Abstract
Thermal energy storage (TES) is an essential part of a solar thermal/hot water system. It was shown that TES significantly enhances the efficiency and cost effectiveness of solar thermal systems by fulfilling the gap/mismatch between the solar radiation supply during the day and peak demand/load when sun is not available. In the present paper, a three-dimensional numerical model of a water-based thermal storage tank to provide domestic hot water demand is conducted. Phase change material (PCM) was used in the tank as a thermal storage medium and was connected to a photovoltaic thermal collector. The present paper shows the effectiveness of utilizing PCMs in a commercial 30-gallon domestic hot water tank used in buildings. The storage efficiency and the outlet water temperature were predicted to evaluate the storage system performance for different charging flow rates and different numbers of families demands. The results revealed that increases in the hot water supply coming from the solar collector caused increases in the outlet water temperature during the discharge period for one family demand. In such a case, it was observed that the storage efficiency was relatively low. Due to low demand (only one family), the PCMs were not completely crystallized at the end of the discharge period. The results showed that the increases in the family’s demand improve the thermal storage efficiency due to the increases in the portion of the energy that is recovered during the nighttime.
Highlights
Phase change materials (PCMs) are an important topic in research and industry
The results revealed that the use of PCMs reduced energy consumption by 18–32%
A three-dimensional numerical model was created using finite element techniques (COMSOL Multiphysics) for a 30-gallon domestic hot water thermal storage tank connected to a photovoltaic thermal collector
Summary
Phase change materials (PCMs) are an important topic in research and industry. PCMs can store large amounts of heat at constant temperature while the material changes phase or state. The majority of applications for PCMs are for space heating/cooling and providing domestic hot water for buildings. PCMs have high energy density and latent heat, and they are cost-effective. Phase change material (PCM) is an environmentally friendly material used to improve building energy consumption and indoor thermal comfort [1,2]. An experimental study investigated a heat pump utilizing a thermal energy storage (TES) tank [3]. It was found that a PCM storage tank has 14.5% better performance. The PCM storage tank improved indoor temperature stability within comfort 20.65% longer in time. A thermal storage system was installed in a one family house [4], where sodium acetate trihydrate (SAT) was used as a PCM
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