Sizing the Thermal Energy Storage Device Utilizing Phase Change Material (PCM) for Low-Temperature Organic Rankine Cycle Systems Employing Selected Hydrocarbons

Sindu Daniarta,Magdalena Nemś,Piotr Kolasiński,Michał Pomorski

doi:10.3390/en15030956

Abstract

Thermal energy storage (TES) looks to be a promising technology for recovering waste heat or other intermittent heat sources, especially if it is coupled with the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system. This system may use a variety of heat storage materials, including solids, liquids, and phase change materials (PCM). This article discusses the use of PCM as a thermal energy storage material in TES systems coupled with ORC systems. Other TES configurations may be used in ORC; however, in this article, the TES is solely used in heat exchangers, i.e., evaporator and liquid heater. The goal of this research is to establish a dimensionless storage mass parameter for sizing TES-evaporator (TES-EVA) or TES-liquid heater (TES-LH) devices for ORCs. Furthermore, the model of this system was created in the MATLAB environment using the chosen hydrocarbons as ORC working fluids. The obtained modelling results provide a novel point of view that scientists and engineers may employ while developing the TES-EVA or TES-LH utilizing PCM for ORC.

Highlights

Thanks to the positive features of the organic Rankine cycle/ORC, this technology is considered promising and can be employed for a wider operating temperature range than in the case of standard steam power plants with an operating principle based on the implementation of Clausius–Rankine cycle
A similar method was used in this work to obtain the maximal ORC efficiency which can be obtained for specified working fluids and system operating conditions
The findings of a modelling analysis on sizing thermal energy storage (TES) evaporator and liquid heater for ORC system with chosen HCs as working fluids and certain phase change materials (PCM) as TES materials were provided in this study

Summary

Introduction

Thanks to the positive features of the organic Rankine cycle/ORC (such as, for example, the possibility of application of different low-boiling working fluids and flexibility to different alternative heat sources), this technology is considered promising and can be employed for a wider operating temperature range than in the case of standard steam power plants with an operating principle based on the implementation of Clausius–Rankine cycle. In order to have sustainable power generation, energy harvesting from some intermittent heat sources has to proceed differently than it is usually done in the case of other alternative heat sources [7]. To address the issue of using intermittent heat for powering ORC systems and power generation, the application of thermal energy storage (TES) device or system appears promising. By the application of the TES device or system, the thermal energy can be stored; the ORC system operation and sustainability can be improved [7,8]

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