Performance analysis of a stand-alone thermal energy storage system based on CSM plates filled with phase change material
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Hassan, Hafiz Muhammad Adeel
Hansen, Mads Peter Rudolph
Dallaire, Jonathan
Larsen, Martin Anker Boesen
Kieseritzky, Esther
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In this study, experimental investigations on a Phase Change Material (PCM) based thermal energy storage system (TES) were carried out. The TES system was designed and tested as a first step of developing a
potential TES product which can be integrated with commercially available ventilation system (VEX308)
to provide cold intake air for space cooling applications. The system consisted of wedge-shaped air flow
regions before and after an array of Compact Storage Module (CSM) plates filled with PCM and arranged
vertically with air gaps between the plates. Two design configurations of the TES system were investigated based on air gap size between PCM plates (1.5 mm and 3 mm) in order to compare them for pressure loss through the system and thermal performance of the PCM storage. Investigations were done at
two air flow rates of 400 m3=h and 800 m3=h which were within the working range of VEX308 for fixed
air inlet temperatures of 27 C and 13 C for heating and cooling cycles of the PCM storage, respectively.
The temperatures ranges were chosen to investigate the application of the TES system during summer
season in Denmark. Parameters investigated were: pressure loss through the TES system, pressure distribution from top to bottom in the TES system before and after the PCM stack, temperature distribution in
the TES system from top to bottom, and melting and solidification rates of the PCM. Results showed that
pressure drop through the system, for both configurations, was well within the desired limits (< 180Pa)
for a successful integration of the TES system with VEX308. Temperature distribution was relatively fair
from top to bottom of the PCM stack indicating an adequate inlet manifold design. The 1.5 mm gap configuration (55 CSM plates and 110 kg PCM) showed faster heating and cooling rates at both flow rates as
compared to 3 mm system (50 CSM plates and 100 kg PCM). Both systems showed almost same system
efficiency (78.3%) for the utilization of the PCM. The 1.5 mm system provided approximately 8.7% more
energy storage potential than the 3 mm system because of the presence of 10 kg of extra PCM.
potential TES product which can be integrated with commercially available ventilation system (VEX308)
to provide cold intake air for space cooling applications. The system consisted of wedge-shaped air flow
regions before and after an array of Compact Storage Module (CSM) plates filled with PCM and arranged
vertically with air gaps between the plates. Two design configurations of the TES system were investigated based on air gap size between PCM plates (1.5 mm and 3 mm) in order to compare them for pressure loss through the system and thermal performance of the PCM storage. Investigations were done at
two air flow rates of 400 m3=h and 800 m3=h which were within the working range of VEX308 for fixed
air inlet temperatures of 27 C and 13 C for heating and cooling cycles of the PCM storage, respectively.
The temperatures ranges were chosen to investigate the application of the TES system during summer
season in Denmark. Parameters investigated were: pressure loss through the TES system, pressure distribution from top to bottom in the TES system before and after the PCM stack, temperature distribution in
the TES system from top to bottom, and melting and solidification rates of the PCM. Results showed that
pressure drop through the system, for both configurations, was well within the desired limits (< 180Pa)
for a successful integration of the TES system with VEX308. Temperature distribution was relatively fair
from top to bottom of the PCM stack indicating an adequate inlet manifold design. The 1.5 mm gap configuration (55 CSM plates and 110 kg PCM) showed faster heating and cooling rates at both flow rates as
compared to 3 mm system (50 CSM plates and 100 kg PCM). Both systems showed almost same system
efficiency (78.3%) for the utilization of the PCM. The 1.5 mm system provided approximately 8.7% more
energy storage potential than the 3 mm system because of the presence of 10 kg of extra PCM.
Date Issued
2023-01-01
Date Acceptance
2022-10-27
Citation
Energy and Buildings, 2023, 278
ISSN
0378-7788
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Energy and Buildings
Volume
278
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.
This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112621
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
112621
Date Publish Online
2022-11-03