Title: Exergy analysis of a rock bed thermal storage system

Authors: J.J. Navarrete-Gonzalez, J.G. Cervantes-de Gortari, E. Torres-Reyes

Addresses: Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria 04510, Mexico DF. ' Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria 04510, Mexico DF. ' Instituto de Investigaciones Cientificas, Universidad de Guanajuato, L. de Retana No. 5, 36000, Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico

Abstract: In this paper, a thermodynamic procedure is presented to analyse energy and exergy balances of a rock bed thermal storage system. The thermal behaviour is described by means of a control volume that includes three subsystems: the solar collectors, the fluid distribution system and the storage chamber. Solar-to-thermal energy conversion was obtained by means of a solar collector at a fixed airflow rate. The final purpose of the method is to determine how well the thermodynamic modelling fits the real data obtained experimentally from the prototype under normal operating conditions.

Keywords: exergy analysis; solar air heaters; thermal storage; thermal solar conversion; solar energy; thermodynamic modelling; solar power; rock bed storage; exergy balance; solar collectors; fluid distribution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2008.016010

International Journal of Exergy, 2008 Vol.5 No.1, pp.18 - 30

Published online: 02 Dec 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article