Thermocline energy storage: Influence of fluid distribution into porous media

Thermocline energy storage is a way to store thermal energy by keeping two distinct zone of temperature in a tank, separated by a thin transition zone. Some applications use a granular porous media, filling the storage tank, through which passes the heat-transfer fluid. Most of scientific papers concerning this kind of technology assume that an ideal distribution of the fluid into the porous media is a homogeneous distribution over the diameter of the tank. On the other side, a recent numerical study concludes that a non-homogeneous distribution leads to better storage performances. Considering theses contradictory statements and the limited number of studies concerning the impact of distribution over thermal storage performances, a numerical simulation model is developed to investigate. This model is validated with data from the experimental device existing in CEA, in cases without distribution issues. Planned modifications of the experimental device for investigation of fluid’s distribution and validation of the model in such cases are presented.