Dynamic temperature variation of insulation materials for solid-phase cold storage tank of liquid air energy storage

Abstract The cold storage tank is a vital component within the liquid air energy storage system, enabling the transfer of cold energy between the processes of air liquefaction and gasification. Solid-phase cold storage, distinguished by its lack of operating temperature constraints, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness, stands out as a highly promising method for cold storage in liquid air energy storage systems. The solid-phase cold storage tank undergoes periodic cycles of heating and cooling during the processes of air liquefaction and gasification. To explore the dynamic temperature variations in the external insulation material of the solid-phase cold storage tank and improve its insulation performance, this study developed a dynamic computational model for the tank’s insulation system. It simulated the temperature distribution and dynamic changes of the insulation material in the first-stage (173~300K) cold storage tanks under periodic temperature fluctuations within the tanks. The dynamic temperature changes of the insulation material were examined with a focus on the effects of insulation material type, thickness, and the cycle time.