The heat transfer characteristics and safety of a single tank thermal storage system during charging and discharging cycle are important indicators affecting the performance of the thermal storage tank. By coupling finite volume method and finite element method

a comprehensive model of a multi-layer wall structure molten salt single tank system is established

and the effects of inlet flow velocity and inlet/outlet temperature difference on the dynamic thermal characteristics and mechanical properties of the thermal storage tank during continuous charging and discharging cycling process are explored. The results indicate that

increasing the inlet flow rate will reduce the heat storage and improve the thermal efficiency

but will also increase the equivalent stress on the tank wall. Increasing the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet will increase the heat storage and reduce the thermal efficiency

and also increase the equivalent stress on the tank wall. To ensure the heat storage and thermal efficiency of the single tank heat storage system

as well as the safety of the system

for the single tank system with a heat storage capacity of 40 MW·h

the inlet flow rate of molten salt should be controlled within 0.002 60～ 0.003 46 m/s

and the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of molten salt needs to be controlled within 200～250 K.