Numerical Study on Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics of the Molten Salt Single Tank Heat Storage Process

LIANG Wuzhou; WU Bin; LIU Zhongyuan; LI Yong; ZHANG Jiajie; MA Suxia

doi:10.21656/1000-0887.450186

Volume 46 Issue 3

Mar. 2025

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Applied Mathematics and Mechanics > 2025 > 46(3): 340-352

LIANG Wuzhou, WU Bin, LIU Zhongyuan, LI Yong, ZHANG Jiajie, MA Suxia. Numerical Study on Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics of the Molten Salt Single Tank Heat Storage Process[J]. Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, 2025, 46(3): 340-352. doi: 10.21656/1000-0887.450186

Citation:

PDF( 5421 KB)

Numerical Study on Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics of the Molten Salt Single Tank Heat Storage Process

doi: 10.21656/1000-0887.450186

1. State Grid Shanxi Electric Power Company Electric Power Research Institute, Taiyuan 030021, P.R.China;
2. College of Electrical and Power Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, P.R.China

Received Date: 2024-06-25
Rev Recd Date: 2024-09-27

Available Online: 2025-04-02

Publish Date: 2025-03-01

Abstract

Abstract

Aimed at the application of heat storage technology in the field of new energy consumption, a molten salt single tank integrating the heat storage and the heat exchange was proposed. The single tank heat storage characteristics and molten salt heat transfer laws during the heat storage process were numerically simulated and analyzed. The effects of spiral tube spacings and inlet/outlet layout positions on the heat storage process were discussed. The results show that, the molten salt temperature increases gradually in the heat storage process, while the molten salt density decreases and the natural convection forms in the tank. The spiral structure of the tube makes 3 vortices be formed in the flow field of the molten salt. With the spiral tube positioned at the bottom of the tank, the heat storage completion time can be shortened by 34.1% due to a stronger natural convection, compared with the cases at the center and the top of the tank. The increase of the spiral tube diameter may enlarge the heat transfer area and speed up the heating rate of the molten salt. With the increase of the spiral tube spacing, the heating range of the molten salt will be larger, and the heat storage completion time will be shortened slightly. The natural convection of the molten salt is stronger in the inletdown and outletup case since the inlet position is closer to the tank bottom.
- molten salt single tank,
- heat storage completion time,
- molten salt temperature,
- natural convection,
- spiral tube

FullText(HTML)

References(17)

References

黄河, 高佳徐, 任智彬, 等. 内三角管式快速蓄放热单元的肋片拓扑优化[J]. 应用数学和力学, 2022,43(11): 1238-1248.

(HUANG He, GAO Jiaxu, REN Zhibin, et al. Topology optimization of fins for rapid heat storage and release in triangular-inside tube units[J].Applied Mathematics and Mechanics,2022,43(11): 1238-1248. (in Chinese))

[2]LIU Y, WANG N, DING Y. Preparation and properties of composite phase change material based on solar heat storage system[J].Journal of Energy Storage,2021,40: 102805.

[3]潘涵婷, 许多, 徐洪涛, 等. 空穴效应下泡沫金属复合相变材料热性能数值模拟[J]. 应用数学和力学, 2024,45(1): 85-96.(PAN Hanting, XU Duo, XU Hongtao, et al. Numerical analysis on thermal performances of metal foam composite phase change materials under cavity effects[J].Applied Mathematics and Mechanics,2024,45(1): 85-96. (in Chinese))

[4]XU X, VIGNAROOBAN K, XU B, et al. Prospects and problems of concentrating solar power technologies for power generation in the desert regions[J].Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,2016,53: 1106-1131.

[5]ISLAM M T, HUDA N, ABDULLAH A B, et al. A comprehensive review of state-of-the-art concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies: current status and research trends[J].Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,2018,91: 987-1018.

[6]PACHECO J E, SHOWALTER S K, KOLB W J. Development of a molten-salt thermocline thermal storage system for parabolic trough plants[J]. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering,2002,124(2): 153-159.

[7]ANGELINI G, LUCCHINI A, MANZOLINI G. Comparison of thermocline molten salt storage performances to commercial two-tank configuration[J].Energy Procedia,2014,49: 694-704.

[8]张健, 邓泽宏, 肖欣悦, 等. 熔融盐斜温层单罐蓄热的热力性能优化研究[J]. 西北水电, 2021(5): 127-135.(ZHANG Jian, DENG Zehong, XIAO Xinyue, et al. Study on thermal performance optimization of molten-salt heat storage with thermocline in single-tank[J].Northwest Hydropower,2021(5): 127-135. (in Chinese))

[9]LOU W R, XIE B S, AUBRIL J, et al. Optimized flow distributor for stabilized thermal stratification in a single-medium thermocline storage tank: a numerical and experimental study[J].Energy,2023,263: 125709.

[10]VAIVUDH S, RAKWICHIAN W, CHINDARUKSA S. Heat transfer of high thermal energy storage with heat exchanger for solar trough power plant[J].Energy Conversion and Management,2008,49(11): 3311-3317.

[11]HUANG Z J, ZOU Y K, DING J, et al. Experimental investigation of heat transfer in coiled tube type molten salt steam generator[J].Applied Thermal Engineering,2019,148: 1131-1138.

[12]孙晓丽, 鹿院卫, 崔锡民, 等. 单罐熔融盐释热传热规律实验研究[J]. 太阳能学报, 2018,39(1): 8-13.(SUN Xiaoli, LU Yuanwei, CUI Ximin, et al. Discharge experiments of molten salt in single storage tank[J].Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica,2018,〖STHZ〗 39(1): 8-13. (in Chinese))

[13]孙晓丽. 单罐熔融盐蓄热与释热传热规律研究[D]. 北京: 北京工业大学, 2016.(SUN Xiaoli. Study on charging and discharging process of molten salt in single thermal energy storage tank[D]. Beijing: Beijing University of Technology, 2016. (in Chinese))

[14]崔锡民, 鹿院卫, 吴玉庭, 等. 温度分层对小型熔盐单罐释热过程影响[J]. 化工学报, 2018,69(6): 2410-2416.(CUI Ximin, LU Yuanwei, WU Yuting, et al. Influence of thermal stratification on discharging process of molten salt in small single thermal storage tank[J].CIESC Journal,2018,69(6): 2410-2416. (in Chinese))

[15]崔锡民. 小型熔盐单罐供暖系统的设计与性能研究[D]. 北京: 北京工业大学, 2018.(CUI Ximin. Heating system design and its performance research of small single energy storage tank with molten salts[D]. Beijing: Beijing University of Technology, 2018. (in Chinese))

[16]李光华. 小容量熔融盐蓄热装置结构设计与性能优化的研究[D]. 南京: 东南大学, 2019.(LI Guanghua. Design and research on performance optimization of small capacity molten salt heat storage device[D]. Nanjing: Southeast University, 2019. (in Chinese))

[17]ZHANG J J, LIU Y, GUO Y M, et al. Numerical study on flow and noise characteristics of high-temperature and high-pressure steam ejector[J].Energies,2023,16(10): 4158.

Relative Articles

Supplements(0)

Cited By

Proportional views