Anharmonic analysis of a time-dependent packed bed thermocline

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1978 · Q. Appl. Math.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6681428

Margolis, S B

A vectorized separation of variables approach is applied to a coupled pair of parabolic partial differential equations describing the degradation of a thermocline in a packed bed thermal storage tank. The time-dependent quasi-one-dimensional model includes the effects of finite tank length, thermal conduction in the direction parallel to the tank walls, and heat transfer between the fluid and solid components of the bed. For certain classes of boundary conditions, the analysis leads to an eigenvalue problem for the spatial dependence of the fluid and solid temperatures in the bed. The eignevalues and corresponding eigenfunctions are readily calculated, and completeness of the eigenfunctions follows from a transformation to an integral equation by the construction of a Green's tensor function. The method is illustrated by an example which arises in the analysis of the thermal storage subsystem of a central solar receiver power plant.

• Research Organization: Applied Mathematics Division 8322, Sandia Laboratories
• OSTI ID: 6681428
• Journal Information: Q. Appl. Math.; (United States), Vol. 37:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
ENERGY STORAGE
THERMAL CONDUCTION
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
EIGENFUNCTIONS
EIGENVALUES
GREEN FUNCTION
TIME DEPENDENCE
ENERGY TRANSFER
FUNCTIONS
HEAT TRANSFER
POWER PLANTS
STORAGE
640410* - Fluid Physics- General Fluid Dynamics
140700 - Solar Thermal Power Systems