Experimental Testing of New Concrete-Based, Medium-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Charged by Both a Thermal and Electrical Power Source
This study aims to explore a new concept for a Power to Heat (P2H) device and demonstrate its effectiveness compared to a thermal heating method. The proposed concept is a medium-temperature system where electro-thermal conversion occurs via the Joule effect in a metallic tube (resistive element). T...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3511 |
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| author | Raffaele Liberatore Daniele Nicolini Michela Lanchi Adio Miliozzi |
| author_facet | Raffaele Liberatore Daniele Nicolini Michela Lanchi Adio Miliozzi |
| author_sort | Raffaele Liberatore |
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| description | This study aims to explore a new concept for a Power to Heat (P2H) device and demonstrate its effectiveness compared to a thermal heating method. The proposed concept is a medium-temperature system where electro-thermal conversion occurs via the Joule effect in a metallic tube (resistive element). This tube also serves as a heat exchange surface between the heat transfer fluid and the thermal storage medium. The heat storage material here proposed consists of base concrete formulated on purpose to ensure its operation at high temperatures, good performance and prolongated thermal stability. The addition of 10%<sub>wt</sub> phase change material (i.e., solar salts) stabilized in shape through a diatomite porous matrix allows the energy density stored in the medium itself to increase (hybrid sensible/latent system). Testing of the heat storage module has been conducted within a temperature range of 220–280 °C. An experimental comparison of charging times has demonstrated that electric heating exhibits faster dynamics compared to thermal heating. In both electrical and thermal heating methods, the concrete module has achieved 86% of its theoretical storage capacity, limited by thermal losses. In conclusion, this study successfully demonstrates the viability and efficiency of the proposed hybrid sensible/latent P2H system, highlighting the faster charging dynamics of direct electrical heating compared to conventional thermal methods, while achieving a comparable storage capacity despite thermal losses. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e395f6fcfc7341b2a537d17817240a5a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-e395f6fcfc7341b2a537d17817240a5a2025-08-20T03:28:30ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-07-011813351110.3390/en18133511Experimental Testing of New Concrete-Based, Medium-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Charged by Both a Thermal and Electrical Power SourceRaffaele Liberatore0Daniele Nicolini1Michela Lanchi2Adio Miliozzi3ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Lungotevere Thaon di Revel 76, 00186 Rome, ItalyENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Lungotevere Thaon di Revel 76, 00186 Rome, ItalyENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Lungotevere Thaon di Revel 76, 00186 Rome, ItalyENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Lungotevere Thaon di Revel 76, 00186 Rome, ItalyThis study aims to explore a new concept for a Power to Heat (P2H) device and demonstrate its effectiveness compared to a thermal heating method. The proposed concept is a medium-temperature system where electro-thermal conversion occurs via the Joule effect in a metallic tube (resistive element). This tube also serves as a heat exchange surface between the heat transfer fluid and the thermal storage medium. The heat storage material here proposed consists of base concrete formulated on purpose to ensure its operation at high temperatures, good performance and prolongated thermal stability. The addition of 10%<sub>wt</sub> phase change material (i.e., solar salts) stabilized in shape through a diatomite porous matrix allows the energy density stored in the medium itself to increase (hybrid sensible/latent system). Testing of the heat storage module has been conducted within a temperature range of 220–280 °C. An experimental comparison of charging times has demonstrated that electric heating exhibits faster dynamics compared to thermal heating. In both electrical and thermal heating methods, the concrete module has achieved 86% of its theoretical storage capacity, limited by thermal losses. In conclusion, this study successfully demonstrates the viability and efficiency of the proposed hybrid sensible/latent P2H system, highlighting the faster charging dynamics of direct electrical heating compared to conventional thermal methods, while achieving a comparable storage capacity despite thermal losses.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3511thermal energy storagerenewable energy sourcethermal–electric energy storageconcrete-based storage |
| spellingShingle | Raffaele Liberatore Daniele Nicolini Michela Lanchi Adio Miliozzi Experimental Testing of New Concrete-Based, Medium-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Charged by Both a Thermal and Electrical Power Source Energies thermal energy storage renewable energy source thermal–electric energy storage concrete-based storage |
| title | Experimental Testing of New Concrete-Based, Medium-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Charged by Both a Thermal and Electrical Power Source |
| title_full | Experimental Testing of New Concrete-Based, Medium-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Charged by Both a Thermal and Electrical Power Source |
| title_fullStr | Experimental Testing of New Concrete-Based, Medium-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Charged by Both a Thermal and Electrical Power Source |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Testing of New Concrete-Based, Medium-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Charged by Both a Thermal and Electrical Power Source |
| title_short | Experimental Testing of New Concrete-Based, Medium-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Charged by Both a Thermal and Electrical Power Source |
| title_sort | experimental testing of new concrete based medium temperature thermal energy storage charged by both a thermal and electrical power source |
| topic | thermal energy storage renewable energy source thermal–electric energy storage concrete-based storage |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/13/3511 |
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