Optimizing Phase Change Composite Thermal Energy Storage Using the Thermal Ragone Framework

Conference · Wed Mar 15 04:00:00 EDT 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2022.105875· OSTI ID:1962553

James, Nelson

The thermal Ragone framework can be applied to the design of thermal energy storage heat exchangers to identifying relationships between their power requirements and energy capabilities. This presentation focuses on the design of planar thermal energy storage heat exchangers with phase change materials and thermal conductivity additives. Finite-difference models were used to optimize thermal storage heat exchanger designs focusing on key design parameters of conductivity additive volume fraction, spacing between tubes, and the phase transition temperatures. Design trends were developed for optimal designs based on varying thermal power requirements. To aid in future device design, models of reduced complexity were developed with the ability to predict optimal designs with computational speeds up to 5,000 times faster than finite-difference models.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Building Technologies Office (EE-5B)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1962553
• Report Number(s): NREL/PR-5500-84951; MainId:85724; UUID:cf9e0297-09a6-4076-84c1-a551493f583f; MainAdminID:69042
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION,ENERGY STORAGE
exchanger
heat
optimization
thermal Ragone
thermal energy storage