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Hello,
I am looking for Type 1531 in TRNSYS 17, as it is not part of the standard library. I would like to know where I can obtain or purchase it.
I intend to model an underground TTES (Thermal Energy Storage) tank operating at up to 3 bar overpressure to raise the boiling point to 133°C. The tank would be charged from solar collectors, industrial waste heat, and geothermal energy, and the stored heat would then be boosted to 185°C using a heat pump for final use.
My questions:
- Where can I obtain Type 1531 for TRNSYS 17?
- Is Type 1531 suitable for modeling a TTES tank with elevated pressure?
- Is it compatible with Type 957, which would be used to boost the temperature to 185°C using a heat pump?
I would appreciate any information or a contact for the developer.
Thanks!
Type1531 and 957 are both TESS components. You can contact the developer by emailing techsupport@tess-inc.com.
Type1531 was written for Trnsys v18. An earlier version called Type531 was written for Trnsys v17.
The fundamental assumption of both Type1531 and 531 (as well as of most of the other thermal storage tank models) is that the thermal properties (thermal conductivity, specific heat, density, viscosity, etc.) are constant over the working temperature range in the simulation. Neither of those tanks models a phase change so as long as you can assume the thermal properties to be constant, you can specify whatever liquid you want and heat that liquid to whatever temperature is appropriate.
You'll need to make sure that your heat pump model contains performance data for temperatures as high as 185. Most heat pump models in TRNSYS rely on performance maps that give heating/cooling capacity and power consumption over a range of working temperatures. If you call the model with a temperature outside of that range, it will still return a capacity and a power consumption value but the values will correspond to the closest temperature that was found in the data file. As such you need to make sure that the heat pump you are analyzing can actually generate temperatures in your range of interest.
David
Gašper Brunskole Topic starter
02/04/2025 8:05 am
@davidbradley We have determined that we need an above-ground TTES storage tank capable of maintaining a temperature of up to approximately 115°C. Since the medium will be water, the tank will also be subject to overpressure.
I would like to ask which TRNSYS Type would be the most suitable for these conditions and why this specific type is recommended over others.
Additionally, I have also looked into Type 158, which seems applicable for such a simulation, but I am not entirely sure if it meets all the necessary requirements.
Thank you for your time and response!
Best regards,
Gasper
Gašper, any of the tank models that have mentioned been mentioned in this thread will work for your application. Type158 would be a fine choice as long as it has the configuration features that you need (heat exchangers, multiple inlet/outlet ports etc.) None of the tanks mentioned account for boiling; their performance is based on the assumption that the thermal properties of the working liquid (thermal conductivity, viscosity, specific heat, density) are constant over the working temperature range. You may need to adjust those values to be appropriate to the liquid that you're working with and the pressure of that liquid.
david
Gašper Brunskole Topic starter
28/04/2025 11:09 am
@davidbradley Thank you. I also looked at type 534, which has the option for multiple exchangers, which is exactly what I need... the only problem I have here is that it doesn't offer an option to define the size of the storage tank. I don't know how or where I can set this, if you might know?
Thank you in advance for your answer.
Gašper Brunskole Topic starter
28/04/2025 12:26 pm
@davidbradley Probability is probably set under example fail 534... because I found this, but I'm not sure what is the height and what is the diameter or radius, etc
There are two versions of the Type534 proforma. A proforma is basically a way of describing a model's inputs to the TRNSYS engine. With Type534, you can enter the parameters manually (select the "version without plugin") or you can use a small interface program that allows you to enter the parameters and to select some options (select the "version with plugin"). The file you are looking at (Example_534.dat) is a text file that is written by the plugin and read by Type534. It is not intended to be edited by hand (thus the lack of comments indicating what the numbers correspond to).
The advantage of using the plugin is that you can specify any Type534 configuration (number of heat exchangers, heat exchanger configuration, number of inlet/outlet port pairs, etc.). The advantage of the non-plugin version is that all of the information is in one place just like with other Trnsys components.
I would recommend that if you can find the configuration of tank that you want to model among the configurations available without the plugin then do so. If you cannot find the configuration you want then use the "with plugin" version. To launch the plugin, open the Type534 proforma in your project and click on the button that is supposed to look like a magic wand in the lower left corner of the proforma window.
