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The WASCOP (Water Saving for Concentrated Solar Power) project is an EU project dedicated to water saving in CSP power plants. Among the different technologies and aspects considered in the project, the concept of cold thermal energy storage (cTES) has been developed. cTES is considered in addition to the cooling system and used when ambient temperature is too high and may lead to turbine efficiency and electricity production reductions. In these conditions, heat from the condenser is partially stored in the cTES and evacuated trough the available cooler when ambient temperature is lower, typically during the night. A prototype of cTES has been built in the CEA site of Cadarache. Preliminary commissioning has been performed. Final commissioning is expected to be done before Spring 2019 and experimental tests will be made during Summer 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems are central elements of various types of power plants operated using renewable energy sources. Packed bed TES can be considered as a cost-effective solution in concentrated solar power plants (CSP). Such a device is made up of a tank filled with a granular bed through which heat-transfer fluid circulates. However, in such devices, the thermal stresses may accumulate from cycle to another due to differential thermal dilatation between filler and tank walls, leading to plastic deformations in the tank shell and the failure of the tank might happen. This paper aims at studying the evolution of tank wall stresses over granular bed thermal cycles, taking into account both thermal and mechanical loads, with a numerical model based on the discrete element method (DEM). Simulations were performed to study two different thermal configurations: (i) the tank is heated homogenously along its height or (ii) with a vertical gradient of temperature. Then, the resulting loading stresses applied on the tank are compared as well the response of the internal granular material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems are central elements of various types of power plants operated using renewable energy sources. Packed bed TES can be considered as a cost-effective solution in concentrated solar power plants (CSP). Such a device is made up of a tank filled with a granular bed through which heat-transfer fluid circulates. However, in such devices, the tank might be subjected to catastrophic failure induced by a mechanical phenomenon known as thermal ratcheting. Thermal stresses are accumulated during cycles of loading and unloading until the failure happens. This paper aims at studying the evolution of tank wall stresses over granular bed thermal cycles, taking into account both thermal and mechanical loads, with a numerical model based on the discrete element method (DEM). Simulations were performed to study two different thermal configurations: (i) the tank is heated homogenously along its height or (ii) with a vertical gradient of temperature. Then, the resulting loading stresses applied on the tank are compared as well the response of the internal granular material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]