{
  "abstract": "Thermocline thermal energy storage systems based on two separated hot and cold regions in a single tank have been increasingly deployed in order to reduce investment and operative costs. Eni has developed a novel thermocline system based on concrete as storage medium, arranged as structed bed. The heat transfer fluid is in direct contact with the concrete in order to avoid possible concrete spalling and piping detachment affecting heat exchange and thermal efficiency of the system. This work describes the experimental campaign conducted at the Eni’s Renewable, New Energies and Material Science Research Center in Novara in a dedicated pilot plant, which included a 4 m high prototype with a thermal capacity of about 85 kWhth. Moreover, experimental results were used to validate 1D and 3D numerical models. Results showed high round-trip energy efficiency (up to about 97%) and large energy density (45 – 55 kWh/m3). The heating of the concrete in the overall horizontal section was homogeneous without showing the formation of preferential heating paths (e.g., central channels due to inlet nozzle). Moreover, very high reproducibility of tests was observed with no degradation of performance (e.g., reduction of charged/discharged energy) with increased number of cycles.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Eni (Italy)"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Stefano Cardamone",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4449-1852"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lino Carnelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Carla Lazzari"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Gabriele Bianchi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Davide Deriu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Tamara Passera",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5275-2026"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Giuseppe Sabetta",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9056-981X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mirko Barbavara"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Nicola Mancini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Chiara Gambaro"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bathd5z9vvxq0.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.52825/solarpaces.v4i.2967",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.tib-op.org/ojs/index.php/solarpaces/article/view/2967",
  "id": "bathd5z9vvxq0",
  "issns": [
    "2751-9899"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v4i.2967",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "QC1-999"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2210|Phase Change Materials Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223177971",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.tib-op.org/ojs/index.php/solarpaces/article/download/2967/3898",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-23",
  "publisher": "TIB Open Publishing",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bathd5z9vvxq0.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:43:59Z",
      "native_id": "b3bca23c6d6b4f7fa47a973f51f3c591",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v4i.2967"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "lcc:QC1-999",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Concrete Structured Bed Thermal Energy Storage With Direct Contact of the Heat Transfer Fluid",
  "title_text": "Concrete Structured Bed Thermal Energy Storage With Direct Contact of the Heat Transfer Fluid",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:43:59Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bathd5z9vvxq0",
  "venue": "SolarPACES Conference Proceedings",
  "versions": []
}