Maximization of performance in multi-tube latent heat storage – Optimization of fins topology, effect of materials selection and flow arrangements

Pizzolato, Alberto; Sharma, Ashesh; Ge, Ruihuan; Maute, Kurt; Verda, Vittorio; Sciacovelli, Adriano

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2019.02.155

Title: Maximization of performance in multi-tube latent heat storage – Optimization of fins topology, effect of materials selection and flow arrangements

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Abstract

This paper addresses the need of multi-tube latent heat thermal storage (LHTES) systems with enhanced heat transfer performance. Uniquely, this work draws from topology optimization method for thermal energy storage to search for the optimal configuration of fins in multi-tube LHTES systems with different phase change materials (PCMs), flow arrangements and design constraints. The design freedom of topology optimization allows the discovery of innovative LHTES designs and elucidate the link between design and physical processes occurring during charging/discharging. Three key results of this study are: i) the optimized fin design is tightly connected to the type of storage duty cycle, which demonstrates the necessity to account for realistic operating conditions in the optimization process. ii) The fin material should be chosen in parallel with the layout of the fins and not sequentially as commonly done; this indicates that the optimization of LHTES systems is a co-design challenge. iii) Topology optimized multi-tube LHTES units surpass in performance fins optimized for a single-tube configuration in a multi-tube unit. Finally, this work demonstrates for the first time the manufacturability of topology-optimized LHTES units by using 3D printing.

Authors:

Pizzolato, Alberto ^[1]; Sharma, Ashesh ^[2]; Ge, Ruihuan ^[3]; Maute, Kurt ^[4]; Verda, Vittorio ^[1]; Sciacovelli, Adriano ^[3]

Politecnico di Torino, Turin (Italy)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Univ. of Birmingham (United Kingdom)
Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)

Publication Date:: Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 EST 2019

Research Org.:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Water Technologies Office (EE-4W)

OSTI Identifier:: 1498716

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5000-72676
Journal ID: ISSN 0360-5442; MainId:20746;UUID:b0f211aa-ecd6-e811-9c19-ac162d87dfe5;MainAdminID:9222

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Energy (Oxford)

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Name: Energy (Oxford); Journal Volume: 203; Journal Issue: 15; Journal ID: ISSN 0360-5442

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 25 ENERGY STORAGE; thermal energy storage; phase change materials; heat transfer intensification; topology optimization; energy storage

Citation Formats


                    Pizzolato, Alberto, Sharma, Ashesh, Ge, Ruihuan, Maute, Kurt, Verda, Vittorio, and Sciacovelli, Adriano. Maximization of performance in multi-tube latent heat storage – Optimization of fins topology, effect of materials selection and flow arrangements.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.energy.2019.02.155.

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                    Pizzolato, Alberto, Sharma, Ashesh, Ge, Ruihuan, Maute, Kurt, Verda, Vittorio, & Sciacovelli, Adriano. Maximization of performance in multi-tube latent heat storage – Optimization of fins topology, effect of materials selection and flow arrangements.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.02.155

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                    Pizzolato, Alberto, Sharma, Ashesh, Ge, Ruihuan, Maute, Kurt, Verda, Vittorio, and Sciacovelli, Adriano. Tue .  
"Maximization of performance in multi-tube latent heat storage – Optimization of fins topology, effect of materials selection and flow arrangements".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.02.155.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1498716.

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@article{osti_1498716,

  title        = {Maximization of performance in multi-tube latent heat storage – Optimization of fins topology, effect of materials selection and flow arrangements},

  author       = {Pizzolato, Alberto and Sharma, Ashesh and Ge, Ruihuan and Maute, Kurt and Verda, Vittorio and Sciacovelli, Adriano},

  abstractNote = {This paper addresses the need of multi-tube latent heat thermal storage (LHTES) systems with enhanced heat transfer performance. Uniquely, this work draws from topology optimization method for thermal energy storage to search for the optimal configuration of fins in multi-tube LHTES systems with different phase change materials (PCMs), flow arrangements and design constraints. The design freedom of topology optimization allows the discovery of innovative LHTES designs and elucidate the link between design and physical processes occurring during charging/discharging. Three key results of this study are: i) the optimized fin design is tightly connected to the type of storage duty cycle, which demonstrates the necessity to account for realistic operating conditions in the optimization process. ii) The fin material should be chosen in parallel with the layout of the fins and not sequentially as commonly done; this indicates that the optimization of LHTES systems is a co-design challenge. iii) Topology optimized multi-tube LHTES units surpass in performance fins optimized for a single-tube configuration in a multi-tube unit. Finally, this work demonstrates for the first time the manufacturability of topology-optimized LHTES units by using 3D printing.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.energy.2019.02.155},

  journal      = {Energy (Oxford)},

  number       = 15,

  volume       = 203,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 EST 2019},

  month        = {Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 EST 2019}

}

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