Experimental and Numerical Investigation of a Pilot Scale Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage for CSP Power Plant

Abstract A Phase Change Material (PCM) thermal energy storage module has been built and tested successfully at CEA on the LHASSA experimental facility. The test campaign aimed at validating the thermo-hydraulic behavior of the storage module under operating conditions similar to those of commercial Direct Steam Generation CSP plants. The measured performances have been compared to the simulation results given by a dynamic model developed at CEA. Tests gave very satisfactory results, with a measured storage capacity meeting the specifications and a very small degradation of temperature and pressure levels in discharge mode. The storage module tests allowed to validate the modeling approach chosen to assess system performances and dynamics. The simulation model developed within the Dymola platform was proven to accurately reproduce the tests results and therefore can be effectively used for performance predictions and for the definition of operating strategies of commercial CSP plants.