Thermal Energy Modelling for Renewable Energy Applications

A special issue of Thermo (ISSN 2673-7264).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 9477

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28932 Mostoles, Spain
Interests: solar thermal energy; integration of renewable energy sources; energy optimization; thermal energy storage; advanced power cycles; combined heat and power; power plant technologies; thermodynamics optimization; turbomachinery characterization; additive manufacturing
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Heat remains the largest energy end-use, constituting 50% of global energy consumption in 2018, which contributed to 40% of the global CO2 emissions according to the International Energy Agency. That heat was mainly used for industrial processes (50%), buildings space and water heating (46%), and to a lesser extent for agriculture use and cooking. Despite the larger penetration of renewable energy, only 10% of the total heat demand is being covered by renewable sources (excluding biomass). Regarding the electricity share of energy resources, thermomechanical energy conversion is still predominant regardless of whether it comes from traditional fossil fuel power plants, nuclear energy or renewables such as biomass, solar thermal energy and geothermal. Projected scenarios on worldwide energy demand estimate an extensive penetration of renewable energy sources seeking to mitigate climate change consequences. In that context, developing highly efficient heat and power thermal energy systems will be crucial for sustainable development.

Noting all these exciting developments, it has never been more pertinent to launch a Special Issue that seeks to capture the latest research in thermal energy modelling with a clear interest in thermodynamics optimization, advanced thermal conversion systems, buildings’ energy efficiency and heat transfer characterization, regardless of whether it is for heat generation or electricity production for renewable energy applications.

Authors are encouraged to submit their research for this Special Issue. Topics include but are not limited to:

  • Thermodynamics optimization
  • New concepts in thermodynamics cycles
  • Hybrid thermal energy applications modelling
  • Combined cooling, heat and power modelling
  • Waste heat recovery applications
  • Thermal energy storage modelling
  • Solar thermal energy applications
  • Geothermal applications
  • Heat transfer characterization in renewable energy applications
  • Advanced concepts for heat exchangers modelling and design
  • Heat pumps modelling
  • HVAC modelling
  • Energy management in buildings
  • Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for thermal energy applications

Dr. Miguel Ángel Reyes Belmonte
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • thermodynamics optimization
  • heat transfer modelling
  • heat exchangers
  • thermal energy storage
  • solar thermal energy
  • geothermal energy
  • heat pumps
  • HVAC
  • energy and buildings
  • CHP
  • CCHP

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3224 KiB  
Article
Flexible Electricity Dispatch of an Integrated Solar Combined Cycle through Thermal Energy Storage and Hydrogen Production
by Miguel Ángel Reyes-Belmonte, Alejandra Ambrona-Bermúdez and Daniel Calvo-Blázquez
Thermo 2021, 1(1), 106-121; https://doi.org/10.3390/thermo1010008 - 8 Jun 2021
Viewed by 4138
Abstract
In this work, the flexible operation of an Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) power plant has been optimized considering two different energy storage approaches. The objective of this proposal is to meet variable users’ grid demand for an extended period at the lowest [...] Read more.
In this work, the flexible operation of an Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) power plant has been optimized considering two different energy storage approaches. The objective of this proposal is to meet variable users’ grid demand for an extended period at the lowest cost of electricity. Medium temperature thermal energy storage (TES) and hydrogen generation configurations have been analyzed from a techno-economic point of view. Results found from annual solar plant performance indicate that molten salts storage solution is preferable based on the lower levelized cost of electricity (0.122 USD/kWh compared to 0.158 USD/kWh from the hydrogen generation case) due to the lower conversion efficiencies of hydrogen plant components. However, the hydrogen plant configuration exceeded, in terms of plant availability and grid demand coverage, as fewer design constraints resulted in a total demand coverage of 2155 h per year. It was also found that grid demand curves from industrial countries limit the deployment of medium-temperature TES systems coupled to ISCC power plants, since their typical demand curves are characterized by lower power demand around solar noon when solar radiation is higher. In such scenarios, the Brayton turbine design is constrained by noon grid demand, which limits the solar field and receiver thermal power design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Energy Modelling for Renewable Energy Applications)
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Review

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14 pages, 878 KiB  
Review
A Review on Thermal Energy Modelling for Optimal Microgrids Management
by Mengxuan Yan, Dongxiao Wang, Chun Sing Lai and Loi Lei Lai
Thermo 2021, 1(1), 63-76; https://doi.org/10.3390/thermo1010006 - 25 Apr 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3558
Abstract
Microgrids have become increasingly popular in recent years due to technological improvements, growing recognition of their benefits, and diminishing costs. By clustering distributed energy resources, microgrids can effectively integrate renewable energy resources in distribution networks and satisfy end-user demands, thus playing a critical [...] Read more.
Microgrids have become increasingly popular in recent years due to technological improvements, growing recognition of their benefits, and diminishing costs. By clustering distributed energy resources, microgrids can effectively integrate renewable energy resources in distribution networks and satisfy end-user demands, thus playing a critical role in transforming the existing power grid to a future smart grid. There are many existing research and review works on microgrids. However, the thermal energy modelling in optimal microgrid management is seldom discussed in the current literature. To address this research gap, this paper presents a detailed review on the thermal energy modelling application on the optimal energy management for microgrids. This review firstly presents microgrid characteristics. Afterwards, the existing thermal energy modeling utilized in microgrids will be discussed, including the application of a combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) and thermal comfort model to form virtual energy storage systems. Current trial programs of thermal energy modelling for microgrid energy management are analyzed and some challenges and future research directions are discussed at the end. This paper serves as a comprehensive review to the most up-to-date thermal energy modelling applications on microgrid energy management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermal Energy Modelling for Renewable Energy Applications)
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