TY - JOUR
T1 - An enthalpy formulation for thermocline with encapsulated PCM thermal storage and benchmark solution using the method of characteristics
AU - Tumilowicz, Eric
AU - Chan, Cho Lik
AU - Li, Peiwen
AU - Xu, Ben
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors are grateful for the partial supports from the U.S. Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory under DOE Award: DE-FC36-08GO18155 and the Idaho National Laboratory under award number 00095573.
PY - 2014/12
Y1 - 2014/12
N2 - An enthalpy-based model of thermocline operation applicable to both single phase and encapsulated phase change filler materials was developed. Numerical simulation of the model was created using MATLAB. The method of characteristics was applied in space and time, mapping fluid temperature and filler enthalpy to a numerical grid, and in the case of a melting filler, allowed accurate tracking of PCM filler phase state interfaces to fractional positions of the grid. Careful consideration of various possible heat transfer conditions along with placement of PCM filler phase state interfaces in the numerical grid allowed for great versatility and accuracy in model application. Input of fluid and filler properties, tank size, time of operation, and initial and boundary conditions to the program returned a full representation to any desired amount of charge/discharge processes or cycles. The paper covers mathematical formulation, certain intricacies of numerical implementation, model verification, and the beginnings of application to prove proper operation and generality.
AB - An enthalpy-based model of thermocline operation applicable to both single phase and encapsulated phase change filler materials was developed. Numerical simulation of the model was created using MATLAB. The method of characteristics was applied in space and time, mapping fluid temperature and filler enthalpy to a numerical grid, and in the case of a melting filler, allowed accurate tracking of PCM filler phase state interfaces to fractional positions of the grid. Careful consideration of various possible heat transfer conditions along with placement of PCM filler phase state interfaces in the numerical grid allowed for great versatility and accuracy in model application. Input of fluid and filler properties, tank size, time of operation, and initial and boundary conditions to the program returned a full representation to any desired amount of charge/discharge processes or cycles. The paper covers mathematical formulation, certain intricacies of numerical implementation, model verification, and the beginnings of application to prove proper operation and generality.
KW - Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
KW - Enthalpy method
KW - Latent heat storage system
KW - Method of characteristics
KW - Phase change material (PCM)
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2014.08.017
DO - 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2014.08.017
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84906827155
VL - 79
SP - 362
EP - 377
JO - International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
JF - International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
SN - 0017-9310
ER -