Thermal performance and cost analysis of a multi-layered solid-PCM thermocline thermal energy storage for CSP tower plants

Bing-chen Zhao, Mao-song Cheng, Chang Liu and Zhi-min Dai

Applied Energy, 2016, vol. 178, issue C, 784-799

Abstract: Thermocline storage in packed-bed is taken into consideration for cost reduction of thermal energy storage (TES) system in concentrating solar power (CSP). With a novel packed-bed configuration proposed recently, multi-layered solid-PCM (MLSPCM) thermocline TES is regarded as a more cost-effective alternative for current TES due to its lower thermocline degradation, which results in a higher energy utilization during the cyclic operation of the system comparing to other thermocline TES patterns. Thermal performance of several MLSPCM thermocline TES system with specific packed-bed configurations have been numerically evaluated both on pilot and practical scale. In this work, transient thermal behaviors of charging and discharging process in a cyclic operating state of a practical scale MLSPCM thermocline TES is investigated using a modified one-dimensional dispersion-concentric (D-C) model, while a comprehensive cost model is adopted to estimate capital cost of TES system. The influence of packed-bed configuration on several evaluation indexes of system performance such as cyclic operating time duration, total capacity factor and capital cost per kWht are explored based on parametric studies. Optimum design configurations are identified to minimize capital cost per kWht on the specific operating requirements. A cost comparison among different thermocline TES patterns as well as the two-tank TES are presented. The results show that the MLSPCM thermocline TES with an optimum packed-bed configuration is more cost-competitive than the two tank TES and any other thermocline TES systems. Overall, this study illustrates a methodology for packed-bed configuration optimization of a practical-scale MLSPCM thermocline TES and provide a design reference on cost-effective TES system for current CSP tower plants.

Keywords: Concentrating solar power; Thermal energy storage; Encapsulated phase change material; Multi-layered solid-PCM thermocline; Packed-bed configuration; Cost optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (29)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261916308091
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:178:y:2016:i:c:p:784-799

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 405891/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.06.034

Access Statistics for this article

Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan

More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().