Development of an Active High Temperature PCM Storage Concept with Coated Heat Exchanger Plates
Abstract
Feasibility of the concept of an innovative high temperature latent heat storage with active scraper mechanism for enhanced discharge heat flow was demonstrated in 2016, showing advantages of the active over the passive concept. However, parasitic power for the movement of the scrapers was high due to abrasion on the bearings for the scraper slide. A new scraper mechanism, where the mounting was changed from central slide to a portal frame, was designed and tested, showing a reduction in parasitic power. To further reduce the load on the scrapers, non-adhesive coatings of the heat exchanger plates are investigated. A Borosilicate glass showed promising results and will be further analyzed with direct cooling in molten salt environment. In a future step it is intended to print thick-film heating elements directly on the heat exchanger plates for power-to-heat application. Here the electric insolation is also a glass layer, making these coating results valuable for power-to-heat as well as process heat applications.