Investigation Performance of Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers in an Energy Storage System: Thermo-Mechanic Load

This study investigates a storage system that incorporates a thermal energy storage volume of the regenerator type. The storage volume is coupled to a heat exchanger through the use of a flowing intermediate operating fluid. The analysis of thermal efficiency in this research is based on experiments conducted utilizing a large-scale pilot facility, with a surface length surpassing ten meters. The storage volume has been redesigned to include a straight flow pattern and is lined with hollow bricks that function as the material for sensible heat storage. Currently, the predominant focus of scholarly literature has mostly revolved on compacted platform storage systems, frequently employing melting salt or oil as the designated storage medium. Nevertheless, there exists a scarcity of research investigating the utilization of regularly shaped conduits with fluid flow for this particular objective. In this particular section of the paper, a channel flow model with axisymmetric characteristics is used inside the Comsol Multiphysics program in order to conduct an investigation. As a consequence, the model exhibits a notable level of agreement with the experimental findings. The average temperature difference between the measured and projected outlet temperatures over the operational cycles consistently remained below 10%.