A 2D axisymmetric numerical analysis was performed to study the characteristics of charge process inside solar thermal storage tank. The porosity and heat transfer coefficient of filler material as well as inlet velocity of heat transfer fluid are selected as simulation parameters. The porosity is varied as 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 to account for the effect of filler granule geometry. Two levels of the heat transfer coefficient is adopted to assess the heat transfer between heat transfer fluid and filler material. The inlet velocity is varied as 0.00278, 0.0278, and 0.278m/s. As both of the porosity and the heat transfer coefficient increase, the discrepancy of the temperature distributions between the filler and heat transfer fluid decreases. As the inlet velocity increases, the penetration depth of the heat transfer fluid increases proportionally.

A 2D axisymmetric numerical analysis was performed to study the characteristics of charge process inside solar thermal storage tank. The interfacial area density and inertial resistance of filler material are selected as simulation parameters. The interfacial area density is varied as 800, 2000, and 4000 1/m. The inertial resistance is varied as 1, 3, and 5 1/m. When the interfacial area density increases from 800 to 4000 1/m, the discrepancy of the temperature distributions between the filler and heat transfer fluid decreases. As inertial resistance increases from 1 to 5, both of the temperature and fluid flow pattern changes considerably.

The thermal and mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced cement-based composite for solar thermal energy storage were investigated in this paper. The effect of the addition of different cement-based materials to Ordinary Portland cement on the thermal and mechanical characteristics of fiber-reinforced composite was investigated. Experiments were performed to measure mechanical properties including compressive strength before and after thermal cycling and split tensile strength, and to measure thermal properties including thermal conductivity and specific heat. Test results showed that the residual compressive strength of mixtures with OPC and slag was greatest among cement-based composite. Thermal conductivity of mixtures including graphite was greater than that of any other mixtures, indicating favor of graphite for improving thermal transfer in terms of charging and discharging in thermal energy storage system. The addition of CSA or zirconium increased specific heat of fiber-reinforced cement-based composite. Test results of this study could be actually used for the design of thermal energy storage system in concentrating solar power plants.