Optimization of Thermal Storage Based on Load Graph of Thermal Energy System

Thermal energy storage (TES) can average the loads of thermal energy systems, thus increases their energetic and exergetic efficiencies. The steam boiler plant with violently fluctuating loads is a typical example when a steam accumulator is added to it. However, the comparatively big first cost constitutes a barrier to wide use of TES. The cost will notably be reduced through minimizing the necessary thermal capacity of TES. A computer program for performing the optimization is illustrated in the paper. This program was applied to an existing boiler plant equipped with a steam accumulator. The results show that there would have been a remarkable reduction in the necessary capacity, if the capacity of this steam accumulator had been optimized. Four conclusions have been reached.