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Title: Experimental demonstration of a dispatchable latent heat storage system with aluminum-silicon as a phase change material

Abstract

In this work, we present the design, construction, and experimental results of a prototype latent heat thermal energy storage system. The prototype consists of a thermal storage tank with 100 kg of the aluminum-silicon eutectic as a phase change material, a valved thermosyphon that controls heat flow from the thermal storage tank to the power block, and thermoelectric generators for conversion of heat to electricity. We tested the prototype over four simulated days, where each day consisted of four phases of operation: charging, discharging, simultaneous charging and discharging, and storage. Our results show three major conclusions. First, the thermal energy storage system was able to receive and distribute heat with small temperature gradients - less than 5 degrees C throughout the thermal storage tank. Second, the valved thermosyphon was able to effectively control heat transfer, demonstrating an on/off thermal conductance ratio of 430. Third, the interfaces between subsystems had small temperature drops: of the ~ 560 degrees C temperature drop from the thermal storage tank to the heat rejection system, ~ 525 degrees C occurred across the power block. This work overcomes the challenges of integrating previously-developed subsystems together, providing a proof-of-concept of this system.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1476249
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5400-72533
Journal ID: ISSN 0306-2619
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Applied Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 230; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0306-2619
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; thermal energy storage; phase change material; concentrating solar power; thermal valve; heat pipe; thermosyphon

Citation Formats

Rea, Jonathan E., Oshman, Christopher J., Singh, Abhishek, Alleman, Jeff, Parilla, Philip A., Hardin, Corey L., Olsen, Michele L., Siegel, Nathan P., Ginley, David S., and Toberer, Eric S. Experimental demonstration of a dispatchable latent heat storage system with aluminum-silicon as a phase change material. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.09.017.
Rea, Jonathan E., Oshman, Christopher J., Singh, Abhishek, Alleman, Jeff, Parilla, Philip A., Hardin, Corey L., Olsen, Michele L., Siegel, Nathan P., Ginley, David S., & Toberer, Eric S. Experimental demonstration of a dispatchable latent heat storage system with aluminum-silicon as a phase change material. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.09.017
Rea, Jonathan E., Oshman, Christopher J., Singh, Abhishek, Alleman, Jeff, Parilla, Philip A., Hardin, Corey L., Olsen, Michele L., Siegel, Nathan P., Ginley, David S., and Toberer, Eric S. 2018. "Experimental demonstration of a dispatchable latent heat storage system with aluminum-silicon as a phase change material". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.09.017.
@article{osti_1476249,
title = {Experimental demonstration of a dispatchable latent heat storage system with aluminum-silicon as a phase change material},
author = {Rea, Jonathan E. and Oshman, Christopher J. and Singh, Abhishek and Alleman, Jeff and Parilla, Philip A. and Hardin, Corey L. and Olsen, Michele L. and Siegel, Nathan P. and Ginley, David S. and Toberer, Eric S.},
abstractNote = {In this work, we present the design, construction, and experimental results of a prototype latent heat thermal energy storage system. The prototype consists of a thermal storage tank with 100 kg of the aluminum-silicon eutectic as a phase change material, a valved thermosyphon that controls heat flow from the thermal storage tank to the power block, and thermoelectric generators for conversion of heat to electricity. We tested the prototype over four simulated days, where each day consisted of four phases of operation: charging, discharging, simultaneous charging and discharging, and storage. Our results show three major conclusions. First, the thermal energy storage system was able to receive and distribute heat with small temperature gradients - less than 5 degrees C throughout the thermal storage tank. Second, the valved thermosyphon was able to effectively control heat transfer, demonstrating an on/off thermal conductance ratio of 430. Third, the interfaces between subsystems had small temperature drops: of the ~ 560 degrees C temperature drop from the thermal storage tank to the heat rejection system, ~ 525 degrees C occurred across the power block. This work overcomes the challenges of integrating previously-developed subsystems together, providing a proof-of-concept of this system.},
doi = {10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.09.017},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1476249}, journal = {Applied Energy},
issn = {0306-2619},
number = C,
volume = 230,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}