A lab-scale packed-bed system was used to test an industry scalable latent heat thermal energy storage (TES) system suitable for supplementing heat to a steam powered cycle. Metallic cylindrical capsules were filled with a eutectic of sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and potassium chloride (KCl) as the phase change material (PCM) for energy storage. The packed bed system consisted of a cylindrical storage tank with the cylindrical capsules arranged vertically. This system was modeled and validated. The charging and discharging efficiencies of different operating parameters were analyzed. The calculated ratio of exergy to energy efficiency was around 90%. The overall efficiency of the bed, however, was found to be low due to the losses through the packed bed. Possible losses and limitations of the system were analyzed, and recommendations were made for improved designs.

Volume Subject Area:
Renewables: Solar, Wind, Hydro, and Geothermal
Topics:
Axial flow, Storage tanks, Thermal energy storage, Cycles, Energy efficiency, Energy storage, Exergy, Heat, Latent heat, Phase change materials, Potassium, Sodium, Steam
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