A method for the design and sizing of a packed bed thermal storage unit for a hot air solar heating system is presented. A controlled bypass of the heat storage unit during the retrieval process is used in order to maintain the fluid temperature leaving the system at a constant value. The use of a bypass arrangement with a closed air circulation loop for the collector enables the storage unit to operate at a higher mean temperature and the system to utilize the maximum allowable pressure drop. This results in a greater heat storage per unit volume of storage material. The complete solar system is simulated numerically during both the heating and retrieval modes of operation to obtain a set of design charts for sizing the thermal storage unit. In the simulation, consideration is given to geographical location, composition of the storage bed and the maximum allowable pressure drop across the bed. A set of design curves for State College, Pennsylvania, is presented.
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August 1982
Research Papers
Design of a Packed Bed Thermal Storage Unit for a Solar System
B. T. Kulakowski,
B. T. Kulakowski
Mechanical Engineering Department, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. 16802
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F. W. Schmidt
F. W. Schmidt
Mechanical Engineering Department, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. 16802
Search for other works by this author on:
B. T. Kulakowski
Mechanical Engineering Department, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. 16802
F. W. Schmidt
Mechanical Engineering Department, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. 16802
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Aug 1982, 104(3): 223-228 (6 pages)
Published Online: August 1, 1982
Article history
Received:
March 30, 1981
Online:
November 11, 2009
Citation
Kulakowski, B. T., and Schmidt, F. W. (August 1, 1982). "Design of a Packed Bed Thermal Storage Unit for a Solar System." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. August 1982; 104(3): 223–228. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3266306
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