Investigations on Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage (TES) System for Low-Temperature Steam Applications

Paul Gregory F,Kannan K,Velavan R

doi:10.34256/irjmt2062

Abstract

Phase Change Materials (PCM) exhibit a thermal storage property by their latent heat of fusion. These PCMs absorb heat energy from the source and they undergo a change of phase and release the stored heat energy to the application when required. This research work focuses on utilizing this property of PCMs to store heat energy from a steam source from a Parabolic Trough Collector, and the output from such a Thermal Energy Storage Unit could be used for steam cooking. This research work selects the optimum Phase Change Material to suit the heating application and virtually simulates the performance of various configurations of Thermal Storage heat exchangers and finds the optimum number of passes for steam flow using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach.

Highlights

Introduction to Phase Change MaterialsWith the depleting sources of energy, the day requires to optimally solar store the available energy and device technologies for the same
In an attempt to devise a system to store thermal energy, it is found that Phase Change Materials are an excellent source of storing thermal energy owing to their high heat of fusion [1]
Phase Change Material falls under the category of Latent Heat Energy Storage

Summary

Introduction to Phase Change Materials

With the depleting sources of energy, the day requires to optimally solar store the available energy and device technologies for the same. In another context, it would be necessary to conserve excess energy to store them and to use the same when necessary. Phase Change Material falls under the category of Latent Heat Energy Storage. These phase change materials initially remain in their original phase. The PCM releases the stored energy to the entity and comes back to the original phase This cycle repeats itself confined to the critical points of the Phase Change Material. Inorganic phase change materials perform better than organic phase change materials for low-temperature applications

Physical Configuration of the Thermal Energy Storage system

Selection of Phase Change Material for TES system

Temperature contour of various configuration at fully charged state

Selection of suitable configuration for TES system

8.Conclusion