Second law optimization of a sensible heat thermal energy storage system with a distributed storage element. Part 2; Presentation and interpretation of results

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Energy Resources Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2905776· OSTI ID:5353049

Taylor, M J; Krane, R J; Parsons, J R ^[1]

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1. Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (US)

This paper explores the behavior of a flat- slab, sensible heat thermal energy storage system, the physical design and operation of which have been optimized to minimize the production of entropy by thermodynamic irreversibilities. This part includes a description of the numerical model and the presentation and interpretation of the results of a system optimization study. The major results of this study show that: any Second Law model of a thermal energy storage system much include a distributed storage element in order to make realistic estimates the thermodynamic performance of the system; unconstrained optimization of the design of a thermal energy storage system tends to yield a system that is undesirably large, but by constraining the number of transfer units (NTU), it is possible to design systems of a realistic size without seriously degrading the thermodynamic performance; counterflow system operated without a dwell period are the most efficient type of system; and the use of a dwell period with a counterflow system, or the operation of a system in parallel flow instead of counterflow, degrades the thermodynamic performance of the system and increases the required system size (NTU) in comparison to a counterflow system operated without a dwell period.

• OSTI ID: 5353049
• Journal Information: Journal of Energy Resources Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Energy Resources Technology; (United States) Vol. 113:1; ISSN 0195-0738; ISSN JERTD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600* -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
DESIGN
ENERGY STORAGE
ENTROPY
EQUIPMENT
HEAT STORAGE
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OPERATION
OPTIMIZATION
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SENSIBLE HEAT STORAGE
STORAGE
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMICS