Specifications

THERESA - Thermal energy storage system

The THERESA test facility is a thermal energy storage test facility in the Zittau power plant laboratory. It simulates thermal power plant processes and is suitable for experimental investigations requiring steam or saturated water at high temperatures and pressures. The THERESA test facility supports research in various subject areas:     
               

  • Components of CARNOT batteries (Rankine process)
  • Integration of thermal energy storage systems into existing power plant systems
  • Experimental investigations under realistic operating conditions and loads
  • Analysis of the dynamic operating behavior
  • Dynamic simulations and experimental validation
  • Development of automation concepts for the flexible operation of combined heat and power systems with thermal energy storage systems
  • Safety-related investigations of system components for industry
  • intelligent gateways (digital twin)

THERESA - Thermal Energy Storage Test Facility

THERESA is a Thermal Energy Storage Test Facility located in the Zittau Power Plant Laboratory. It reproduces thermal power plant processes and is feasible for experimental investigations where steam or saturated water under high pressure and temperature conditions is required. THERESA supports research on several topics:     
            

  • components of CARNOT-Batteries (Rankine cycle)
  • integration of thermal energy storages in existing power plant systems
  • experimental investigations under realistic parameters and workloads
  • analysis of dynamic operating behaviour
  • dynamic simulations and experimental validation
  • development of automation concepts for flexible operating of combined heat and power systems with thermal storages
  • safety related investigations of plant components for industries
  • intelligent gateways (digital twin)

Features

media water-steam-loop
max. temperature 345 °C
max. pressure 60 bar
max. steady flow rates 0.1 kg/s steam [0.5 kg/s feed-water]
saturated water cycle up to 276 °C and 60 bar
steam cycle up to 345 °C and 60 bar
universal interface
  • freely selectable steam parameters (wet / saturated / superheated steam)
  • for analysis of integration of thermal energy storages in thermal processes with different nominal power
  • for analysis and tests of specific components (e.g. heat engines or heat pumps)

 

Power Plant Sub-Systems

preheater 1 60 bar, 150 °C, 370 kWth, steam operated
preheater 2 60 bar, 265 °C, 255 kWth, steam operated
steam generator 60 bar, 276 °C, 200 kWel, electrically operated
super heater 60 bar, 345 °C, 60 kWel, electrically operated
heat sink pressureless, 95 °C, 17 m³
cooling circuit 16 bar, 105 °C, 780 kWth

 

Heat Storage

thermal battery power 240 kWth, capacity 60 kWhth, 60 bar, 265 °C, 0,6 m³
steam accumulator / generator power 180 kWth, capacity 100 kWhth, 60 bar, 276 °C, 1 m³

 

Features

Medium Water-steam cycle
max. temperature 345 °C
Max. pressure 60 bar
max. stationary
flow rates		 0.1 kg/s steam [0.5 kg/s feed water]
saturated water circuit up to 276 °C and 60 bar
Steam circuit up to 345 °C and 60 bar
Universal interface
  • Freely selectable steam parameters (wet / saturated / superheated steam)
  • for analyzing the integration of thermal energy storage in thermal processes with different nominal outputs
  • for analyzing and testing specific components (e.g. heat engines or heat pumps)

Power plant components

Preheater 1 60 bar, 150 °C, 370 kWth, steam-driven
Preheater 2 60 bar, 265 °C, 255 kWth, steam-operated
Steam generator 60 bar, 276 °C, 200 kWel, electrically operated
Superheater 60 bar, 345 °C, 60 kWel, electrically operated
Heat sink unpressurized, 95 °C, 17 m³
Cooling circuit 16 bar, 105 °C, 780 kWth

Heat accumulator

Thermal battery Output 240 kWth, capacity 60 kWhth, 60 bar, 265 °C, 0.6 m³
Steam accumulator / steam generator Output 180 kWth, capacity 100 kWhth, 60 bar, 276 °C, 1 m³