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Applied Sciences
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Design and System Integration of Thermal Energy Storage
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Design and System Integration of Thermal Energy Storage

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 19190

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Valeria Palomba

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Council of Research, Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies (CNR ITAE), 98126 Messina, Italy
Interests: thermal energy conversion and storage; renewable energy; renewables system integration; HVAC systems; sorption systems; heat pumps; thermal energy storage; hybrid systems; polygeneration systems; energy system simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mohammad Saffari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
UCD Energy Institue, and School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Interests: energy efficiency in buildings; thermal energy storage; thermal comfort and occupants behavior; energy simulation of buildings; urban energy simulation; optimization of energy systems; demand-side management (DSM); renewable energy; HVAC systems; building automation and smart control; natural ventilation and hybrid systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The worldwide commitment towards cleaner development by scaling down hazardous carbon emissions to avoid dangerous climate change calls for solutions that allow for the exploitation of renewable energy sources, and waste heat streams, reducing the energy consumption of systems in residential and industrial sectors. On the other hand, increasing human thermal comfort in micro and macro environments is of critical importance and requires innovative and advanced technologies.

One of the enabling technologies in this view is thermal energy storage (TES), which represents an essential component in a system architecture devoted to the maximisation of the share of renewables and energy efficiency. The intense research devoted to TES has led to the commercialization of different solutions, as well as the advancement of several TES systems for the most various applications from lab-scale towards full-scale real applications.

This Special Issue intends to provide a forum for the dissemination of works that provide an insight into the design process of TES, as well as its integration in different systems, from domestic to industrial to transportation sectors, setting the path towards the advancement of the field and its harmonization with the overall energy system sector.

To this aim, we encourage works from both industry and academia focusing on but not limited to the following topics:

  • Design methodologies for TES;
  • Numerical simulation and optimisation techniques;
  • Data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) for TES applications ;
  • Active TES systems;
  • Passive TES systems;
  • Application of TES in the residential sector;
  • Application of TES in the industrial sector;
  • Thermal energy storage for electronics and power devices;
  • Thermal energy storage application in vehicles;
  • Thermal energy storage applications for aircraft applications;
  • Thermal energy storage for aerospace applications;
  • Development of control strategies for TES;
  • Life cycle analysis of energy systems with TES;
  • Thermal storage for human thermoregulation and clothing;
  • Thermal energy storage for demand response;
  • Thermal energy storage for grid applications;
  • Thermal energy storage for renewable energy integration;
  • Thermal energy storage for urban heat island (UHI) mitigation;
  • Thermal energy storage for sustainable communities;
  • Thermal energy storage for district heating and cooling applications;
  • Thermal energy storage for data center application.
Dr. Valeria Palomba
Dr. Mohammad Saffari
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Storage design
  • Storage systems
  • Integration with energy systems
  • Heating and cooling
  • Grid integration
  • Measurement and simulation methods
  • Renewable energy

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2495 KiB  
Article
Shell-and-Tube Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Design Methodology with Material Selection, Storage Performance Evaluation, and Cost Minimization
by Lizhong Yang, Haoxin Xu, Fabrizio Cola, Bakytzhan Akhmetov, Antoni Gil, Luisa F. Cabeza and Alessandro Romagnoli
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(9), 4180; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11094180 - 4 May 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3923
Abstract
Shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage units employ phase change materials to store and release heat at a nearly constant temperature, deliver high effectiveness of heat transfer, as well as high charging/discharging power. Even though many studies have investigated the material formulation, heat [...] Read more.
Shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage units employ phase change materials to store and release heat at a nearly constant temperature, deliver high effectiveness of heat transfer, as well as high charging/discharging power. Even though many studies have investigated the material formulation, heat transfer through simulation, and experimental studies, there is limited research dedicated to the storage unit design methodology. This study proposes a comprehensive methodology that includes the material assessment with multi-attribute decision-making and multi-objective decision-making tools, epsilon-NTU method, and cost minimization using Genetic Algorithm. The methodology is validated by a series of experimental results, and implemented in the optimization of a storage unit for solar absorption chiller application. A unit cost of as low as USD 8396 per unit is reported with a power of 1.42 kW. The methodology proves to be an efficient, reliable, and systematic tool to fulfill the preliminary design of shell-and-tube LHTES before the computational fluid dynamics or detailed experimental studies are engaged. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and System Integration of Thermal Energy Storage)
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16 pages, 2647 KiB  
Article
On the Development of Thermochemical Hydrogen Storage: An Experimental Study of the Kinetics of the Redox Reactions under Different Operating Conditions
by Bernd Gamisch, Matthias Gaderer and Belal Dawoud
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(4), 1623; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041623 - 11 Feb 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2433
Abstract
This work aims at investigating the reduction/oxidation (redox) reaction kinetics on iron oxide pellets under different operating conditions of thermochemical hydrogen storage. In order to reduce the iron oxide pellets (90% Fe2O3, 10% stabilizing cement), hydrogen (H2) [...] Read more.
This work aims at investigating the reduction/oxidation (redox) reaction kinetics on iron oxide pellets under different operating conditions of thermochemical hydrogen storage. In order to reduce the iron oxide pellets (90% Fe2O3, 10% stabilizing cement), hydrogen (H2) is applied in different concentrations with nitrogen (N2), as a carrier gas, at temperatures between between 700 ∘C and 900 ∘C, thus simulating the charging phase. The discharge phase is triggered by the flow of a mixture out of steam (H2O) and N2 at different concentrations in the same temperature range, resulting in the oxidizing of the previously reduced pellets. All investigations were carried out in a thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA) with a flow rate of 250mL/min. To describe the obtained kinetic results, a simplified analytical model, based on the linear driving force model, was developed. The investigated iron oxide pellets showed a stable redox performance of 23.8% weight reduction/gain, which corresponds to a volumetric storage density of 2.8kWh/(L bulk), also after the 29 performed redox cycles. Recalling that there is no H2 stored during the storage phase but iron, the introduced hydrogen storage technology is deemed very promising for applications in urban areas as day-night or seasonal storage for green hydrogen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and System Integration of Thermal Energy Storage)
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23 pages, 7426 KiB  
Article
Optimal Selection of Thermal Energy Storage Technology for Fossil-Free Steam Production in the Processing Industry
by Anton Beck, Alexis Sevault, Gerwin Drexler-Schmid, Michael Schöny and Hanne Kauko
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(3), 1063; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11031063 - 25 Jan 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3753
Abstract
Due to increased share of fluctuating renewable energy sources in future decarbonized, electricity-driven energy systems, participating in the electricity markets yields the potential for industry to reduce its energy costs and emissions. A key enabling technology is thermal energy storage combined with power-to-heat [...] Read more.
Due to increased share of fluctuating renewable energy sources in future decarbonized, electricity-driven energy systems, participating in the electricity markets yields the potential for industry to reduce its energy costs and emissions. A key enabling technology is thermal energy storage combined with power-to-heat technologies, allowing the industries to shift their energy demands to periods with low electricity prices. This paper presents an optimization-based method which helps to select and dimension the cost-optimal thermal energy storage technology for a given industrial steam process. The storage technologies considered in this work are latent heat thermal energy storage, Ruths steam storage, molten salt storage and sensible concrete storage. Due to their individual advantages and disadvantages, the applicability of these storage technologies strongly depends on the process requirements. The proposed method is based on mathematical programming and simplified transient simulations and is demonstrated using different scenarios for energy prices, i.e., various types of renewable energy generation, and varying heat demand, e.g., due to batch operation or non-continuous production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and System Integration of Thermal Energy Storage)
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20 pages, 4284 KiB  
Article
Techno-Economic Analysis of a Heat Pump Cycle Including a Three-Media Refrigerant/Phase Change Material/Water Heat Exchanger in the Hot Superheated Section for Efficient Domestic Hot Water Generation
by Johann Emhofer, Klemens Marx, Tilman Barz, Felix Hochwallner, Luisa F. Cabeza, Gabriel Zsembinszki, Andreas Strehlow, Birgo Nitsch, Michael Wiesflecker and Werner Pink
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(21), 7873; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10217873 - 6 Nov 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2634
Abstract
Integration of a three-media refrigerant/phase change material (PCM)/water heat exchanger (RPW-HEX) in the hot superheated section of a heat pump (HP) system is a promising approach to save energy for domestic hot water (DHW) generation in multi-family houses. The RPW-HEX works as a [...] Read more.
Integration of a three-media refrigerant/phase change material (PCM)/water heat exchanger (RPW-HEX) in the hot superheated section of a heat pump (HP) system is a promising approach to save energy for domestic hot water (DHW) generation in multi-family houses. The RPW-HEX works as a desuperheater and as a latent thermal energy storage in the system. The latent thermal energy storage is charged during heating and cooling operation and discharged for DHW production. For this purpose, the water side of the RPW-HEX is connected to decentralized DHW storage devices. DHW consumption, building standards and climate, energy prices, material costs, and production costs are the constraints for the selection of the optimal storage size and RPW-HEX design. This contribution presents the techno-economic analysis of the RPW-HEX integrated into an R32 air source HP. With the aid of experimentally validated dynamic computer models, the optimal sizing of the RPW-HEX storage is discussed to maximize energy savings and to minimize the investment costs. The results are discussed in the context of a return of investment analysis, practical implementation aspects and energetic potential of the novel technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and System Integration of Thermal Energy Storage)
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18 pages, 1503 KiB  
Article
Techno-Economic Analysis of a Solar Thermal Plant for Large-Scale Water Pasteurization
by Alberto Bologna, Matteo Fasano, Luca Bergamasco, Matteo Morciano, Francesca Bersani, Pietro Asinari, Lorenza Meucci and Eliodoro Chiavazzo
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(14), 4771; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10144771 - 11 Jul 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2803
Abstract
Water pasteurization has the potential to overcome some of the drawbacks of more conventional disinfection techniques such as chlorination, ozonation and ultraviolet radiation treatment. However, the high throughput of community water systems requires energy-intensive processes, and renewable energy sources have the potential to [...] Read more.
Water pasteurization has the potential to overcome some of the drawbacks of more conventional disinfection techniques such as chlorination, ozonation and ultraviolet radiation treatment. However, the high throughput of community water systems requires energy-intensive processes, and renewable energy sources have the potential to improve the sustainability of water pasteurization plants. In case of water pasteurization by solar thermal treatment, the continuity of operation is limited by the intermittent availability of the solar irradiance. Here we show that this problem can be addressed by a proper design of the plant layout, which includes a thermal energy storage system and an auxiliary gas boiler. Based on a target pasteurization protocol validated by experiments, a complete lumped-component model of the plant is developed and used to determine the operating parameters and size of the components for a given delivery flow rate. Finally, we report an economic analysis of the proposed plant layout, which allows its optimization for different scenarios based on two design variables, namely the solar multiple and the duration of the thermal energy storage. Based on the analyzed cases, it is found that the proposed plant layouts may yield a unit cost of water treatment ranging from ≈32 EUR-cents m−3 to ≈25 EUR-cents m−3. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and System Integration of Thermal Energy Storage)
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17 pages, 5864 KiB  
Article
Off-Grid Power Plant Load Management System Applied in a Rural Area of Africa
by Xinlin Wang, Herb S. Rhee and Sung-Hoon Ahn
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(12), 4171; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10124171 - 17 Jun 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2588
Abstract
To address the energy shortage problem in rural areas, significant attention has been paid to off-grid solar power plants. However, ensuring the security of these plants, improving the utilization rate of energy and, finally, proposing a sustainable energy development scheme for rural areas [...] Read more.
To address the energy shortage problem in rural areas, significant attention has been paid to off-grid solar power plants. However, ensuring the security of these plants, improving the utilization rate of energy and, finally, proposing a sustainable energy development scheme for rural areas are still challenges. Under this, this work proposes a novel regression model-based stand-alone power plant load management system. This not only shows great potential in increasing load prediction in the real-time process but also provides effective anomaly detection for improving energy efficiency. The proposed predictor is a hybrid model that can effectively reduce the influence of fitting problems. Meanwhile, the proposed detector exhibits an efficient pattern matching process. That is, for the first time, a support vector machine (SVM) and the fruit fly optimization algorithm (FOA) are combined and applied to the field of energy consumption anomaly detection. This method was applied to manage the load of an off-grid solar power plant in a rural area in Tanzania with more than 50 households. In this paper, both the prediction and detection of our method are proven to exhibit better results than those of some previous works, and a comprehensive discussion on the establishment of a real-time energy management system has also been proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and System Integration of Thermal Energy Storage)
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