Abstract
A latent energy storage (LES) unit is presented in this paper for free space cooling and ventilation application. The unit includes multiple phase change materials (PCM) to advance the thermal performance of common LES units. It is composed by metallic rectangular panels containing commercial paraffins with melting temperatures ranging among 20 °C and 25 °C and surrounded by air channels. The average cooling load of the unit corresponds to approximately 1 kW over 8 h. It fulfils the peak ventilation cooling load during summer of an office building in Portugal. The study provides a techno-economic analysis and the environmental benefits of the LES technology compared to a traditional air conditioning (AC) unit for the cooling and ventilation of an office building. During daytime, the air-multiple PCM unit allows reducing the energy consumption by nearly 200 kWh. The full charging of the PMs during nighttime, requires significant energy consumption due to the high air flowrate demand for full solidification. The competitiveness of such units can be achieved by introducing fins into the panels, allowing double the energy savings. In an overall perspective, the unit presents several benefits such as lower initial cost and reduced maintenance requirements (non-use of refrigerants and batteries) that also allows better personal health issues when related to traditional ACs.
Highlights
Nonresidential buildings in Europe encompass one fourth of the building stock, with office buildings accounting among the most significant contributors to demand growth [1]
This paper provides a contribution to knowledge by presenting the application of an air-multiple phase change materials (PCM) unit for the free cooling ventilation of an office building located in Portugal
For the multiple PCM unit, in addition to the PCM included in the experimental melting temperature between 18 and 20 ◦ C was selected and accurately integrated in the and numerically
Summary
Nonresidential buildings in Europe encompass one fourth of the building stock, with office buildings accounting among the most significant contributors to demand growth [1]. For free cooling of buildings, such units require careful selection of the PCMs such that the melting and solidification points guarantee a complete charging and discharging process This depends mostly on local climate conditions. There is still a lack of adequate information on real potentials and practical aspects of PCM application in buildings (e.g., techno-economic), namely on independent air-PCM systems to provide cooling of buildings On this segment, this paper provides a contribution to knowledge by presenting the application of an air-multiple PCM unit for the free cooling ventilation of an office building located in Portugal. The paper focuses on a techno-economic analysis of such unit and a conventional air conditioning system considering the environmental aspects This analysis intends to bridge the LES application gap in buildings as other relevant applications. Such standalone analysis corresponds to an essential input for applied research, looking for a higher level of readiness and its market uptake
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
