(132b) Modeling Thermal Energy Storage Utilizing Air As Heat Transfer Fluid and Alumina As Storage Material
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
2015
2015 AIChE Spring Meeting and 11th Global Congress on Process Safety
Emerging Technologies in Clean Energy for the Twenty-First Century
Enabling Process Innovation Through Computation-Epic III
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - 2:00pm to 2:30pm
Thermal energy storage is a critical component of concentrated solar power plants to increase the capacity factor and drive down the cost of electricity. One storage option is a packed bed of a solid storage material with a gaseous heat transfer fluid. Alumina is considered a strong candidate as the storage material in the packed bed due to a high heat capacity and thermal stability, making it well suited for high temperature thermal energy storage. A simplified, one-equation model is presented with air as heat transfer fluid flowing through a packed bed of α-alumina beads. The thermal properties are averaged in the one-equation model, and all of these properties are calculated as a function of temperature. In addition to the thermal model, the pressure drop is also calculated. The modeling approach is compared to experimental data at multiple flow rates during storage and recovery. For this air and alumina system, the one-equation approach works well in describing the thermal front as it moves through the packed bed. With this validated approach, a designer could quickly study the key parameters (e.g. bed diameter, bead size, materials) associated with the storage for a user’s specific conditions (e.g. maximum temperature, flow rates).
Topics
Checkout
This paper has an Extended Abstract file available; you must purchase the conference proceedings to access it.
Do you already own this?
Log In for instructions on accessing this content.
Pricing
Individuals
AIChE Pro Members | $150.00 |
AIChE Graduate Student Members | Free |
AIChE Undergraduate Student Members | Free |
AIChE Explorer Members | $225.00 |
Non-Members | $225.00 |