Abstract
Thermal energy storage (TES) system plays an essential role in the utilization and exploitation of renewable energy sources. Over the last two decades, single-tank thermocline technology has received much attention due to its high cost-effectiveness compared to the conventional two-tank storage systems. The present paper focuses on clarifying the performance indicators and the effects of different influencing factors for the thermocline TES systems. We collect the various performance indicators used in the existing literature, and classify them into three categories: (1) ones directly reflecting the quantity or quality of the stored thermal energy; (2) ones describing the thermal stratification level of the hot and cold regions; (3) ones characterizing the thermo-hydrodynamic features within the thermocline tanks. The detailed analyses on these three categories of indicators are conducted. Moreover, the relevant influencing factors, including injecting flow rate of heat transfer fluid, working temperature, flow distributor, and inlet/outlet location, are discussed systematically. The comprehensive summary, detailed analyses and comparison provided by this work will be an important reference for the future study of thermocline TES systems.
Highlights
Taking the concentrated solar power (CSP) as an example, heat is provided by the solar field, and the integration of thermal energy storage (TES) module allows the plant output be not strictly dependent on the solar irradiation in time, which can greatly improve the output stability and dispatchability [4,5]
The present paper could thereby be a useful reference by clarifying the performance indicators and the relevant influencing factors for the thermocline TES systems
The present paper could thereby be a useful reference by clarifying the performanc Generally, the performance of the TES systems can be characterized by two distinct indicators and thethe relevant influencing factors for the thermocline methodologies: graphical manners and the performance indicators
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The direct two-tank configuration has been most-widely adopted in the utility-scale CSP plants In this case, the cold HTF at Tc coming from the cold tank will go through the solar field, where it will be heated up to the high temperature Th and sent to the hot tank for storage (charging). The HTF in the hot tank can be pumped to the heat-work conversion units, e.g., Rankine cycle modules for power generation. In order to further improve the performance of TES system and to cut off its Energies 2021, 14, 8384 in the hot tank can be pumped to the heat-work conversion units, e.g., Rankine cycle modules for power generation.
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