Energy and Cost Analysis of a New Packed Bed Pumped Thermal Electricity Storage Unit

Abstract

Renewable energy sources (RES) are quite capable to actively contribute to meet the today's energy demand. However, many of them have a time-dependent nature that constitutes their major disadvantage. To overcome this drawback, energy storage systems (ESS) need to be set up. In this way, the stored energy can be used in the absence of RES or under peak demand hours. High-temperature pumped thermal electricity storage (PTES) using packed bed constitutes an attractive solution but is characterized by high losses and irreversibilities. For this reason, in this paper, a new plant scheme is presented and its mathematical model built up. To predict the packed bed behavior, a one-dimensional two phase model of the hot and cold storages has been included, while the plant feasibility is evaluated using an energy and a cost analysis. Results show that the highest quantity of energy and round-trip efficiency are reached with a packed bed made of magnetite and titanium oxide.