Title
Analyzing control challenges for thermal energy storage in foodstuffs
Abstract
We consider two important challenges that arise when thermal energy is to be stored in foodstuffs. We have previously introduced economic optimizing MPC schemes that both reduce operating costs and offer flexible power consumption in a future Smart Grid. The goal is to utilize the thermal capacity of refrigerated goods in a supermarket to shift the load of the system in time without deteriorating the quality of the foodstuffs. The analyses in this paper go before closing any control loops. In the first part, we introduce and validate a new model with which we can estimate the actual temperatures of refrigerated goods from available air temperature measurements. This is based on data obtained from a dedicated experiment. Since limits are specified for food temperatures, the estimate is essential for full exploitation of the thermal potential. Secondly, the thermal properties, shapes and sizes of different foodstuffs make them behave differently when exposed to changes in air temperature. We present a novel analysis based on Biot and Fourier numbers for the different foodstuffs. This provides a valuable tool for determining how different items can be utilized in load-shifting schemes on different timescales and for estimating maximum energy storage time. The results are shown for a large range of parameters, and with specific calculations for selected foodstuff items.
Year
DOI
Venue
2012
10.1109/CCA.2012.6402413
Control Applications
Keywords
Field
DocType
Fourier analysis,food products,power consumption,quality control,refrigeration,temperature measurement,thermal energy storage,Biot numbers,Fourier numbers,air temperature,control challenges analysis,control loops,economic optimizing MPC,flexible power consumption,foodstuff items,foodstuffs,load-shifting schemes,maximum energy storage time estimation,refrigerated goods,smart grid,temperature measurements,thermal energy storage,thermal potential
Energy storage,Refrigeration,Process engineering,Thermal energy storage,Thermal,Thermal energy,Smart grid,Computer science,Control engineering,Electrical engineering,Temperature measurement,Biot number
Conference
ISSN
ISBN
Citations 
1085-1992 E-ISBN : 978-1-4673-4504-0
978-1-4673-4504-0
4
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.62
1
4