Air-based sensible thermocline thermal energy storage numerical modelling and optimization over a charge-standby-discharge cycle

Air-based sensible thermocline heat storage is a cost-effective thermal energy storage solution. Its operational sequence involves a standby storage period, currently lacking detailed modeling in the literature and usually omitted in the design workflows. In this work we have developed a detailed 2D simulation model also investigating the natural convection flow occurring in the standby phase. The model was validated experimentally for air temperatures up to 500∘^{\circ}C. The importance of the standby time as key design parameter was shown, and finally a technico-economical design workflow was developed, based on a neural network surrogate modeling coupled to a NSGA-II optimization scheme.

Work In Progress