Thermocline control through multi-tank thermal-energy storage systems
OPEN ACCESS
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2021-01-01
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
OPEN ACCESS
Data
Rights / License
Abstract
Thermal-energy storage systems consisting of multiple tanks allow the implementation of thermocline-control methods, which can reduce the drop in the outflow temperature during discharging and increase the volumetric storage density and utilization factor. Multi-tank systems based on the extraction and mixing thermocline-control methods were assessed using simulations assuming fluvial rocks as storage material and compressed air as heat-transfer fluid. For adiabatic conditions, the simulations showed improved performance for all multi-tank systems, with diminishing improvements as the number of tanks increases. The mixing method performed better than the extraction method. The mixing method delivered an outflow temperature drop of 5.1% using two tanks whose total volume was 2.15 times smaller than that of the single-tank system. For diabatic conditions, more than three tanks were not beneficial. With two tanks, the mixing method attained a temperature drop of 5.8% with a volume that is 2.5 times smaller than that of the single-tank system. The exergy efficiency of the two-tank system was 91.3% compared to 98.1% of the single-tank system. The specific material costs of the two-tank system were 1.5 times lower than those of the single-tank system.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
281
Pages / Article No.
115971
Publisher
Elsevier
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Thermal-energy storage; Thermocline storage; Thermocline control; Multi-tank storage; Compressed air energy storage; Simulation
Organisational unit
03530 - Steinfeld, Aldo (emeritus) / Steinfeld, Aldo (emeritus)