A LIGHTWEIGHT DYNAMICAL MODEL FOR PACKED BED THERMAL ENERGY STORAGES

We introduce an open-source computational model for predicting the dynamical response of thermal energy storages (TES). The focus of this paper is on packed bed systems utilizing materials classified as waste. They bear a negative cost, and hence can substantially reduce the TES unit investment payback time. The proposed model is a lumped-parameter dynamical system capable of rapid execution of multi-year operation scenarios. The article covers model development, parameter identification and validation by full-scale 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The main purpose of the proposed model is to assist in quantifying the techno-economical feasibility of large (up to GWh scale) TES units that may require several years’ of operation before settling to their characteristic steady state cycles.