Process Intensification Principles Applied to Thermal Energy Storage Systems—A Brief Review

Process intensification (PI) technologies represent all approaches leading to size reduction and efficiency improvement of process equipment. Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems are key elements in renewable and recovery thermal energy deployments and their performance can benefit from PI principles. This study covers a brief analysis and state of the art of several PI technologies applied to TES systems. All sensible, latent and thermochemical storage systems are covered. Two surface-to-volume ratios closely related to component size and system performance are first analysed. They theoretically show how PI principles may inspire the performance enhancement of TES systems. Then, a brief synthesis on successful PI applications in sensible, latent and thermochemical storages is given. Their approaches mainly consist of thermal stratification preservation, modular design, heat and mass transfer enhancement as well as material properties modification. Finally, potential TES system improvement directions based on PI principles are recommended.

[1]  Philip C. Eames,et al.  The effect of tank geometry on thermally stratified sensible heat storage subject to low Reynolds number flows , 1998 .

[2]  Ruzhu Wang,et al.  Thermal stratification within the water tank , 2009 .

[3]  Jo Darkwa,et al.  Thermal simulation of composite high conductivity laminated microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM) board , 2012 .

[4]  Ruzhu Wang,et al.  Studies on split heat pipe type adsorption ice-making test unit for fishing boats: Choice of heat pipe medium and experiments under unsteady heating sources , 2006 .

[5]  Simon Furbo,et al.  Thermal stratification in a hot water tank established by heat loss from the tank , 2012 .

[6]  Simon Furbo,et al.  Buoyancy driven flow in a hot water tank due to standby heat loss , 2012 .

[7]  Hailong Li,et al.  Experimental study on the direct/indirect contact energy storage container in mobilized thermal energy system (M-TES) , 2014 .

[8]  Xavier Py,et al.  Enhancement of geothermal borehole heat exchangers performances by improvement of bentonite grouts conductivity , 2012 .

[9]  Takahiro Nomura,et al.  Phase change composite based on porous nickel and erythritol , 2012 .

[10]  Ming Fang,et al.  Effects of different multiple PCMs on the performance of a latent thermal energy storage system , 2007 .

[11]  Manish K. Rathod,et al.  Thermal performance enhancement of shell and tube Latent Heat Storage Unit using longitudinal fins , 2015 .

[12]  Brian Vad Mathiesen,et al.  4th Generation District Heating (4GDH) Integrating smart thermal grids into future sustainable energy systems , 2014 .

[13]  Josh A. Quinnell,et al.  Mass transfer during sensible charging of a hybrid absorption/sensible storage tank☆ , 2012 .

[14]  Morgane Colombert,et al.  Recov’Heat: An estimation tool of urban waste heat recovery potential in sustainable cities , 2017 .

[15]  Tarik Kousksou,et al.  Impact of shape of container on natural convection and melting inside enclosures used for passive cooling of electronic devices , 2010, 1010.0079.

[16]  M. Kanoğlu,et al.  Effect of obstacles on thermal stratification in hot water storage tanks , 2005 .

[17]  Takahiro Nomura,et al.  Thermal conductivity enhancement of erythritol as PCM by using graphite and nickel particles , 2013 .

[18]  Jinjia Wei,et al.  Study on a PCM heat storage system for rapid heat supply , 2005 .

[19]  Christos N. Markides,et al.  AN EXPERIMENTAL AND COMPUTATIONAL INVESTIGATION OF A THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM BASED ON A PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL: HEAT TRANSFER AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERIZATION , 2014 .

[20]  L. Cabeza,et al.  PCM-module to improve hot water heat stores with stratification , 2003 .

[21]  L. Cabeza,et al.  Utilization of phase change materials in solar domestic hot water systems , 2009 .

[22]  A. Bouhdjar,et al.  Numerical analysis of transient mixed convection flow in storage tank: influence of fluid properties and aspect ratios on stratification , 2002 .

[23]  L. W. Wang,et al.  Sorption thermal storage for solar energy , 2013 .

[24]  Jorge L. Alvarado,et al.  Latent thermal energy storage system using phase change material in corrugated enclosures , 2013 .

[25]  R. Velraj,et al.  Heat transfer enhancement in a latent heat storage system , 1999 .

[26]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Thermochemical energy storage and conversion: A-state-of-the-art review of the experimental research under practical conditions , 2012 .

[27]  Luisa F. Cabeza,et al.  Modelization of a water tank including a PCM module , 2006 .

[28]  Jinny Rhee,et al.  Domestic Hot Water Storage Tank: Design and Analysis for Improving Thermal Stratification , 2012 .

[29]  P. M. Moretti,et al.  Stratified thermal storage tank inlet mixing characterization , 1988 .

[30]  Jane H. Davidson,et al.  DISTRIBUTED SOLAR THERMAL: INNOVATIONS IN THERMAL STORAGE , 2012 .

[31]  L. Cabeza,et al.  Natural convection heat transfer coefficients in phase change material (PCM) modules with external vertical fins , 2008 .

[32]  F. C. Lai,et al.  Enhanced thermal stratification in a liquid storage tank with a porous manifold , 2011 .

[33]  Ruzhu Wang,et al.  Enhancement of Heat and Mass Transfer in Solid Gas Sorption Systems , 2012 .

[34]  Xun Li,et al.  Numerical simulation study on optimizing charging process of the direct contact mobilized thermal energy storage , 2013 .

[35]  Daniel Castro-Fresno,et al.  Study of different grouting materials used in vertical geothermal closed-loop heat exchangers , 2013 .

[36]  Josh A. Quinnell,et al.  Heat and mass transfer during heating of a hybrid absorption/sensible storage tank , 2014 .

[37]  Dong Wang,et al.  A dynamic optimization on economic energy efficiency in development: A numerical case of China , 2014 .

[38]  S. Mauran,et al.  Thermochemical process for seasonal storage of solar energy: Characterization and modeling of a high density reactive bed , 2012 .

[39]  Guangming Chen,et al.  Experimental study on charging processes of a cylindrical heat storage capsule employing multiple‐phase‐change materials , 2001 .

[40]  C. Cruickshank,et al.  Thermal behaviour of a modular storage system when subjected to variable charge and discharge sequences , 2014 .