Performance improvement of solar bakery unit by integrating with metal hydride based solar thermal energy storage reactor. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ayub, Iqra; Nasir, Muhammad Salman; Liu, Yang; Munir, Anjum; Yang, Fusheng; Zhang, Zaoxiao
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 161(2020)
• Page Start: 1011
• Page End: 1024
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Solar thermal energy storage -- (MgH2+V2O5) reactor -- Solar bakery unit -- Performance improvement -- Numerical simulation -- Thermal analysis; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.07.133
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: Storage of solar thermal energy is an effective way to overcome the issue of incompatibility between the solar system and its users. This paper proposed a novel perception by integrating a metal hydride based thermochemical energy storage (MH-TES) system with a solar bakery unit (SBU). A numerical simulation was performed by using COMSOL MULTIPHYSIS 5.3a to assess the dynamic behavior of the reactor. The results showed that the high-temperature metal hydride (HTMH) reactor during the discharging process has a high improvement potential rate (0.195 kW), a high exergetic factor (59.97%) and low exergy efficiency (30.25%) as compared to HTMH reactor during the heat charging process. The overall exergy efficiency of the HTMH reactor was estimated as 34.03%. The maximum value of energy output ( Q out ), exergy output ( Ex out ), gravimetric exergy output rate ( GEOR) and gravimetric efficient heat output rate ( GEHOR) during discharging period was calculated as 1560 W, 174 W, 7.4 W/kg and 66 W/kg, respectively. The energy efficiency of SBU is improved from 6% to 42.89% by integrating with the MH-TES system. This paper presents a comprehensive approach for thermal analysis of HTMH for the solar bakery system, which contributes to system optimization for efficient solar energy storage. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Novel perception of the integration of metal hydride reactor with a solar bakery. Performance improvement of system by 42.89% after integrating with a storage system. Thermal analysis of reactor was done during heat charging and discharging process. The overall exergetic efficiency of HTMH was estimated as 34.03%. Analyses pointed out the tendency of reactor design optimization.