Simulation and Economic Analysis of a Mobilized Thermal Energy Storage System for Mediterranean Climate Buildings: Case Study

The mobilized thermal energy storage system (M-TES) has been investigated for decades, demonstrating its competitiveness compared to conventional heating systems like oil, gas, and biomass boilers. This paper presents a case study where waste heat from a power plant is utilized in M-TES to cover heating, cooling, and water heating needs in a university campus. Erythritol is used as the phase change material (PCM) and Therminol55 as the heat transfer fluid (HTF). The study simulates the charge, self-discharge, and discharge phases of the PCM, revealing that increased HTF flow reduces charging time and enhances efficiency, while increased waste heat potential decreases charging efficiency slightly. Economic evaluation shows that heat costs decrease with larger project scales and more PCM containers. This research highlights M-TES as a sustainable thermal energy storage solution with broad applications in the energy sector.