Development of a staged particle heat exchanger for particle thermal energy storage systems

A new concept of a staged moving bed particle heat exchanger comprising flow constrictions in multiple short stages is presented. This concept allows for a simpler design, and potentially improves particle side heat transfer as found in heat transfer modelling and experiment results. Staging the particle heat exchanger into a series of short sections could prevent the full thermal development of granular flow. The incorporated flow constriction arrangement also allows renewal of the thermal entrance zone and re-mixing of particles at each stage, thus enhancing the particle-side heat transfer coefficient.

Automated summary

The new concept of a staged moving bed particle heat exchanger with flow constrictions in multiple short stages simplifies design and potentially improves heat transfer efficiency on the particle side. By breaking the heat exchanger into short sections, thermal development of the granular flow is prevented, and the heat transfer coefficient on the particle side is enhanced through renewal of the thermal entrance zone and re-mixing of particles at each stage.