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A Redesign Methodology to Improve the Performance of a Thermal Energy Storage with Phase Change Materials: A Numerical Approach

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  • Itamar A. Harris Bernal

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, El Dorado, Ciudad de Panamá 0819-07289, Panama
    Research Group—Iniciativa de Integración de Tecnologías para el Desarrollo de Soluciones Ingenieriles (I2TEDSI), Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, El Dorado, Ciudad de Panamá 0819-07289, Panama)

  • Arthur M. James Rivas

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, El Dorado, Ciudad de Panamá 0819-07289, Panama
    Research Group—Iniciativa de Integración de Tecnologías para el Desarrollo de Soluciones Ingenieriles (I2TEDSI), Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, El Dorado, Ciudad de Panamá 0819-07289, Panama)

  • María De Los A. Ortega Del Rosario

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, El Dorado, Ciudad de Panamá 0819-07289, Panama
    Research Group—Iniciativa de Integración de Tecnologías para el Desarrollo de Soluciones Ingenieriles (I2TEDSI), Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, El Dorado, Ciudad de Panamá 0819-07289, Panama)

  • M. Ziad Saghir

    (Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

Abstract

In recent years, phase change materials (PCMs) have been presented as a suitable alternative for thermal energy storage (TES) systems for solar water heater (SWH) applications. However, PCMs’ low thermal conductivity and the high dependence on external conditions are the main challenges during the design of TES systems with PCMs. Design actions to improve the performance of the TES systems are crucial to achieve the necessary stored/released thermal energy and guarantee the all-day operation of SWHs under specific system requirements. In this study, a TES with PCM in the configuration of a heat exchanger was redesigned, focused on achieving two main targets: an outlet water temperature over 43 °C during discharging time (15 h) and efficiency over 60% to supply the hot water demand of two families (400 L). A four-step redesign methodology was proposed and implemented through numerical simulations to address this aim. It was concluded that the type, encapsulation shape, and amount of PCM slightly impacted the system’s performance; however, selecting a suitable sensible heat storage material had the highest impact on meeting the system’s targets. The redesigned TES reached 15 operating hours with a minimum outlet water temperature of 45.30 °C and efficiency of 76.08%.

Suggested Citation

  • Itamar A. Harris Bernal & Arthur M. James Rivas & María De Los A. Ortega Del Rosario & M. Ziad Saghir, 2022. "A Redesign Methodology to Improve the Performance of a Thermal Energy Storage with Phase Change Materials: A Numerical Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:3:p:960-:d:736684
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kozlova, Mariia, 2017. "Real option valuation in renewable energy literature: Research focus, trends and design," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 180-196.
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    1. Giampietro Fabbri & Matteo Greppi & Federico Amati, 2024. "Numerical Analysis of New PCM Thermal Storage Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Waleed Zakri & Sofiene Mellouli & Yahya Fageehi, 2022. "Performance Assessment of Three Latent Heat Storage Designs for a Solar Hot Water Tank," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Daniela Dzhonova-Atanasova & Aleksandar Georgiev & Svetoslav Nakov & Stela Panyovska & Tatyana Petrova & Subarna Maiti, 2022. "Compact Thermal Storage with Phase Change Material for Low-Temperature Waste Heat Recovery—Advances and Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-21, November.
    4. Sofiene Mellouli & Talal Alqahtani & Salem Algarni, 2022. "Parametric Analysis of a Solar Water Heater Integrated with PCM for Load Shifting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-16, November.

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