An overview on design methodologies for liquid–solid PCM storage systems

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2015.07.119

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Volume 52, December 2015, Pages 289-307

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.07.119 Get rights and content

Abstract

Energy storage can facilitate the transition process from the actual energetic model to a model based on renewable energies. A lot of attention has been put in such technology, being the use of phase change materials (PCM) of high interest. However, design methodologies for PCM storage systems are still a limiting factor for its deployment. This paper compiles and structures the most common and promising design methodologies and highlights their usefulness and limitations. These methodologies are classified in six types: (1) empirical correlations and characterizing parameters, (2) dimensional analysis and correlations, (3) effectiveness–NTU, (4) Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD), (5) Conduction Transfer Functions (CTF), and (6) numerical models. Dimensionless correlations and effectiveness–NTU are the most common and straight-forward methods as well as the ones that offer more possibilities for general solutions. Empirical correlations and numerical models are problem based and difficult to generalize. On the other hand, the adaptation of LMTD and CTF to PCM systems still requires detailed research.

Introduction

In the past decades a lot of attention has been put in energy systems. The unsustainable energetic model and the scarcity of resources, as well as the contribution of fossil fuels to global warming resulted in a growing concern about energy efficiency and renewable sources [1].

One key technology to facilitate the implementation of renewable energies and to enhance energy efficiency is energy storage. It helps to improve energy management as well as to bridge the mismatch between energy production and demand, common in renewable systems [2].

Several technologies are available depending on the kind of energy that needs to be stored. Within them, thermal energy storage (TES) has been rapidly developing in the past years, with especial effort in latent heat storage systems [3], [4].

Latent heat takes advantage of solid/liquid phase change in order to store high amounts of energy with small volumes of material. Moreover, the energy is stored at an almost constant temperature, since the phase change process occurs at a very narrow temperature range. Depending on the application, a suitable phase change material (PCM) must be selected.

A lot of effort has been made in the development and testing of different PCM storage systems [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10]. Heat transfer is usually the main limitation in the design process and, besides, common design methodologies of heat exchangers and building envelopes are not always applicable due to the non-linear behavior of PCM. Thus, new design methods are necessary.

Usually, design methods for PCM systems are based on numerical models developed for each specific application [11]. This process strongly limits the implementation of such systems in real applications, since these tools are only used at research level. However, some straight-forward design methods are available, as well as commercial software that incorporate the capability to simulate PCM systems.

These methodologies are currently scattered in the literature, making their use difficult among architects and engineers and also for researchers to validate and extend them. Therefore, there is a need to compile and structure all this information in order to clearly present the available methodologies and its range of validity, and to identify new research opportunities.

This paper reviews the most common design methodologies, highlighting their limitations and exploring the different approaches available for its adaptation to PCM systems.

Section snippets

Requirements and considerations for the design

Many energy systems require of thermal energy storage, either for heat or cold, for a good performance. Up to date, most storage facilities use a single-phase storage material for that purpose. The use of latent heat increases the energy density of the storage with high temperature control close to the melting point. Nevertheless, some problems and requirements must be fulfilled.

Design methodologies

Several methodologies are commonly used to design both storage devices and building envelopes. Most of these methods rely on the linearity of conventional technologies which simplify the equations behind the phenomena. However, phase change materials are based on latent heat, which results in a non-linearity of the enthalpy–temperature function that strongly limits the application of conventional design methods.

In this section, different design methodologies proposed in the literature are

Future trends

In this paper the most common approaches used to design PCM systems have been reviewed and analyzed. Nevertheless, innovative methods are under development in order to face the new challenges of the future.

Environmental issues are of great concert for the society and a sustainable development requires not only the evaluation and design of efficient systems in terms of energy use, but also in terms of life cycle. Some work has been done in the past years regarding the evaluation of PCM systems

Conclusions

In the present paper, design methodologies for PCM systems are compiled, reviewed and structured, highlighting their usefulness and limitations. These methodologies are classified in six types: (1) empirical correlations and characterizing parameters, (2) dimensional analysis and correlations, (3) effectiveness–NTU, (4) Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD), (5) Conduction Transfer Functions (CTF), and (6) numerical models.

From these groups, dimensionless correlations and effectiveness–NTU are

Acknowledgments

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union׳s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007–2013) under Grant agreement no. PIRSES-GA-2013-610692 (INNOSTORAGE). This work was partially funded by the Spanish government (ENE2011-28269-C03-01 and ENE2011-22722). The authors would like to thank the Catalan Government for the quality accreditation given to their research group (2014 SGR 123).

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