Abstract:
In this paper, a literature review on thermocline storage performance for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant storage systems has been conducted. The
efficiency of materials to store heat depends on the storage process like sensible heat storage, latent heat storage and thermochemical one and also on their
properties. This study has been focused on sensible heat storage materials especially thermocline storage system (DMT) using eco-materials which has a
high potentiality (35%) to reduce CSP cost. There is a possibility to use natural rocks, industry waste and to develop also materials for a thermocline storage within a bed called packed bed using one tank. The thermal storage materials should have some optimum parameters (particle diameter less than 2
cm and good thermo-physical properties) to achieve better thermal storage
performance (thermal cycle efficiency, extraction factor). However, the size
and the shape of natural rocks are uncontrollable (big diameter) and can
drive to thermocline degradation, catastrophic thermal ratcheting and poor
thermal stratification due to the variability of the storage system porosity and
the stress on the storage tank wall. Also a better thermal storage efficiency is
achievable at low velocity and with good thermo-physical properties of the
HTF. The ratio H/D, the height, the porosity, the shape and the position of
the tank should be optimized to increase the storage efficiency
