Effectiveness of the phase change material-based thermal energy storage integrated with the conventional cooling systems of the buildings – A review

Author(s):  
Adeel Waqas ◽  
Jie Ji ◽  
Majid Ali ◽  
Jahan Zeb Alvi

A significant portion of energy is consumed by the buildings to provide thermal comfort for its occupants. Energy consumed by the conventional cooling machines is expected to increase substantially around the globe. Cooling systems coupled with phase change materials offer a high potential to minimize the cooling energy demand and shifting peak time cooling load to off-peak time period without compromising the indoor comfort conditions. The interest in phase change material utilization for cooling applications has been increasing significantly over the last decade because of their energy saving benefits in building sector. Therefore, in this work, effectiveness of the phase change material storage coupled with free cooling, evaporative cooling, and compressor-based cooling techniques in reducing the energy consumption or shifting the peak cooling load have been discussed and analyzed in detail. Different types of phase change materials used for active cooling systems along with their selection criteria for a particular application have been elaborated and discussed. Techniques to estimate the thermophysical properties of phase change material have also been explained. Phase change material capsulation techniques along with their merits and demerits are also described. Challenges and issues that may arise during integrating of phase change material storage with the active cooling system have also been explained. Finally, this review also presents some current problems that needed further research in this area. Current review will be a useful guide for the research community working or intending to work in the field of phase change material-based cooling system.

Author(s):  
Ali Deriszadeh ◽  
Filippo de Monte ◽  
Marco Villani

Abstract This study investigates the cooling performance of a passive cooling system for electric motor cooling applications. The metal-based phase change materials are used for cooling the motor and preventing its temperature rise. As compared to oil-based phase change materials, these materials have a higher melting point and thermal conductivity. The flow field and transient heat conduction are simulated using the finite volume method. The accuracy of numerical values obtained from the simulation of the phase change materials is validated. The sensitivity of the numerical results to the number of computational elements and time step value is assessed. The main goal of adopting the phase change material based passive cooling system is to maintain the operational motor temperature in the allowed range for applications with high and repetitive peak power demands such as electric vehicles by using phase change materials in cooling channels twisted around the motor. Moreover, this study investigates the effect of the phase change material container arrangement on the cooling performance of the under study cooling system.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussein J. Akeiber ◽  
Mazlan A. Wahid ◽  
Hasanen M. Hussen ◽  
Abdulrahman Th. Mohammad

The application of phase change materials (PCMs) in green buildings has been increasing rapidly. PCM applications in green buildings include several development models. This paper briefly surveys the recent research and development activities of PCM technology in building applications. Firstly, a basic description of phase change and their principles is provided; the classification and applications of PCMs are also included. Secondly, PCM models in buildings are reviewed and discussed according to the wall, roof, floor, and cooling systems. Finally, conclusions are presented based on the collected data.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 032-041
Author(s):  
Pradeep N ◽  
Somesh Subramanian S

Thermal energy storage through phase change material has been used for wide applications in the field of air conditioning and refrigeration. The specific use of this thermal storage has been for energy storage during low demand and release of this energy during peak loads with potential to provide energy savings due to this. The principle of latent heat storage using phase change materials (PCMs) can be incorporated into a thermal storage system suitable for using deep freezers. The evaporator is covered with another box which has storage capacity or passage through phase change material. The results revealed that the performance is increased from 3.2 to 3.5 by using PCM.


RSC Advances ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (74) ◽  
pp. 39552-39557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhonghao Rao ◽  
Xinyu You ◽  
Yutao Huo ◽  
Xinjian Liu

The nano-encapsulated phase change materials (PCM), which have several good thermophysical properties, were proposed as potential for thermal energy storage.


2013 ◽  
Vol 683 ◽  
pp. 106-109
Author(s):  
Xiao Gang Zhao ◽  
Ying Pan

Phase change materials, abbreviated as PCM, due to the excellent heat storage performance, have been used as building materials and got more and more attention in recent years. The article introduce the building application of phase change material, and discuss its contribution to the building energy saving.


Author(s):  
Wenjun Xu ◽  
Longquan Liu ◽  
Junming Chen ◽  
Xinying Lv ◽  
Yongtao Yao

Abstract This paper introduces a new thermal control device which has not only low weight and high efficiency but also passive and active cooling capabilities. The thermal control device mainly consists of hollow graphene-enhanced-metallic microlattice material, phase change material (PCM) and a peristatic pump. The PCM is inside the spatial-interconnected millimeter-scale diameter tubes, which are the basic constitution of the hollow microlattice material, in addition, the peristatic pump was connected with the tubes and used to force the liquid-state PCM to circulate inside the interconnected thin tubes. Thus, the proposed thermal control device takes combined advantages of the ultralight and high thermal transfer properties of the hollow graphene-enhanced-metallic microlattice materials, the thermal storage capability of the PCM and forced convection of the PCM driven by the peristatic pump as the PCM is in liquid state. The manufacturing process of the active thermal control device was also developed and proposed, which mainly includes additive manufacturing, composite electroless plating, polymer etching, liquid phase change material injecting and the peristatic pump connecting. In addition to that, a thermal test system was built and the effective thermal conductivities of the thermal control device in passive cooling and with active cooling modes were experimentally studied. The thermal control device can absorb heat and actively dissipate heat by means of forced convection. Consequently, the proposed active thermal control device can be used to guarantee the electronic components and spacecrafts operate in a specific temperature range.


2020 ◽  
Vol 170 ◽  
pp. 01007
Author(s):  
Marwa El Yassi ◽  
Ikram El Abbassi ◽  
Alexandre Pierre ◽  
Yannick Melinge

Nowadays, buildings sector contributes to climate change by consuming a considerable amount of energy to afford thermal comfort for occupants. Passive cooling techniques are a promising solution to increase the thermal inertia of building envelopes, and reduce temperature fluctuations. The phase change materials, known as PCM, can be efficiently employed to this purpose, because of their high energy storage density. Among the various existing solutions, the present study is dedicated to solid-liquid phase change materials. Temperature evolution (according to their defined temperature range) induces the chemical change of the material and its state. For building applications, the chemical transition can be accomplished from liquid to solid (solidification) and from solid to liquid (melting). In fact, this paper presents a comparative thermal analysis of several test rooms with and without phase change materials embedded in a composite wallboard in different climates. The used PCM consist in a flexible sheet of 5 mm thickness (Energain, manufactured by the company DuPont de Nemours). The main properties of such a commercial solution have been delivered by the manufacturer and from analyses. The room model was validated using laboratory instrumentations and measurements of a test room in four cities: Lyon; Reading and Casablanca. Results indicate that this phase change material board can absorb heat gains and also reduce the indoor air temperature fluctuations during daytime. The aim of the study is to show the benefits of this layer with phase change material and compare it in different climatic zones.


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