Experimental and Numerical Study of Innovative Nanofluids: From Characterization to Performance in a Prototype Heat Exchanger.

PROJECT COST:

471 039 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

88 319 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

Sigma Energy Storage has recently developed a prototype for storing electrical energy derived from grid surplus or renewable sources. This energy is stored in two forms: compressed air and thermal energy. The latter form involves a concentric-tube heat exchanger with compressed air on one side and a nanofluid on the other. The project focuses on optimizing this heat exchanger and the nanofluid to improve thermal energy transfer during the energy storage and release phases. The main drawback of poorly or non-functionalized nanofluids is their tendency to agglomerate and settle. The project is divided into four phases, ranging from the synthesis of nanoparticles to the preparation and characterization of the thermophysical properties of the resulting nanofluids, to the dynamic study of these nanofluids in a finely instrumented heat exchanger developed at the University, and to its optimization through direct numerical simulations.
The fifth initiative involves the development of a hybrid phase-change storage material incorporating nanofluids to increase the system’s storage capacity. By controlling the entire process, the goal is to identify the nanofluid that not only offers the best performance but also maintains consistent properties after a large number of usage cycles (~24,000). This 500-kW storage unit is expected to deliver energy for approximately 20 hours at a very low cost of 0.05 CAD per kWh per cycle and is ideally suited for remote areas (Northern Canada) or conflict zones.