Techno-economic assessment of mobilized thermal energy storage for distributed users: A case study in China

The mobilized thermal energy storage (M-TES) system is a promising alternative to conventional heating systems to meet the heat demand for distributed users. This paper provided a techno-economic assessment of the M-TES system based on a case study in China. According to the analysis of the design specifications of the heating system, the suitability of matching the M-TES with existing heating systems was analyzed. The results show that the M-TES is appropriate for use with heating systems with a fan-coil unit and under-floor pipe. Containers and operating strategies for the M-TES with different transportation schemes were also designed. The maximum allowed load of the M-TES container is 39 t according to the discussion of transportation regulations on the road. The cost and income of the M-TES in the study case were estimated, and the net present value (NPV) and payback period (PBP) were also calculated. The best operating strategy is the use of 2 containers and 4 cycles of container transportation per day, with a PBP of approximately 10 years. The M-TES is applicable for middle and small-scale heat users in China. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.