Abstract:
Renewable energy is anticipated to play a vital role in the future to meet the global energy demand
for low carbon transition. Solar energy presents the inherent characteristic given by the nature of
the resource (intermittent availability). This observation highlights the need for thermal energy
storage system. This PhD thesis was more focused on thermal energy storage for concentrating
solar power plant, as well as its two essential components such as heat transfer fluid, storage
materials and solar field. The analysis of the thermocline storage system and parabolic trough
collector performance is achieved through the development of new thermal energy storage
material, Direct normal irradiance data collection and numerical approaches. An innovative
alternative solution for the storage materials consisted to use sand, clay and coal bottom ash to
manufacture ceramic balls for thermal energy storage. The new material can store heat at
temperature up to 610 °C. The new material showed good compatibility with Jatropha Curcas oil
during 2160 h of heat treatment at 210 °C. After numerical analysis the new storage system
(ceramic ball and JCO) can provide a discharge efficacy up to 94% depending on the storage tank
size. In addition, Jatropha curcas oil is an innovative heat transfer fluid for parabolic trough
collector (PTC) which can provide an average thermal efficiency up 83% to the collector. The
connection of both TES system and parabolic trough collector (PTC) shows that a mass flow rate
of 2 kgs-1 is necessary to charge a TES system of 2 12ℎ>? with a collection area of 460 m2 before
3 pm under Ouagadougou and Agadez Climate condition. So, we propose, Jatropha curcas oil as
heat transfer fluid (HTF) in medium-size (up to 1 12@A) PTC plants using Organic Rankine Cycle
power generation unit during 24h integrating the new TES system. It is a suitable technology in
any region where the maximal DNI can reach 750 W.m-2. The originality of the new composite
material for thermal energy storage combines performance, materials availability at industrial scale
and waste to energy approach while reducing environmental and financial impact.
Description:
A Thesis submitted to the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use and the Université Abdou Moumini, Niger in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Degree in Climate Change and Energy
