Experimental campaign and numerical analyses of thermal storage concrete modules

A three-stage study on the behaviour of storage plants employing concrete with upgraded thermo-mechanical characteristics is here developed. The first stage defines the experimental campaign on a mixing at improved conductivity, via the SolTeCa experimental system, with review of the storage elements geometry, location of thermocouples and cycling procedures. The experimental results, obtained by ENEA via a comparison with appropriately performed numerical calculations, are interpreted during the second stage. Finally, a first design of a new equipment for the thermal cycling of storage elements up to 400 °C is proposed, based on Joule-effect heating. The numerical results are reported, in order to understand the thermal dynamics as well as the induced thermo-mechanical effects on concrete elements.