Heat-pump-based thermal storage for intermittent electrical and thermal sources

P. E. Phelan, R. Calhoun, S. Trimble, J. E. Baker, J. Sherbeck

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thermal storage is advocated as a means for energy storage in some grid-scale electric powerplants, such as for concentrating solar power (CSP). The efficiency of concentrating solar thermal collectors, however, decreases with increasing output temperature, making it difficult to achieve high thermal storage temperatures. A heat pump, as is well known, can operate in either cooling mode or heating mode, and in either case, the coefficient of performance is generally greater than one, enabling a multiplier effect that can serve to either increase or decrease the temperature of thermal storage. A simple steady-state analysis of the "round-trip" system efficiency for storing energy reveals the potential benefits of utilizing a heat pump or refrigerator in such systems. Provided that an inexpensive heat input source is available, the system storage efficiency can reach or even exceed unity, assuming that the energy supplied to the system as heat is neglected. For ice storage at 0°C, increasing thermal input temperatures above 209°C increases the system storage efficiency above unity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationASME/JSME 2011 8th Thermal Engineering Joint Conference, AJTEC 2011
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers
ISBN (Print)9780791838921
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
EventASME/JSME 2011 8th Thermal Engineering Joint Conference, AJTEC 2011 - Honolulu, HI, United States
Duration: Mar 13 2011Mar 17 2011

Publication series

NameASME/JSME 2011 8th Thermal Engineering Joint Conference, AJTEC 2011

Conference

ConferenceASME/JSME 2011 8th Thermal Engineering Joint Conference, AJTEC 2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHonolulu, HI
Period3/13/113/17/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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