Session: 07-04: Modeling of Thermal Energy Storage and Receiver Systems

Paper Number: 169956

169956 - Dem and Simplified Cfd Analysis via U(i) Rheology of the Sandewirm, a Rotating Particle‑based Thermal Energy Storage System 

Abstract: 

A novel thermal energy storage device, Sandewirm, represents an approach to storing and managing thermal energy through an innovative particle-based mechanism. This system utilizes a combination of granular flow dynamics and thermal exchange principles to achieve energy storage and mass particle transfer capabilities. Sandewirm consists of opposing inner and outer helices and a particle heat exchange system. During rotation, particles flow down the outer helix through the exchanger and into the inner helix. The device stores thermal energy when rotating one way and releases it when rotating the other. This design leverages the advantages of existing pumped thermal energy storage technologies while potentially offering the capability of long-duration energy storage (>8 hours) and storage temperatures up to 1000°C. In order to design and optimize Sandewirm, a numerical method is needed to study the dynamics of the particles inside the device. It is computationally challenging to study the rotating Sandewirm employing the Discrete Element Method (DEM). The DEM simulation can be overly complicated and unstable due to the device's intricate shape and many moving elements. Furthermore, due to the high number of particles the DEM can be computationally intensive. Consequently, the problem is simplified via a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model using u(I) rheology to capture a continuum approximate of the dense granular flow. Hence, a number of optimization simulations are feasible by the simplified CFD model. A few DEM simulations can be utilized to fine-tune the final constructed device. The methodology and the preliminary results will be presented.

Presenting Author: Alireza Kianimoqadam University of Dayton

Presenting Author Biography: Alireza Kianimoqadam earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Isfahan University of Technology (Iran) and received his PhD in 2024 from the University of Maine. His research focuses on developing and streamlining CFD-DEM solvers for modeling particulate fluid flow. He is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Dayton working on the Sandewirm project with Brayton Energy.