Cooling System with PCM Storage for an Office Building: Experimental Investigation Aided by a Model of the Office Thermal Dynamics

Karwacki, J.

doi:10.3390/ma14061356

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In this study three commercial PCMs, RT15, RT18 HC, and RT22 HC, were investigated. These PCMs can be used to support heating or cooling systems in buildings and have low phase transition temperatures that fall within the range of 10 °C to 23 °C [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. PCM samples of volume amounting to 10 mL were applied to glass tubes with a diameter of 16 mm and a length of 160 mm (except tube No.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compatibility Tests between Three Commercially Available Organic PCMs and Metals Typically Used in Fin-and-Tube Heat Exchangers

2021

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Energy storage is one of the most effective ways to increase energy savings and efficiency of heating and air conditioning systems. Phase change materials (PCMs) are increasingly used in latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) systems to increase their capacity. In such systems, costs are a very important factor of viability so the typical heat transfer elements like fin-and-tube heat exchangers are used to construct the LHTES. The problem of this approach is a possibility of corrosion of metals in contact with PCM that shortens the life cycle of LHTES. Therefore, the main objective of this work is an experimental study of the compatibility of metals typically used in fin-and-tube heat exchangers (copper and aluminum) with three commercially available organic PCMs (RT15, RT18HC, and RT22HC). Compatibility of PCMs with copper and aluminum was tested for a period of approximately two months, during which a total of 35 heating and cooling cycles were carried out, each with a complete phase transition of the tested materials. In the course of the tests it was assessed whether the PCM caused corrosion of the tested metals. The evaluation was based on the gravimetric method, calculation of corrosion rate, and visual observations and measurements of the features on the metal sample’s surface using optical microscope. It was determined that RT15, RT18 HC, and RT22 HC show low corrosion rates for aluminum and copper samples. The visual tests indicate that there was no change in the PCM solutions during the tests, only a sediment was observed for the samples with the combination of copper and aluminum. Microscopic examination of the surface of the samples did not show any significant surface changes, except for the aluminum samples, on the surface of which local microdefects were observed. It follows from the present results that copper and aluminum can be used to design the heat transfer surface in contact with the chosen PCMs.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compatibility Tests between Three Commercially Available Organic PCMs and Metals Typically Used in Fin-and-Tube Heat Exchangers

2021

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“…The proposed simplified numerical model of the office building describes heat transfer and accumulation between the indoor air and the wall, as well as the heat transfer to or from the surroundings. The model presented is similar to the one presented in [37,55]. Based on Eq.…”

Section: Office Buildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the complexity of the interaction between all elements of the heating/cooling system, a theoretical estimation of the LHTS profits is hard to perform in a reliable way. In order to solve this problem, the application of energy storage filled with PCM was experimentally investigated by Karwacki [37]. A case study of an actual adsorption cooling plant with different fin shapes in the LHTS showed that the optimum fin configuration can save up to 46% of the heat storage cost as compared to LHTES without fins.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance analysis and PCM selection for adsorption chiller aided by energy storage supplied from the district heating system

2023

Archives of Thermodynamics

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The paper presents a theoretical analysis of thermal energy storage filled with phase change material (PCM) that is aimed at optimization of an adsorption chiller performance in an air-conditioning system. The equations describing a lumped parameter model were used to analyze internal heat transfer in the cooling installation. Those equations result from the energy balances of the chiller, PCM thermal storage unit and heat load. The influence of the control of the heat transfer fluid flow rate and heat capacity of the system components on the whole system operation was investigated. The model was used to validate the selection of Rubitherm RT62HC as a PCM for thermal storage. It also allowed us to assess the temperature levels that are likely to appear during the operation of the system before it will be constructed.

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“…Storage of heat or cold can be done with thermal energy storage (TES) using phase change materials (PCMs). PCMs incorporated in latent heat energy storages (LHTES) are used to store heat from solar collectors [ 3 , 4 ], to store energy from household wind power plants [ 5 ], in building heating and cooling systems [ 6 , 7 ], to support heat pumps and waste heat recovery installations [ 8 ], to support district heating networks [ 9 , 10 ]. In addition, PCMs are used to cool photovoltaic panels [ 11 ] and are also used in building structural elements like walls [ 12 , 13 , 14 ], windows [ 15 ] and roofs [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal Characterization of Medium-Temperature Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for Thermal Energy Storage Using the T-History Method

Rolka¹,

Kwidziński²,

Przybyliński³

et al. 2021

Materials

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To reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency in the building sector, thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCMs) is used. The knowledge of the thermophysical properties and the characteristics of PCMs (like their enthalpy changes and the distribution of stored energy over a specified temperature range) is essential for proper selection of the PCM and optimal design of the latent thermal energy store (LHTES). This paper presents experimental tests of the thermophysical properties of three medium-temperature PCMs: OM65, OM55, RT55, which can be used in domestic hot water installations and heating systems. Self-made test chambers with temperature control using Peltier cells were used to perform measurements according to the T-history method. In this way the temperature range of the phase transition, latent heat, specific heat capacity, enthalpy and the distributions of stored energy of the three PCMs were determined. The paper also presents measurements of the thermal conductivity of these PCMs in liquid and solid state using a self-made pipe Poensgen apparatus. The presented experimental tests results are in good agreement with the manufacturers’ data and the results of other researchers obtained with the use of specialized instruments. The presented research results are intended to help designers in the selection of the right PCM for the future LHTES co-working with renewable energy systems, waste heat recovery systems and building heating systems.

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Cooling System with PCM Storage for an Office Building: Experimental Investigation Aided by a Model of the Office Thermal Dynamics

Cited by 10 publications

References 28 publications

Compatibility Tests between Three Commercially Available Organic PCMs and Metals Typically Used in Fin-and-Tube Heat Exchangers

Compatibility Tests between Three Commercially Available Organic PCMs and Metals Typically Used in Fin-and-Tube Heat Exchangers

Performance analysis and PCM selection for adsorption chiller aided by energy storage supplied from the district heating system

Thermal Characterization of Medium-Temperature Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for Thermal Energy Storage Using the T-History Method

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