspective for-stable materials to store thermal energy. Another perspective class of form-stable materials are the materials on the basis of such porous materials as expanded perlite and vermiculite impregnated with phase change heat storage materials. The technology of producing new form-stable ultrafine heat storage fibers is developed. It opens availability to produce the clothers with improved heat storage ability for extremely cold regions. The perspective fields of application of form-stable materials are discussed. The further directions of investigations and developments are considered.     

Solar thermal storage systems using phase change materials

Using Fourier series expansion of the involving temperatures and the forcing parameters i.e. the solar radiation and the ambient temperature, an iterative procedure has been developed to solve the heat transfer problem with moving boundaries. Calculations specific to a typical summer and winter day in Delhi have been presented for a numerical appreciation of the developed analysis. Experiments have been performed to validate the developed theoretical analysis. A good agreement is seen between theoretical and experimental results with in the domain of the applicability of theory.     

A concept for storing utility-scale electrical energy in the form of latent heat

A concept is introduced here for storing utility-scale electrical energy in the form of latent heat. The storage process utilizes a boiling refrigerant at sub-ambient temperatures to freeze a latent heat storage material using electrically driven compressors. Recovery of the latent heat for electrical generation then uses vapor expansion and condensation which essentially reverses the storage process. Sensible heat storage is incorporated into the cycle to efficiently implement the concept. Both energy storage and generation are carried out under steady flow closed-loop conditions where the T-s diagram is similar to a Rankine cycle. From a thermodynamic perspective, work is supplied to the system while heat is transferred to the surroundings from the latent heat store. The reverse process generates work while using heat supplied by the surroundings. An analysis with expander/compressor isentropic efficiencies and small temperature differentials for the heat transfer processes can give projected round trip efficiencies in the 50–60% range using a common refrigerant. One of the attractive features of this approach is the ability to use different ambient temperatures for storage and generation. Exploiting diurnal temperature differences or sources of low grade heat (50–90 °C) significantly increases the apparent round trip storage efficiency.     

Loss analysis of thermal reservoirs for electrical energy storage schemes

The paper presents an analysis of thermodynamic losses in thermal reservoirs due to irreversible heat transfer and frictional effects. The focus is upon applications to large-scale electricity storage for which it is the loss in availability (or exergy) that is most relevant. Accordingly, results are presented as loss coefficients which are defined as the fractional loss of the entering availability. Only losses stemming from irreversibility are considered – heat losses to the surroundings are not included in the analysis. A number of simplifying assumptions have been adopted, but the results nonetheless clearly demonstrate the dependence of the losses on operating temperatures, reservoir geometry and mode of operation, and point the way towards methods of optimisation. Estimates for a typical installation suggest that the losses are not insignificant, particularly for one-off charge and discharge (i.e., for long-term storage), but remain acceptable for cyclic operation, so as to make the use of thermal reservoirs attractive for electricity storage schemes.     

Assessing long-term performance of centralized thermal energy storage system

A validated computational fluid dynamics simulation tool is used to study the long-term performance of a centralized latent heat thermal energy storage system (LHTES). The LHTES system is integrated with a building mechanical ventilation system. Paraffin RT20 was used as a phase change material (PCM) and fins are used to enhance its performance.To reduce the computational time, artificial neural networks (ANN) was used to relate the relationships between the LHTES inputs and output parameters. Extensive CFD simulations were carried out to identify all the influential parameters for the development of ANN. They include phase change temperature range, air flow rate, the geometrical configuration of a LHTES system, fin size, and the unit's length. Further CFD simulations were carried out to provide sufficient data for proper training and testing of the ANN. The ANN model was used to predict the LHTES's outlet air-temperature. There was a good agreement between the ANN prediction and CFD model's prediction.The ANN model then was used to study the annual performance of a LHTES for application in Montreal. We found that the potential of use the centralized LHTES system to reduce the cooling load is high with a wider phase change temperature range. The centralized LHTES system contributes to reducing the cooling load from 21% to 36% when the length of the centralized LHTES system is increased from 500 to 650 mm at a flow rate of 1.5 m/s.     

Review on heat transfer analysis in thermal energy storage using latent heat storage systems and phase change materials

Thermal energy storage (TES) is a technology that stocks thermal energy by heating or cooling a storage medium so that the stored energy can be used later for heating and cooling applications and for power generation. TES has recently attracted increasing interest to thermal applications such as space and water heating, waste heat utilisation, cooling, and air conditioning. Phase change materials (PCMs) used for the storage of thermal energy as latent heat are special types of advanced materials that substantially contribute to the efficient use and conservation of waste heat and solar energy. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the development of latent heat storage (LHS) systems focused on heat transfer and enhancement techniques employed in PCMs to effectively charge and discharge latent heat energy, and the formulation of the phase change problem. The main categories of PCMs are classified and briefly described, and heat transfer enhancement technologies, namely dispersion of low‐density materials, use of porous materials, metal matrices and encapsulation, incorporation of extended surfaces and fins, utilisation of heat pipes, cascaded storage, and direct heat transfer techniques, are also discussed in detail. Additionally, a two‐dimensional heat transfer simulation model of an LHS system is developed using the control volume technique to solve the phase change problem. Furthermore, a three‐dimensional numerical simulation model of an LHS is built to investigate the quasi‐steady state and transient heat transfer in PCMs. Finally, several future research directions are provided.     

Thermal energy storage in building integrated thermal systems: A review. Part 2. Integration as passive system

Energy consumption trends in residential and commercial buildings show a significant increase in recent decades. One of the key points for reducing energy consumption in buildings is to decrease the energy demand. Buildings envelopes are not just a structure they also provide protection from outdoor weather conditions always taking into account the local climate. Thermal energy storage has been used and applied to the building structure by taking advantage of sensible heat storage of materials with high thermal mass. But in recent years, researchers have focused their studies on the implementation of latent heat storage materials that if well incorporated could have high potential in energy demand reduction without occupying the space required by sensible storage. The aim of this study is to review the thermal energy storage passive systems that have been integrated in building components such as walls, ceilings or floors, and to classify them depending on their component integration.     

Heating and cooling of a hospital using solar energy coupled with seasonal thermal energy storage in an aquifer

A system is being designed, using solar energy in combination with Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES), that will conserve a major part of the oil and electricity used for heating or cooling the Cukurova University, Balcali Hospital in Adana, Turkey. The general objective of the system is to provide heating and cooling to the hospital by storing solar heat underground in summer and cold in winter. As the main source of cold energy, ventilation air at the hospital and surface water from the nearby Seyhan Lake will be used.     

Review on solar thermal energy storage technologies and their geometrical configurations

Because of the unstable and intermittent nature of solar energy availability, a thermal energy storage system is required to integrate with the collectors to store thermal energy and retrieve it whenever it is required. Thermal energy storage not only eliminates the discrepancy between energy supply and demand but also increases the performance and reliability of energy systems and plays a crucial role in energy conservation. Under this paper, different thermal energy storage methods, heat transfer enhancement techniques, storage materials, heat transfer fluids, and geometrical configurations are discussed. A comparative assessment of various thermal energy storage methods is also presented. Sensible heat storage involves storing thermal energy within the storage medium by increasing temperature without undergoing any phase transformation, whereas latent heat storage involves storing thermal energy within the material during the transition phase. Combined thermal energy storage is the novel approach to store thermal energy by combining both sensible and latent storage. Based on the literature review, it was found that most of the researchers carried out their work on sensible and latent storage systems with the different storage media and heat transfer fluids. Limited work on a combined sensible-latent heat thermal energy storage system with different storage materials and heat transfer fluids was carried out so far. Further, combined sensible and latent heat storage systems are reported to have a promising approach, as it reduces the cost and increases the energy storage with a stabilized outflow of temperature from the system. The studies discussed and presented in this paper may be helpful to carry out further research in this area.