Parametric analysis and design optimisation of PCM thermal energy storage system for space cooling of buildings

Abstract

The paper presents a parametric analysis and design optimisation of an active PCM thermal energy storage system for space cooling of nearly zero-energy buildings. The design for a new space cooling system proposes a TES system composed of stand-alone PCM storage units incorporated into the building interior under the ceiling slab. Active control of the thermal energy storage is realized by night cooling of a phase change material by means of cold water flowing within a capillary pipe system. The objective of the study is to examine the effect of the system’s main parameters such as PCM layer thickness, number of parallel pipes, diameter of pipes, night cooling duration, cooling water inlet temperature and velocity under Baltic summer weather conditions. Parametric analysis is performed by using computational fluid dynamics software Ansys Fluent. Optimisation of the main parameters is carried out to determine the best combination of their values ensuring the system is able to absorb the daily thermal loads within the room and operates with minimum energy consumption for the night cooling of PCM.