High-temperature PCM-based thermal energy storage for industrial furnaces installed in energy-intensive industries. (15th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Royo, Patricia; Acevedo, Luis; Ferreira, Victor J.; García-Armingol, Tatiana; López-Sabirón, Ana M.; Ferreira, Germán
• Is Part Of: Energy. Volume 173(2019)
• Page Start: 1030
• Page End: 1040
• Publication Date: 2019-04-15
• Subjects: Phase change materials -- High-temperature thermal energy storage -- Energy-intensive industries -- Waste heat recovery -- Heat transfer model simulation; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.02.118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5442

Abstract

Abstract: The energy considered as waste heat in industrial furnaces owing to inefficiencies represents a substantial opportunity for recovery by means of thermal energy storage (TES) implementation. Although conventional systems based on sensible heat are used extensively, these systems involve technical limitations. Latent heat storage based on phase change materials (PCMs) results in a promising alternative for storing and recovering waste heat. Within this scope, the proposed PCM-TES allows for demonstrating its implementation feasibility in energy-intensive industries at high temperature range. The stored energy is meant to preheat the air temperature entering the furnace by using a PCM whose melting point is 885 °C. In this sense, a heat transfer model simulation is established to determine an appropriate design based on mass and energy conservation equations. The thermal performance is analysed for the melting and solidification processes, the phase transition and its influence on heat transference. Moreover, the temperature profile is illustrated for the PCM and combustion air stream. The obtained results prove the achievability of very high temperature levels (from 700 to 865 °C) in the combustion air preheating in a ceramic furnace; so corroborating an energy and environmental efficiency enhancement, compared to the initial condition presenting an air outlet at 650 °C. Highlights: A thermal energy storage based on PCM is proposed to recover high temperature heat. An energy intensive industry study case reached a temperature increase up to 200 °C. 3D-numerical model assesses the thermal behaviour of the waste heat recovery system. Combustion air temperature profiles are analysed during charging and discharging. A basis is set for system design, thermal stress resistance and material selection.