A parametric study on possible fixed bed models for pcm and sensible heat storage

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 19; no. 7; pp. 757 - 788
• Main Authors: Ismail, K.A.R., Stuginsky Jr, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.07.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Energy conservation; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fixed bed modeling; Heat losses; Heat storage; Particle size analysis; pcm fixed bed storage; Problem solving; sensible heat storage; Thermal diffusion in solids; Thermal gradients; Transport and storage of energy; energy conservation; pcm fixed bed storage; Fixed bed modeling; sensible heat storage; Packed bed; Sensible heat storage; Latent heat storage; Running; Thermal energy storage; PCM material; Simulation model; Fixed bed
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/S1359-4311(98)00081-7

This paper presents the results of a comparative numerical investigation on packed bed thermal models suitable for sensible and latent heat thermal storage systems. Four basic groups of models were investigated, that is, the continuous solid phase models, Schumann's model, the single phase models and the thermal diffusion models or models with thermal gradient inside the particles. For each of these models a computer code was written and optimized. The models were first evaluated in relation to the computational time consumed to solve a specific test problem. The models were then compared in relation to the influence of particle size, void fraction, particle material, flow rate variations, working fluid inlet temperature variations and finally wall thermal losses. The results obtained were compared, analysed and discussed