Experimental and numerical study on the thermocline behavior of packed-bed storage tank with sensible fillers

Packed-bed thermocline tank with sensible fillers is a cost-effective option for thermal energy storage (TES). In real charging and discharging, the thermocline stability is disturbed and thermocline expansion occurs due to various factors, leading to the decreased global performances of storage tank. The purpose of this work is to experimentally and numerically study the impact of inlet configuration and insulation on the thermocline expansion in a lab-scale tank under various operating parameters. Firstly, a DC-3P model considering the wall effect and heat loss is developed and validated by experimental results, capable of precisely predicting the performance of storage tank under the tested conditions. Especially, the temperature difference between the fluid and solid filler center is detected both in experiments and in modeling, indicating the existence of temperature gradient inside large solid particles. Results also show that the injecting flow causes the radial temperature non-uniformity and thermocline expansion at the near-entrance region of the tank, but its effect on the global per-formance of the storage tank is rather limited. Good insulation of the tank could reduce the thermocline thickness by about 20%, and increase the energy efficiency and the capacity ratio by 5-7% and 3-5%, respectively.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of inlet configuration and insulation on the thermocline expansion in a lab-scale thermal energy storage tank. The results show that injecting flow causes temperature non-uniformity and thermocline expansion at the near-entrance region of the tank, but has limited effect on the overall performance. Good insulation reduces thermocline thickness and improves energy efficiency and capacity ratio.