Experimental characterization of coupled sensible heat and moisture storage for dry cooling enhancement

Abstract

Abstract A novel storage concept, based on the coupling of heat and humidity storages, is presented and experimentally characterized. This coupled storage is aiming at optimizing the cooling of the condenser for CSP power plant, and more broadly, for any thermodynamic cycles devoted to the production of electricity from heat. The global system consists in a dual-media thermocline-like TES using humid air as heat transfer fluid and filled with a mixture of glass spheres and sorbent pebbles. Experimental campaigns have confirmed the validity of the concept, i.e. cold temperature and humidity can be stored in a solid matrix during the night and can be used later, to cool ambient air during the day, thanks to heat convection and moisture desorption. Characterization and understanding of the behaviour of this coupled storage are provided through temperature profiles, steam molar fraction and mass of water sorbed/desorbed. Results highlight that such storage can be effective to reduce the drop of performances for air-cooled condenser under high temperatures ambient, which occurs typically for CSP power plant in arid regions.