Assessing the impact of a novel hemispherical diffuser on a single-tank sensible thermal energy storage system

Dipti Ranjan Parida, S. Advaith, Nikhil Dani and Saptarshi Basu

Renewable Energy, 2022, vol. 183, issue C, 202-218

Abstract: The effects of an inlet inertial jet on the thermal blending of hot and cold heat transfer fluid (molten salt) for a single tank sensible thermal energy storage system are studied using numerical simulations. The simulations show the evolution of the initial stratified layer (thermocline) for a temperature difference of 300 K with a corresponding Atwood number (At) of 0.066. Three diffuser arrangements are investigated: a flat plate solid diffuser, a coaxial ring diffuser with a solid center, and a proposed hemispherical diffuser. The thermal stratifications are examined by a mathematical model named Ideal stratification index (ISI). It is observed that the buoyancy-driven mixing is minimum for the hemispherical diffuser, and the resulting thermocline is 6% better compared to alternative diffusers at 27 l/min. Additionally, the working of the proposed diffuser is demonstrated via experiments with a saline-freshwater combination. These results reveal that the single tank thermocline storage performance can be improved for higher charging/discharging rates using hemispherical diffusers.

Keywords: Distributor; Sensible TES; Thermocline; Concentrated solar power; Mixing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:183:y:2022:i:c:p:202-218

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.10.099

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