What the application demands
| Requirement | What it means in the design |
|---|---|
| Low thermal conductivity of storage media | Paraffin-based phase change materials and some solid storage media conduct heat poorly. A finned bundle is needed to extend the surface. |
| Volume change during phase change | The bundle support structure has to accommodate repeated thermal cycling and volume change. |
| Wide temperature range | Duty ranges from low-temperature paraffin systems to high-temperature molten salt, with very different materials and structures. |
| Corrosion | Molten salt and other media can attack the tube material. Material selection follows the medium and temperature. |
Our approach
Thermal storage heat exchange is at the development and validation stage. We participate as a component supplier or through joint development. The project team defines storage capacity, charge and discharge power and the allowed time; we design, build and validate the heat exchanger bundle.
- Fin spacing and row depth optimised for the storage medium
- Structure designed for volume change and repeated thermal cycling
- Materials selected against storage-medium corrosion and temperature
- Test articles supplied for charge and discharge validation
Design highlights
- Thermal stress optimisation for cyclic high and low temperature duty
- Heat transfer calculation and structural simulation against the thermodynamic cycle
- Compact bundles for integration into storage modules
- Surface area and circuit arrangement derived from charge / discharge power and allowed time
Project status
The work is at proposal and prototype stage. We participate through component supply and joint development, with progress following the project conditions.
Typical heat exchange locations in a storage system
| System location | Heat exchange duty | Typical component |
|---|---|---|
| Storage tank / storage module | Charge and discharge of the storage medium | Embedded finned tube storage bundle |
| In-tank heat exchanger | Heat transfer between fluid and storage medium | In-tank heat exchanger |
| Heat pump or power cycle | System heat exchange and temperature control | Shell and tube heat exchanger |
| System circuit | Fluid temperature control | Shell and tube or finned tube heat exchanger |
The table is a general breakdown. The actual configuration follows the project system design.
Related products
FAQ
What can you supply at present?
Heat exchanger bundle design and fabrication, test articles, and custom components to drawing. System integration remains with the project team.
How is the storage medium selected?
The project team selects it against temperature and cost. We then select the tube material and fin process.
Can you support a research project?
Yes. Test rigs and validation equipment at research institutes are one of our main collaboration scenarios.