Optimisation and optimal geometry design for thermal energy storages in high temperature concentrating solar power

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive decision support model formulated as a finite-horizon-constrained optimisation problem to optimally design the geometry variables that maximise the net present value (NPV) associated to the thermal energy storage (TES) investment over a given time horizon. This study faces one of the main problems in a TES, which is to react to the unpredictable production/demand processes, by determining a high-level optimal size of the TES maximising the NPV that captures the storage benefits as well as detailed fixed and variable costs over a chosen time horizon. The storage benefits are defined, so that they model the costs of the expected discharged thermal energy over a year. Moreover, the authors account for various costs model regarding the total costs of the heat transfer tube material, the storage material, and the insulation material. The proposed decision model can be considered as practical framework that can support engineers and decision makers in the process of design and planning of future. They investigate performance and efficiency of the proposed decision support system framework through representative case studies. Numerical studies demonstrate the usefulness and efficacy of the proposed decision model.