Energy and exergy analyses of cold thermal storage systems

Abstract

This study deals with the assessment of the thermodynamic performance of cold thermal storage systems using exergy and energy analyses. Several cases are considered, including some storages which are homogeneous, and others which undergo phase changes. In some cases the storages are stratified. A full cycle of charging, storing and discharging is considered for each case. Four cold thermal storage cases are presented in an illustrative example. The results demonstrate that exergy analysis provides more realistic and accurate assessments of the efficiency and performance of cold thermal storage systems than those given by the more conventional energy analysis. In addition, exergy analysis is conceptually more direct since it treats cold as a valuable commodity. It is concluded that the potential usefulness of exergy analysis in addressing and solving cold thermal storage problems is substantial. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.