Selection and performance evaluation of waste and by-product materials for thermal storage applications

Abstract

Recycled materials and by-products could help solve the waste crisis and support the circular economy. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of potentially available wastes and by-products in Morocco to the local rock Gneiss, for use in sensible heat thermal energy storage. A heat transfer model was developed to undertake the benchmark, a control volume approach and an implicit scheme have been used to solve the modelling equations. The study concludes that Gneiss followed by asbestos-containing waste ceramics presented the fastest charging rates and elevated energy and exergy efficiencies, while the demolition wastes showed the highest amount of recovered energy during longer periods of charge and discharge.