Performance enhancement of thermal energy storage units for plant factory

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2024.0153

Abstract

Abstract:

To overcome the shortcomings of low thermal conductivity of PCM, a heat transfer enhancement approach of metal foam combined with metal fins is introduced for tube-shell latent energy storage units (LESU). The metal foam is partially filled in the LESU to further accelerate the heat transfer process during energy storage. Various configuration of metal foam is examined in this work. Based on the enthalpy-porosity method, the melting process of PCM enhanced by metal fins and metal foam in a LESU is studied numerically. The dynamic melting process, temperature response, dimensionless heat storage capacity, and economical efficiency of the LESU with different configuration of metal foam are compared. The results show that metal foam is highly effective in enhancing the energy storage process in PCM that the melting time of PCM can be shortened by up to 85%. The filling position of foam metal plays a crucial role in its enhancement performance. The optimal configuration of metal foam is to fill the metal foam between the tip of the fin which is away from the heat transfer fluid and the shell of LESU. The thermal energy storage capacity per unit time in the LESU with optimal configuration of metal foam is 6.5 times that of LESU without foam metal. Based on the optimal configured LESU, the variation of the liquid fraction of PCM under different heating temperatures are calculated and nondimensionalized. A fitting formula for predicting the melting process of PCM based on Fourier number (Fo) and Stefan number (Ste) is proposed. This work is beneficial for the development of solid-liquid phase change thermal storage technology and provides reference and guidance for the design of solar photovoltaic LESU applied in plant factories.

Key words: plant factory, thermal energy storage, phase change material, performance enhancement

CLC Number:

TK 51

Qun GE, Tao LIANG, Bin HOU, Wanhong WANG, Long ZHANG, Liangyu WU, Chengbin ZHANG, Xiangdong LIU. Performance enhancement of thermal energy storage units for plant factory[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, doi: 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2024.0153.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

References 20

1	GRAAMANS L, VAN DEN DOBBELSTEEN A, MEINEN E, et al. Plant factories; crop transpiration and energy balance[J]. Agricultural Systems, 2017, 153: 138-147.
2	陈慧子, 石惠娴, 裴晓梅等. 太阳能光伏-地源热泵式供能植物工厂空调系统[J]. 建筑节能, 2013, 41(11): 1-8+20.
	CHEN H Z, SHI H X, PEI X M, et al. Integrated Solar Photovoltaic and Ground Source Heat Pump Air-condition System of the Plant Factory[J]. Building Energy Efficiency, 2013, 41(11): 1-8+20.
3	KIKUCHI Y, KANEMATSU Y, YOSHIKAWA N, et al. Environmental and resource use analysis of plant factories with energy technology options: A case study in Japan[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018, 186: 703-717.
4	PEREIRA DA CUNHA J, EAMES P. Thermal energy storage for low and medium temperature applications using phase change materials – A review[J]. Applied Energy, 2016, 177: 227-238.
5	杨玉清. 相变储热技术在绿色建筑中的实践与应用[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2023, 12(12): 3886-3888.
	YANG Y Q. Application of new phase change energy storage materials in building engineering[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(12): 3886-3888.
6	罗意彬, 段文超, 严景好等. 双翅片矩形相变储能单元蓄热性能实验研究[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2024, 13(2): 405-415.
	LUO Y B, DUAN W C, YAN J H, et al. Experimental study on heat storage performance of a double-fin rectangular phase change energy storage unit [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2024, 13(2): 405-415.
7	TEGGAR M, LAOUER A, ARICI M, et al. Heat transfer enhancement of ice storage systems: a systematic review of the literature[J]. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 2022, 147(21): 11611-11632.
8	侯立强, 阎帅, 钮晓博等. 基于主动旋转的螺旋翅片储热单元传热性能优化分析[J]. 电力科技与环保, 2023,39(6): 553-560.
	HOU L Q, YAN S, NIU X B, et al. Analysis of the heat transfer performance of spiral fin heat storage units under active rotation conditions[J]. Electric Power Technology and Environmental Protection, 2023,39(6): 553-560.
9	ZHANG C, SUN Q, CHEN Y. Solidification behaviors and parametric optimization of finned shell-tube ice storage units[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2020, 146: 118836.
10	NAPLOCHA K, DMITRUK A, KACZMAR J, et al. Effects of cellular metals on the performances and durability of composite heat storage systems[J]. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2017, 114: 1214-1219.
11	ACIR A, CANLI M E. Investigation of fin application effects on melting time in a latent thermal energy storage system with phase change material (PCM)[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2018, 144: 1071-1080.
12	SCIACOVELLI A, GAGLIARDI F, VERDA V. Maximization of performance of a PCM latent heat storage system with innovative fins[J]. Applied Energy, 2015, 137: 707-715.
13	吴梁玉, 孙清, 吕浩男等. 翅片管强化方腔蓄冰性能的数值研究[J]. 东南大学学报(自然科学版), 2018, 48(4): 639-645.
	WU L Y, SUN Q, LV H N, et al. Numerical study on enhancement of ice storage performance in rectangular tank by finned tube[J]. Journal of Southeast University(Natural Science Edition), 2018, 48(4): 639-645.
14	LOU X, WANG H. Role of copper foam on solidification performance of ice-cool storage sphere system[J]. Journal of Energy Storage, 2022, 47: 103552.
15	YU C, PENG Q, LIU X, et al. Role of metal foam on ice storage performance for a cold thermal energy storage (CTES) system[J]. Journal of Energy Storage, 2020, 28: 101201.
16	LOU X, WANG H, XIANG H. Solidification performance enhancement of encapsulated ice storage system by fins and copper foam[J]. International Journal of Refrigeration, 2022, 134: 293-303.
17	XU Y, LI M J, ZHENG Z J, et al. Melting performance enhancement of phase change material by a limited amount of metal foam: Configurational optimization and economic assessment[J]. Applied Energy, 2018, 212: 868-880.
18	WANG H, YING Q, LICHTFOUSE E, et al. Effect of filling configurations on melting heat transfer characteristic of phase change materials partially filled with metal foam. Journal of Energy Storage, 2023, 69: 107858.
19	YU C, HUANG Y P, ZHANG C B, Role of metal foam in solidification performance for a latent heat storage unit[J], International Journal of Energy Research, 2020, 44: 2110-2125.
20	TIAN Y, ZHAO C Y. A numerical investigation of heat transfer in phase change materials (PCMs) embedded in porous metals[J]. Energy. 2011; 36: 5539-5546.

[1]	Hongbing CHEN, Yuhang LIU, Congcong WANG, Men LI, Yan ZHANG, Haoyang LU, Chunyang LI. Properties of composite shape-stabilized phase change materials incorporating docosane and dodecyl alcohol with added expanded graphite [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2024, 13(2): 396-404.
[2]	Mengqiong SONG, Yu PENG, Ziqiang LIAO. Research on battery thermal management based on electrochemical model [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2024, 13(2): 578-585.
[3]	Peng NI, Shihao CAO. Melting heat storage properties of metal honeycomb/paraffin composite phase change materials [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2024, 13(2): 425-435.
[4]	Jiangtian ZHU, Yuan ZHANG, Yibin LUO, Huiting YANG, Jie LI, Xiaoqin SUN. Optimization of 5G communication base station cabinet based on heat storage of phase change material [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(9): 2789-2798.
[5]	Min ZHAO, Yang LI, Jie CAI, Weibin KANG, Lei LIU. Experimental study on the performance of capillary phase-change energy storage tank for civil building [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(8): 2626-2637.
[6]	Jinghao YAN, Jie LI, Yiming LI, Xiaoqin SUN, Lina XI, Changwei JIANG. Numerical simulation study on heat storage performance of composite phase-change units based on gradient-porosity metal foam [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(8): 2424-2434.
[7]	Qi ZHANG, Yinlei LI, Yanfang LI, Jun SONG, Xuehong WU, Chongyang LIU, Xueling ZHANG. Preparation and thermal characterization of expanded graphite/multiwalled carbon nanotube-based eutectic salt-composite phase change materials [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(8): 2435-2443.
[8]	Qi ZHANG, Chongyang LIU, Jun SONG, Xueling ZHANG, Yinlei LI, Yanfang LI. Progress in synthesis and application of microcapsule phase-change materials [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(4): 1110-1130.
[9]	Hongbing CHEN, Xuening GAO, Tao LIU, Congcong WANG, Rui ZHAO, Junhui SUN, Chuanling WANG, Di HE. Performance of a solar PV/T system applying a paraffin/graphene oxide composite phase change material [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(3): 661-668.
[10]	Wei LIU, Zhenming LI, Mingyang LIU, Cenyu YANG, Chao MEI, Ying LI. Review of high-temperature phase change heat storage material preparation and applications [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(2): 398-430.
[11]	Shigang LUO, Wei ZHANG, Weiwu LI, Yongli BAI. A day-ahead optimized operation of integrated energy system and prosumers with flexible economic regulation of electric/thermal storage [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(2): 486-495.
[12]	Xueqing SHEN, Wei CHEN. Thermal management performance of batteries with embedded tree-like fins for phase transition layers [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(2): 459-467.
[13]	Jinmei DONG, Qiyuan LIU, Fang WU, Lirui JIA, Jing WEN, Chenggong CHANG, Weixin ZHENG, Xueying XIAO. Phase change characteristics and proportion adjustment of fatty acid binary energy storage materials [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(2): 349-356.
[14]	Yucheng DAI, Zengpeng WANG, Kaibao LIU, Jiateng ZHAO, Changhui LIU. Research progress of heat storage and heat transfer enhancement based on phase change materials [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(2): 431-458.
[15]	Zhaofeng DAI, Zhu JIANG, Dongliang ZHAO, Zhiyuan ZHANG, Xiaosong ZHANG. Development and system application of phase change material for cold storage of fruits and vegetables [J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2023, 12(12): 3720-3729.