http://hdl.handle.net/10174/29523 2026-04-03T20:08:16Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/39010 Title: Preliminary simulation results of a molten salt thermal storage thank for concentrated solar power Authors: Mané, Júnior; Malico, Isabel; Domingues, Nuno; Ait El Cadi, Radia; Horta, Pedro Abstract: Molten salt thermal storage systems play a critical role in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, ensuring energy storage and dispatchability. Among these, thermocline tanks offer the potential for cost reduction, compared to the standard thermal storage system implemented in CSP plants: a two-tank solution (for hot and cold fluid, individually). This paper presents initial results from a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of the 2.86 MWhth thermocline-tank installed at the EMSP – Évora Molten Salt Platform. The tank incorporates a filler material to enhance thermal stratification. The CFD model integrates the transport equations for mass, momentum and energy, along with closure models to account for the pressure drop imposed by the presence of the filler material and the heat transfer between the molten salts and the filler material. Validation of the model is conducted using experimental data from the literature. The simulation investigates the thermal performance of the tank during the discharging phase, where the axial temperature at the centerline of the tank was monitored periodically. The results were obtained for a simplified geometry of the tank as more improvements can still be made in future work to ensure the accuracy of the model. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/37914 Title: Optimização económica da operação de armazenamento térmico a sais fundidos com pirólise de biomassa: Um caso de estudo para a região do Alentejo Authors: Pires, Celísio; Frederico, Felizardo; Mané, Junior; Canavarro, Diogo; Malico, Isabel; Horta, Pedro Abstract: A biomassa lenho-celulósica apresenta-se hoje como um recurso com potenciais novos usos, nomeadamente na produção de biocombustíveis na forma líquida como o bioetanol ou o biodiesel ou biocombustíveis na forma sólida e gasosos como o carvão vegetal, o biogás ou o gás de síntese. Portugal tem cerca de 35% do seu território coberto por floresta, apresentando-se a região do Alentejo como a que apresenta a maior variedade de fontes de biomassa residual, agroindustrial e agrícola, contabilizando cerca de 2,1 mil milhões de toneladas. A coincidência, nesta região, de recursos de biomassa com o mais importante recurso solar a nível nacional - e um dos mais altos a nível europeu - potencia a combinação de sistemas de energia solar com equipamentos de tratamento de biomassa. Neste artigo aborda-se a optimização económica da operação de um sistema de produção termoquímica de gás de síntese tendo por base a pirólise de biomassa integrada num sistema de armazenamento térmico com sais fundidos. 2024-05-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/37904 Title: Literature review of Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling of thermocline tanks Authors: Mané, Junior; Domingues, Nuno; Malico, Isabel Abstract: A thermocline tank consists of a thermal energy storage system that allows the continuously operation of a Concentrated Solar Power plant even during periods of solar intermittency, making it a complementary and crucial asset in this type of systems. Accordingly, it is important to conduct a thorough evaluation of the system performance and using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to such purpose as become increasingly popular. Consequently, understanding which phenomena are considered relevant in CFD modelling of thermocline tanks, the parametric studies already conducted and the identification of some opportunities for future work in this area becomes crucial to accelerate knowledge about a renewable energy production system that can provide some answers to the troublesome times we live regarding energy consumption. The present paper conducts a systematic literature review in the area of CFD modelling of thermocline tanks. For this purpose, the PRSIMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology is described and used. 2024-03-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/36245 Title: AN OPTIMIZED APPROACH FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC PARAMETERS EXTRACTION Authors: Mesbahi, Oumaima; Tlemçani, Mouhaydine; Janeiro, Fernando M. Abstract: The state of deterioration of a photovoltaic technology's internal components, is the primary negative event that these technologies encounter [1]. The internal parameters of solar panels as well as the overall production might be affected by this degradation. The optimization procedure for obtaining these parameters goes through three phases; measuring the solar cell's response (current and voltage); calculating the discrepancies between measured and estimated data; and applying an optimization method for minimization. IV tracers susceptibility to additive noise is examined, and in order to justify its use [2], a new optimization cost function is presented and contrasted with the traditional function [3]. Eleven metaheuristic approaches for extracting photovoltaic parameters were also used, and their effectiveness was compared [4]. The goal of this research was to determine the optimal electrical model, cost function, and optimization technique to utilize in order to acquire the best photovoltaic parameters and the appropriate instrument resolution. 2023-03-29T23:00:00Z