TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of phase change materials on the short-term thermal storage in the solar receiver of dish-micro gas turbine systems
T2 - A numerical analysis
AU - Bashir, Muhammad Anser
AU - Daabo, Ahmed M.
AU - Amber, Khuram Pervez
AU - Khan, Muhammad Sajid
AU - Arshad, Adeel
AU - Elahi, Hassan
PY - 2021/8/1
Y1 - 2021/8/1
N2 - The solar dish-micro gas turbine system is a new alternative to the existing technologies for small-scale power production (<100 kW) in rural off-grid areas. In these solar-only systems, the short-term thermal energy storage in the solar receiver reduces the effect of natural fluctuations of the solar flux and ensures the stable working fluid (WF) temperature to the gas turbine. It improves the system performance and stability of the small gas turbine. In this context, a concept of Phase Change Material (PCM) integrated solar receiver was presented by authors in previous studies, where the receiver was filled with high-temperature PCM and WF (air) tubes were immersed in it. The PCM stores heat during charging phase and releases heat during the solar breakdown. The selection of PCMs for this receiver is a challenging task due to the high operating temperature (Tm > 1000 K). This study deals with the analysis of the impact of main parameters of the PCM on the performance of the solar receiver and detailed thermal analysis of the component using selected suitable PCMs. The 3D numerical analysis has been performed using Ansys Fluent R2. Moreover, the optical analysis has been carried out by ray tracing using SolTrace. The results of Soltrace are input to the Ansys Fluent and solar radiations are made to impinged on the cavity of the solar receiver. Steady-state parametric analysis has been performed considering the effect of latent heat of fusion, thermal conductivity, and the specific heat of the PCM on the outlet parameters of the receiver. The results showed a significant effect of these parameters on the heat storage of the solar receiver and the solidification/melting rate of PCM. The latent heat has major effect on the thermal storage in the PCM while thermal conductivity has high impact on the solidification/melting rate of the PCM. The transient simulations have been performed for the detailed melting/solidification behavior of the receiver using four metallic PCMs including MgSi, AlSb, NiSi, and Mg2Si. AlSb is characterized with comparatively lower latent heat and high thermal conductivity and showed quick solidification in discharging phase. Mg2Si has high melting temperature and a low thermal conductivity as compared to the other selected PCMs and thus has a comparatively slow solidification rate than AlSb and MgSi. The results show a good behavior of the component short term (15–20 min) thermal energy storage and stabilization of WF (air) temperature above 1000 K during this period.
AB - The solar dish-micro gas turbine system is a new alternative to the existing technologies for small-scale power production (<100 kW) in rural off-grid areas. In these solar-only systems, the short-term thermal energy storage in the solar receiver reduces the effect of natural fluctuations of the solar flux and ensures the stable working fluid (WF) temperature to the gas turbine. It improves the system performance and stability of the small gas turbine. In this context, a concept of Phase Change Material (PCM) integrated solar receiver was presented by authors in previous studies, where the receiver was filled with high-temperature PCM and WF (air) tubes were immersed in it. The PCM stores heat during charging phase and releases heat during the solar breakdown. The selection of PCMs for this receiver is a challenging task due to the high operating temperature (Tm > 1000 K). This study deals with the analysis of the impact of main parameters of the PCM on the performance of the solar receiver and detailed thermal analysis of the component using selected suitable PCMs. The 3D numerical analysis has been performed using Ansys Fluent R2. Moreover, the optical analysis has been carried out by ray tracing using SolTrace. The results of Soltrace are input to the Ansys Fluent and solar radiations are made to impinged on the cavity of the solar receiver. Steady-state parametric analysis has been performed considering the effect of latent heat of fusion, thermal conductivity, and the specific heat of the PCM on the outlet parameters of the receiver. The results showed a significant effect of these parameters on the heat storage of the solar receiver and the solidification/melting rate of PCM. The latent heat has major effect on the thermal storage in the PCM while thermal conductivity has high impact on the solidification/melting rate of the PCM. The transient simulations have been performed for the detailed melting/solidification behavior of the receiver using four metallic PCMs including MgSi, AlSb, NiSi, and Mg2Si. AlSb is characterized with comparatively lower latent heat and high thermal conductivity and showed quick solidification in discharging phase. Mg2Si has high melting temperature and a low thermal conductivity as compared to the other selected PCMs and thus has a comparatively slow solidification rate than AlSb and MgSi. The results show a good behavior of the component short term (15–20 min) thermal energy storage and stabilization of WF (air) temperature above 1000 K during this period.
KW - CFD analysis
KW - Dish-micro gas turbine
KW - High-temperature PCMs
KW - Solar receivers
KW - Thermal energy storage
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107681637&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.117179
DO - 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2021.117179
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85107681637
SN - 1359-4311
VL - 195
JO - Applied Thermal Engineering
JF - Applied Thermal Engineering
M1 - 117179
ER -