As you discovered in Part 1 of this blog series, Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technologies are used to optimize cooling and energy efficiency in buildings and industrial facilities. The main aspect of a TES system is the Thermal Energy Storage Tank, a tailor-made tank that stores chilled water during off-peak hours to be used later when energy demand is high. Besides TES Tanks, this article will delve into even more of ARANER’s current Thermal Energy Storage technologies available in the market! Continue reading to learn about our tailor-made diffusers, TESTIAC method, and industrial applications for Thermal Energy Storage in the most important industries.
Overview of Thermal Energy Storage Tanks
As mentioned earlier, a TES Tank is a customized tank that stores chilled water overnight for use during the daytime when there is greater demand. Thermal Energy Storage is key in resolving peak power demand issues. Let’s break down peak demand: In climates with high temperatures year-round or even just the hot summer months, energy demand will inevitably be greater during periods of high temperatures. Pricing varies greatly depending on off-peak and on-peak periods. TES technologies perform the cooling process during the off-peak hours when energy is cheaper, which results in huge energy and cost savings! The stored cooled water is then used during on-peak hours, which coincide with the hottest moments of the day when demand is the highest. Furthermore, for this process, your TES Tank can be located either above ground or underground and there are several types of tanks to choose from: Stratified Water Storage and Ice Storage.
Tailor-Made Diffuser for Stratified Water Tanks
The most popular TES Tank is the Stratified Water Tank, where a natural stratification process is involved. In the tank, a thin layer called the thermocline separates the warm and cool water to prevent mixing. The thickness of the thermocline is key to the energy efficiency of the system, and thus, an efficient and tailor-made diffuser is very important. Diffusers at the top and bottom of the TES Tank help create a stable thermocline that’s as thin as possible. ARANER offers a couple great options for diffusers design.
Radial Diffuser Design
For cylindrical tanks, a radial diffuser is the best option. In line with its name, water spreads radially within the tank after being introduced along the diffuser plate. The stability and study design of a radial diffuser can help withstand any hiccups in the system like water surges and hammers.
Figure 1: Radial Diffuser Designed by ARANER
Slotted-Pipe Diffuser
This type of design requires more installation but can be adapted to different tank shapes. If you’re not using a cylindrical-shaped tank, this could be your preferred option and end up being more cost-effective. This diffuser is made up of one of more concentric slotted octagonal pipe rings, within water withdrawn through transverse slots in the diffuser piping walls. In order to optimize the design of each TES tank and diffuser, ARANER uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyse the parameters that must be taken into account. These parameters may include the intended application or use of the tank, surrounding conditions, shape, capacity, and the position and inlet velocity of diffusers. All of this with a view to optimize the design and operating conditions of the system and to reduce thermal losses.
Figure 2: ARANER Slotted-Pipe Diffuser
TESTIAC - The Best of TES & Turbine Inlet Air Cooling (TIAC)
We already know about TES Tanks and diffusers, but what about TESTIAC, which involves combining both Thermal Energy Storage with Turbine Inlet Air Cooling (TIAC)? High ambient air temperatures don’t only affect on-peak energy demands, they also affect the power output of gas turbines. In a TESTIAC setup, the cooled water stored in the TES Tank is used to provide a cooler temperature for the gas turbine. There are several benefits to this combination: nearly non-existent parasitic loads, user of a smaller chiller and thus reduced capital costs, and the reduction of energy consumptions, among others.
TES Applications in the Most Important Industries
District Cooling in Smart Cities
Overpopulation and pollution are having a terrible effect on cities across the globe. Thermal Energy Storage for District Cooling can help reduce emissions in these cities and combat the effects of climate change. Smart Cities are taking the first step into the future by implementing smart energy systems to improve energy efficiency and sustainability in their buildings and networks. Intelligent TES solutions are already being implemented in certain cities to resolve peak demand problems.
Data Centers
Our data and information are extremely important in the modern, digital world, so keeping IT equipment safe is of the utmost importance. Cooling systems play a key role in ensuring the healthy operation of data center equipment like servers, cables, and other machines. In addition, cooling technologies can help stabilize temperatures, minimize safety risks, and save energy. Air-cooled methods tend to be the most commonplace in the data center market, but a customized cooling system can be implemented depending on factors like budget, the size of the facility, and power density.
Oil and Gas
Figure 3: ARANER TES TANK in Badra Oil Field Project
ARANER recently developed another TES project for the Oil & Gas sector for the Badra Oil Field in Iraq, involving a power plant for the process plant and supplying power to Badra City. ARANER was brought in to optimize turbine performance using our TESTIAC method, taking into account the dry, desert conditions of the region. Our solution involves a remote-condensing solution and uses no water (due to water scarcity in the region). Considering the increasingly stringent standards and restrictions in the Oil & Gas industry, the applications of TES are numerous.
Conclusion
Thermal Energy Storage technologies are already relevant in a variety of industries for adapting to global issues such as climate change, pollution, electrical consumption, and sustainability. With our current Thermal Energy Storage Technologies, the benefits that can be achieved are plentiful. We provide tailor-made systems that help our clients achieve better-than-expected results in terms of power augmentation and energy efficiency. We also prepare a completely adapted solution for any situation and we help clients to improve their own results. In the future, there is no telling what TES technologies will be capable of. New trends in energy storage systems are constantly developing; at ARANER, we assure each and every client that our research and development teams will work hard to improve our products and your experience. We will continue to keep an eye on the latest trends and innovations to improve day after day. With ARANER, you’ll always walk away with the most cutting-edge methods and systems in cooling and energy storage.
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