MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF A SUSTAINABLE THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM FOR CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER (CSP) PLANT USING ECO-MATERIALS

Abstract

This paper addresses industry sector like concentrating solar power (CSP) plant used for electricity generation. Up till now, this technology is not affordable for developing countries where CSP potential is good. To contribute on the improvement of CSP technology, ceramic balls using sand clay and industry waste (coal bottom ash) have been developed for sensible heat storage. In this paper, the one dimensional two phase model has been chosen to predict the behaviour of the ceramic oil and vegetal oil (Jatropha curcas oil) thermal energy storage system. The results show that high porosity (> 45%), filler material with big size and high fluid velocity are not required for thermal energy storage because of the degradation of the thermocline. Taking into account a tank ratio H/D of 2.5 and a total stored energy of the results show a possibility to reach a discharge time of 9 hours with discharge efficiency of more than 90%. The thermocline thickness variation under the variation of fluid velocity, particle diameter, tank porosity shows that for an effective thermal energy storage system, the thermocline maximal thickness is around one third of the packed-bed height. To conclude, the developed ceramic ball and Jatropha curcas oil could be considered as an innovative and cost-effective for thermal energy storage in CSP or other applications like solar cooker.