An innovative latent thermal energy storage system encapsulated by ceramic PCM capsules for concentrated solar thermal energy plants

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H06810
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Energy engineering
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Bellan Selvan 新潟大学, 研究推進機構, 助教 (50785293)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-08-26 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: thermal energy storage / phase change material / latent heat storage / solar energy / concentrated solar power

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An experimental set up, consists of electrical heating furnace, PCM capsule and data acquisition system, has been built to study the phase-change process of the PCM encapsulated capsule. Since a large amount of heat transfer surface area can be obtained in a small volume, a packed bed thermal storage system filled with spherical PCM capsules has been considered as one of the effective methods. Hence, a spherical capsule has been made for packed bed system. PCM material was condensed in a spherical shape ceramic container. The PCM capsule was placed at the center of the heating furnace, and the temperature of the furnace was set more than 20℃ of the meting point of the PCM. The temperature at the center of the capsule was monitored using the thermocouples and data acquisition system. Thus, the complete melting behavior of the PCM capsule was investigated experimentally. A numerical model has been developed to simulate the melting process of the spherical capsule.

Free Research Field

thermal energy storage systems