화학공학소재연구정보센터
Solar Energy, Vol.177, 657-664, 2019
On-sun testing of Miscibility Gap Alloy thermal storage
The ability of a C-Zn Miscibility Gap Alloy (MGA) material to operate as a combined solar receiver and storage was investigated. MGA thermal energy storage materials comprise metallic PCM particles embedded within a conducting metal or semi-metal matrix to form a macroscopically solid combined latent heat/sensible heat storage material. A receiver containing 4 x 1L MGA storage modules was mounted on a solar concentrating dish. The storage material was directly illuminated by concentrated solar radiation at a flux of approximately 105 kW/m(2), readily attaining surface temperatures of 520-530 degrees C, well above the phase change temperature of 420 degrees C. Single step charging led to a state of charge of 80% without exceeding a nominal surface temperature of 530 degrees C. Cycling on and off sun in the range 460-520 degrees C was used to achieve a state of 99% charged. Thermal performance of the MGA during solar charging and its discharge by natural cooling is presented and analysed.