Low-grade heat utilization through ultrasound-enhanced desorption of activated alumina/water for thermal energy storage

Hooman Daghooghi Mobarakeh, Keshawa Bandara, Liping Wang, Robert Wang, Patrick E. Phelan, Mark Miner

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

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sorption thermal energy storage (TES) seems to be an auspicious solution to overcome the issues of intermittent energy sources and utilization of low-grade heat. Ultrasoundassisted adsorption/desorption of water vapor on activated alumina is proposed as a means of low-grade heat utilization through TES. The effects of ultrasonic power on the storing stage (desorption of water vapor) were analyzed to optimize the desorption and overall efficiencies. To determine and justify the effectiveness of incorporating ultrasound from an energysavings point of view, an approach of constant total (heat plus ultrasound) input power of 25 W was adopted. To measure the extent of the effectiveness of using ultrasound, ultrasonicpower- to-total power ratios of 0.2 and 0.4 were investigated and the results compared with those of no-ultrasound (heat only) at the same total power. The regeneration temperature and desorption rate were measured simultaneously to investigate the effects of ultrasonication on regeneration temperature and utilization of low-grade heat. The experimental results showed that using ultrasound facilitates the regeneration of activated alumina at both power ratios without increasing the total input power. With regard to regeneration temperature, incorporating ultrasound decreases the regeneration temperature hence justifying the utilization of low-grade heat for thermal energy purposes. In terms of overall energy recovery of the adsorption thermal storage process, a new metric is proposed to justify incorporating ultrasound and any other auxiliary energy along with low-grade heat.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationASME 2020 Power Conference, POWER 2020, collocated with the 2020 International Conference on Nuclear Engineering
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791883747
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
Event2019 Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Annual Conference, CSCE 2019 - Laval, Canada
Duration: Jun 12 2019Jun 15 2019

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers, Power Division (Publication) POWER
Volume2020-August

Conference

Conference2019 Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Annual Conference, CSCE 2019
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityLaval
Period6/12/196/15/19

Keywords

  • Activated alumina
  • Desorption
  • Low-grade heat.
  • Regeneration
  • Thermal storage
  • Ultrasound

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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