Thermal storage has been considered as an important measure to extend the operation of a concentrated solar power plant by providing more electricity and meeting the peak demand of power in the time period from dusk to late night everyday, or even providing power on cloudy days. Discussed in this paper is thermal energy storage in a thermocline tank having a solid filler material. To provide more knowledge for designing and operating of such a thermocline storage system, this paper firstly presents the application of method of characteristics for numerically predicting the heat charging and discharging process in a packed bed thermocline storage tank. Nondimensional analysis of governing equations and numerical solution schemes using the method of characteristics were presented. The numerical method proved to be very efficient, accurate; required minimal computations; and proved versatile in simulating various operational conditions for which analytical methods cannot always provide solutions. Available analytical solutions under simple boundary and initial conditions were used to validate the numerical modeling and computation. A validation of the modeling by comparing the simulation results to experimental test data from literature also confirmed the effectiveness of the model and the related numerical solution method. Finally, design procedures using the numerical modeling tool were discussed and other issues related to operation of a thermocline storage system were also studied.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: peiwen@email.arizona.edu
Article navigation
Research Papers
Analysis of Heat Storage and Delivery of a Thermocline Tank Having Solid Filler Material
Jon T. Van Lew,
Jon T. Van Lew
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering,
University of Arizona
, Tucson, AZ 85721
Search for other works by this author on:
Peiwen Li,
Peiwen Li
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: peiwen@email.arizona.edu
University of Arizona
, Tucson, AZ 85721
Search for other works by this author on:
Cho Lik Chan,
Cho Lik Chan
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering,
University of Arizona
, Tucson, AZ 85721
Search for other works by this author on:
Wafaa Karaki,
Wafaa Karaki
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering,
University of Arizona
, Tucson, AZ 85721
Search for other works by this author on:
Jake Stephens
Jake Stephens
US Solar Holdings LLC
, Tucson, AZ 85711
Search for other works by this author on:
Jon T. Van Lew
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering,
University of Arizona
, Tucson, AZ 85721
Peiwen Li
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering,
University of Arizona
, Tucson, AZ 85721e-mail: peiwen@email.arizona.edu
Cho Lik Chan
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering,
University of Arizona
, Tucson, AZ 85721
Wafaa Karaki
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering,
University of Arizona
, Tucson, AZ 85721
Jake Stephens
US Solar Holdings LLC
, Tucson, AZ 85711J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2011, 133(2): 021003 (10 pages)
Published Online: March 22, 2011
Article history
Received:
January 5, 2010
Revised:
February 13, 2011
Online:
March 22, 2011
Published:
March 22, 2011
Citation
Van Lew, J. T., Li, P., Chan, C. L., Karaki, W., and Stephens, J. (March 22, 2011). "Analysis of Heat Storage and Delivery of a Thermocline Tank Having Solid Filler Material." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2011; 133(2): 021003. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4003685
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Mass Flow Control Strategy for Maximum Energy Extraction in Thermal Energy Storage Tanks
J. Sol. Energy Eng (December 2025)
Exergy Optimization of a Hybrid Multi-Evaporative Desalination Plant Powered by Solar and Geothermal Energy
J. Sol. Energy Eng (June 2025)
Correlation for Maximum Heat Transfer Between Fluidized Bed and Its Wall and Application to Solar Power Plants
J. Sol. Energy Eng (June 2025)
Related Articles
Guest Editorial
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2009)
Development of a Molten-Salt Thermocline Thermal Storage System for Parabolic Trough Plants
J. Sol. Energy Eng (May,2002)
Testing of Thermocline Filler Materials and Molten-Salt Heat Transfer Fluids for Thermal Energy Storage Systems in Parabolic Trough Power Plants
J. Sol. Energy Eng (February,2005)
Numerical and Experimental Investigation on a Combined Sensible and Latent Heat Storage Unit Integrated With Solar Water Heating System
J. Sol. Energy Eng (November,2009)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Numerical Study on Dynamic Discharging Performance of Packed Bed Using Spherical Capsules Containing N-Tetradecane
Inaugural US-EU-China Thermophysics Conference-Renewable Energy 2009 (UECTC 2009 Proceedings)
Numerical Study on Dynamic Charging Performance of Packed Bed Using Spherical Capsules Containing N-Tetradecane
Inaugural US-EU-China Thermophysics Conference-Renewable Energy 2009 (UECTC 2009 Proceedings)
Heat Transfer Enhancement for Thermal Energy Storage Using Metal Foams Embedded within Phase Change Materials (PCMS)
Inaugural US-EU-China Thermophysics Conference-Renewable Energy 2009 (UECTC 2009 Proceedings)