Browsing by Author "Wolde Ponce, Ian"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    A detailed multi-component heat configuration assessment for complex industrial plants through Monte Carlo simulations: a case study for the cement industry
    (2025) Wolde Ponce, Ian; Starke, Allan R.; da Silva, Alexandre K.; Cardemil, José M.
    The decarbonization of industrial plants involves the integration of cleaner and more efficient energy processes, which might include electrification, renewable energy sources, waste heat recovery, and thermal energy storage. The technical viability of each assisting technology is usually assessed through direct simulations of the integrated system, which makes evaluation often difficult. This study proposes a methodology for estimating the heat demands of different configurations of a generic cement plant, aiming to assess the fuel consumption for the several integration cases considered. The waste heat and the mass flow rate of the internal streams are considered variable parameters, which lead to 32 distinct integration cases and 16,000 plant simulations. The operating conditions are generated through a Monte Carlo approach, ensuring the probability distribution of the results. The waste heat measures increase the plant’s heat demand and hinder its efficiency. A linear regression for fuel heat demand shows results ranging from 113.72MW to 492.62MW
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    Compatibility assessment of thermal energy storage integration into industrial heat supply and recovery systems
    (2024) Wolde Ponce, Ian; Cardemil Iglesias, José Miguel; Escobar Moragas, Rodrigo
    Thermal energy storage (TES) systems can be used for recovering industrial waste heat and increasing energy efficiency, especially when coupled to batch thermal processes. Stratified water thermal storage tanks are the preferred technology for low-temperature applications, while molten salts are commonly used in medium and high-temperature applications with large storage capacities. No clear consensus exists on the appropriate TES technology for different industrial demands characteristics and their respective heat supply systems for medium and high-temperature applications. The present study analyzes several industrial sectors and their thermal processes, analyzing their temperature ranges, heat demands, and available TES technologies, which are classified by their operational conditions. The study presents two novel indicators for a preliminar compatibility assessment between TES and industrial sectors: a temperature compatibility indicator and exergy efficiency for TES and thermal processes. The results show that low and medium-temperature applications such as food, chemical, or textile industries exhibit high compatibilities with water (over 64%), high-temperature PCM (over 61%), and solid-state TES (100%), whereas molten salts and chemical looping demonstrate lower compatibility (below 24%). The exergy analysis for industrial cases shows that a lower temperature operating range for a TES induces low exergy efficiency. Regarding this scenario, high-temperature cPCM reaches efficiencies of over 44% for mid and high-temperature processes. Conversely, solid-state TES emerges as the most viable option for integration in high-temperature industries, exhibiting an efficiency of 62% with minimal exergy losses. The indicators defined in this study can be used for an early evaluation of TES integration in industrial applications, thus promoting emerging technologies selection through a quantitative comparison of the compatibility metrics.
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    Modular Solar Drying and Thermal Energy Storage System Configuration Assessment
    (2025) Wolde Ponce, Ian; Molina, Matías; Calderón Vásquez, Ignacio Andrés; Pailahueque, Nicolas; Cardemil Iglesias, José Miguel
    Solar drying is an effective method for preserving food and enhancing its character-istics by removing moisture using ambient air and elevated temperatures. This technology, made for harnessing solar energy, offers a sustainable alternative to conventional drying meth-ods, reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. This study investigates the configuration of a solar drying system for kiwi slices, based on flat plate collector (FPC) combined with packed bed thermal energy storage (PBTES) using copper slag as the storage medium. The research assesses both unidirectional and bidirectional configurations of the storage unit flow to deter-mine the effect on the drying process. The analysis is supported on experimental validation of the thermal models for the FPC and PBTES unit, along with the calibration of the drying model using existing data. Results indicate that unidirectional flow provides better outcomes with smaller storage volumes, whereas bidirectional flow may offer superior performance with larger storage volumes. The maximum plant factor obtained was 93,3% for the bidirectional configu-ration with a solar field size of 10 m2 and storage volume of 3141 lt. A careful calibration of the thermal system is necessary to avoid suboptimal configurations that either underutilize solar energy or risk overheating the product. The use of a bidirectional configuration with solar heat could lead to a better process performance without the need for external heating.
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    Parametric analysis of a modular solar drying and packed bed thermal energy storage system
    (2025) Wolde Ponce, Ian; Calderon Vasquez, Ignacio Andres; Molina, Matias; Pailahueque, Nicolas; Cardemil Iglesias, Jose Miguel
    Solar drying is an effective technology for reducing fossil fuel consumption in food preservation. However, its reliability is limited by the availability of solar radiation. Integrating thermal energy storage (TES) can enhance system efficiency by extending operation beyond peak sunlight hours. The use of industrial by-products with high thermal capacities, such as metallurgical slags, offers a promising alternative for TES. However, the integration of solar collectors and TES remains a challenge, as system performance depends on the configuration and operational strategy. This study presents a parametric analysis of a solar drying system for kiwifruit slices, incorporating solar air collectors and a packed-bed TES unit. A validated mathematical model, supported by experimental data, is used to assess three different schemes for discharging TES, considering flow-switching strategies, six solar field configurations, and the role of an auxiliary heater in maintaining drying reliability throughout the year. The findings indicate that early switching the airflow, combined with smaller TES volumes and one solar collector, achieves a 40.53% cost reduction compared to a conventional drying configuration. The results highlight that balancing the system’s components significantly enhances solar drying performance.