Abstract
Based on previous experiences which have proven the efficiency of PCM heat exchangers for air temperature control, we designed and simulated new PCM heat exchanger structures made of multiple PCM layers sandwiched between loading and discharge layers. By circulating air or water in the discharge circuit, these heat exchangers can be used for heating air or water, respectively. For both use cases, a three-dimensional analysis of the phase change and calculations of the charge/discharge powers were performed for the fusion and solidification processes. We obtained heating discharge powers ≥ 2.6 kW/m3 for 8 hours for air and ≥ 65 kW/m3 for 13 minutes for water with a respective total storage capacity of 28 kWh/m3 and 37 kWh/m3. The heat extraction of air and water flows and their time dependence are discussed according to the percentage of liquid PCM and the temperature profile of the discharge flow inside the heat exchanger.
Highlights
If the use of renewable energy can increase building energy autonomy, it still faces a major problem: the time dephasing between peak energy production and thermal needs
As thermal needs correspond to about 80% of building energy consumption in central and northern Europe, thermal storage could be the ideal solution to increase the self-consumption of buildings equipped with renewable energy [1,2,3]
We propose in this paper a new Phase Change Materials (PCM) heat exchanger structure that can either be used for air temperature control or for domestic hot water, and that uses its own structure to macro-encapsulate the PCM
Summary
If the use of renewable energy can increase building energy autonomy, it still faces a major problem: the time dephasing between peak energy production and thermal needs. Phase Change Materials (PCM) have been successfully used for heat storage and in building temperature stabilization In most cases it is integrated in building walls, floors or ceilings that can smooth day and night temperature fluctuations [4]. We propose a new system based on PCM layer(s) placed between two circuits: one for loading and the other for discharging, which makes on-demand activation of the charge and discharge processes possible Such a system was previously developed with a 4m3 test bench, which was repeatedly loaded and unloaded to study its thermal properties [5, 6]. We propose in this paper a new PCM heat exchanger structure that can either be used for air temperature control or for domestic hot water, and that uses its own structure to macro-encapsulate the PCM
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