Xin Zhou
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Xin Zhou has a total of 5 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Abdulnaser Ibrahim Sayma
College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University of London, Kingston Lane, London UB8 3PH, UK
1 shared publication - Davide Iaria
Department of Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics, School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering, University of London, London EC1V 0HB, UK
1 shared publication - Gang Xiao
State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
1 shared publication - Jafar Al-Zaili
Department of Engineering, City St George’s, University of London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK
1 shared publication - Qiang Zhang
Tsinghua University
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
Development of a Model for Performance Analysis of a Honeycomb Thermal Energy Storage for Solar Power Microturbine Applications
Solar power microturbines are required to produce steady power despite the fluctuating solar radiation, with concerns on the dispatchability of such plants where thermal energy storage may offer a solution to address the issue. This paper presents a mathematical model for performance prediction of a honeycomb sensible-heat thermal energy storage designed for application of concentrated solar power microturbine. The focus in the model is to consider the laminar developing boundary layers at the entry of the flow channels, which could have a profound effect on the heat-transfer coefficient due to large velocity and temperature gradients, an effect which has not been considered in the modelling of such storage systems. Analysing the thermal and hydrodynamic boundary layer development, the Nusselt number and the friction factor were evaluated using a validated conjugate heat-transfer method. The simulations results were used to develop accurate regression functions for Nusselt number and friction factor. These formulations have been adopted within a one-dimensional model to evaluate the performance of the storage under different operating conditions. The model was in good agreement with conjugate heat transfer results with maximum relative error below 2%. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methodology.
Open AccessDevelopment of a Model for Performance Analysis of a Honeycomb Thermal Energy Storage for Solar Power Microturbine Applications
Solar power microturbines are required to produce steady power despite the fluctuating solar radiation, with concerns on the dispatchability of such plants where thermal energy storage may offer a solution to address the issue. This paper presents a mathematical model for performance prediction of a honeycomb sensible-heat thermal energy storage designed for application of concentrated solar power microturbine. The focus in the model is to consider the laminar developing boundary layers at the entry of the flow channels, which could have a profound effect on the heat-transfer coefficient due to large velocity and temperature gradients, an effect which has not been considered in the modelling of such storage systems. Analysing the thermal and hydrodynamic boundary layer development, the Nusselt number and the friction factor were evaluated using a validated conjugate heat-transfer method. The simulations results were used to develop accurate regression functions for Nusselt number and friction factor. These formulations have been adopted within a one-dimensional model to evaluate the performance of the storage under different operating conditions. The model was in good agreement with conjugate heat transfer results with maximum relative error below 2%. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methodology.