EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF ENERGY STORAGE AND RECOVERY WITH FLUID CHANGE: APPLICATION IN A CYLINDRICAL ENCLOSURE FILLED WITH A POROUS TERRACOTTA MEDIUM AT THIKI IN THE THIES REGION

This study presents an experimental investigation into energy storage and recovery through fluid exchange, applied to a cylindrical enclosure filled with a porous medium composed of terracotta balls from Thiki, located in the Thiès region. The goal of this research is to contribute to improving energy efficiency, a critical factor in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector. The objective of the study is to achieve optimal energy efficiency by testing the device with clay balls exhibiting a porosity of 0.57. A 180-ohm thermal resistor, providing a maximum power of 60 watts, serves as the energy source. To gather thermal data, ten thermocouples were positioned at various locations within the enclosure and linked to an Agilent data acquisition system. The findings of this experiment demonstrate a significant thermal storage capacity in the porous medium created by the Thiki terracotta. We examined the temperature evolution, as well as the changes in energy and power over time, underscoring the potential of this material for thermal energy storage applications.