Abstract
Low-temperature thermal storage has a huge potential in residential use for regulating the energy supply. This paper proposes a new thermal storage system consisting of modular units. Users can combine different numbers of the units to achieve the desirable energy demand. In this study, a single unit was studied. The hydrated salt was used as the phase change material (PCM) and it was packed in spherical capsule. The phase change situation of each PCM balls were analysed with numerical simulation method. The results showed that the PCM balls in different position had different change rate. In the charging process, the thermal stratification happened after the middle part of the unit, the down layer PCM balls took 30% more time than upper layer to be melted completely. In discharging process, considered the user requirement, the low inlet velocity may fit the single unit. The thermal stratification also happened in the discharging process, and it is most obvious in the middle part.
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