Numerical study for the design of a thermal energy storage system with
multiple tunnels based on phase change material: Case Study Mining in
Chile
Abstract
This paper presents a numerical model for the design, development, and
feasibility of thermal energy storage systems. The energy storage was
composed of a tank that stores phase change material and internal pipes
with heat transfer fluid, coupled to a power block to dispatch
electrical energy on a small scale for off-grid industrial applications.
Subsequently, the evolution of the temperature in charge/discharge
cycles, temperature degradation, and storage efficiency was determined
with the appropriate magnitudes and behavior through the resolution of a
numerical model. In addition, the proposed energy production plant that
connects the system to was implemented in an industrial application for
Chile. A numerical model was developed using the finite volumes method
to simulate the thermocline performance. As a result, the temperature
history reflects stable thermal behavior, low degradation, and high
efficiency of approximately 92%, with a storage time increasing up to
13 [hrs] and 384.8 [kWh] capacity. Also, implementation was
feasible on a small scale due to its compact, modular, and economically
competitive characteristics in Concentrated Solar Power. Finally, the
proposed design was proven to be an accurate and reliable alternative
for small-scale off-grid mining applications.