Sensible and Latent Thermal Energy Storage in Parallel Channels

Abstract

Energy storage technologies are strategic and necessary components for the efficient utilization of renewable energy sources and energy conservation. An analysis on sensible and latent heat thermal energy storage (TES) in honeycomb systems is accomplished. The analysis is focused on the possibility to simulate the honeycomb system as a porous medium both for the sensible and latent heat TES systems. To obtain these models, it is necessary to evaluate the corresponding main parameters of the equivalent porous medium simulating the honeycomb system. After an introduction, a presentation of the main literature on sensible and latent heat TES systems is provided. The governing equations for direct model obtained considering the single channel related to the honeycomb structures and the porous medium model for both local thermal equilibrium and local thermal non-equilibrium are presented. Some results are given in terms of average temperature and stored energy for sensible and latent heat TES.