Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Unit for Heating Applications Based on a Nanocomposite Organic PCM
A small-scale latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) unit for heating applications was studied experimentally using an organic phase change material (PCM). The unit comprised of a tank filled with the PCM, a staggered heat exchanger (HE) for transferring heat from and to the PCM, and a water pum...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-11-01
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| Series: | ChemEngineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-7084/3/4/88 |
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| author | Maria K. Koukou George Dogkas Michail Gr. Vrachopoulos John Konstantaras Christos Pagkalos Kostas Lymperis Vassilis Stathopoulos George Evangelakis Costas Prouskas Luis Coelho Amandio Rebola |
| author_facet | Maria K. Koukou George Dogkas Michail Gr. Vrachopoulos John Konstantaras Christos Pagkalos Kostas Lymperis Vassilis Stathopoulos George Evangelakis Costas Prouskas Luis Coelho Amandio Rebola |
| author_sort | Maria K. Koukou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A small-scale latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) unit for heating applications was studied experimentally using an organic phase change material (PCM). The unit comprised of a tank filled with the PCM, a staggered heat exchanger (HE) for transferring heat from and to the PCM, and a water pump to circulate water as a heat transfer fluid (HTF). The performance of the unit using the commercial organic paraffin A44 was studied in order to understand the thermal behavior of the system and the main parameters that influence heat transfer during the PCM melting and solidification processes. The latter will assist the design of a large-scale unit. The effect of flow rate was studied given that it significantly affects charging (melting) and discharging (solidification) processes. In addition, as organic PCMs have low thermal conductivity, the possible improvement of the PCM’s thermal behavior by means of nanoparticle addition was investigated. The obtained results were promising and showed that the use of graphite-based nanoplatelets improves the PCM thermal behavior. Charging was clearly faster and more efficient, while with the appropriate tuning of the HTF flow rate, an efficient discharging was accomplished. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:43:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-af1b21da549147c9bdc0f75749f0c1c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-7084 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:43:06Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ChemEngineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-af1b21da549147c9bdc0f75749f0c1c52022-12-22T03:34:32ZengMDPI AGChemEngineering2305-70842019-11-01348810.3390/chemengineering3040088chemengineering3040088Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Unit for Heating Applications Based on a Nanocomposite Organic PCMMaria K. Koukou0George Dogkas1Michail Gr. Vrachopoulos2John Konstantaras3Christos Pagkalos4Kostas Lymperis5Vassilis Stathopoulos6George Evangelakis7Costas Prouskas8Luis Coelho9Amandio Rebola10General Department, Energy and Environmental Research Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 344 00 Psachna Campus, Evia, GreeceGeneral Department, Energy and Environmental Research Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 344 00 Psachna Campus, Evia, GreeceGeneral Department, Energy and Environmental Research Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 344 00 Psachna Campus, Evia, GreeceGeneral Department, Energy and Environmental Research Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 344 00 Psachna Campus, Evia, GreeceGeneral Department, Energy and Environmental Research Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 344 00 Psachna Campus, Evia, GreeceZ&X Mechanical Installations Ltd., 12 Agapinoros Street, 8049 Paphos, CyprusGeneral Department, Laboratory of Chemistry and Materials Technology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 344 00 Psachna Campus, Evia, GreeceDepartment of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, GreeceMaterials Science and Engineering Department, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, GreecePolytechnic Institute of Setubal-IPS, 2910-761 Setúbal, PortugalPolytechnic Institute of Setubal-IPS, 2910-761 Setúbal, PortugalA small-scale latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) unit for heating applications was studied experimentally using an organic phase change material (PCM). The unit comprised of a tank filled with the PCM, a staggered heat exchanger (HE) for transferring heat from and to the PCM, and a water pump to circulate water as a heat transfer fluid (HTF). The performance of the unit using the commercial organic paraffin A44 was studied in order to understand the thermal behavior of the system and the main parameters that influence heat transfer during the PCM melting and solidification processes. The latter will assist the design of a large-scale unit. The effect of flow rate was studied given that it significantly affects charging (melting) and discharging (solidification) processes. In addition, as organic PCMs have low thermal conductivity, the possible improvement of the PCM’s thermal behavior by means of nanoparticle addition was investigated. The obtained results were promising and showed that the use of graphite-based nanoplatelets improves the PCM thermal behavior. Charging was clearly faster and more efficient, while with the appropriate tuning of the HTF flow rate, an efficient discharging was accomplished.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-7084/3/4/88heat exchangerpcmthermal energy storageexperimentalnanoparticles |
| spellingShingle | Maria K. Koukou George Dogkas Michail Gr. Vrachopoulos John Konstantaras Christos Pagkalos Kostas Lymperis Vassilis Stathopoulos George Evangelakis Costas Prouskas Luis Coelho Amandio Rebola Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Unit for Heating Applications Based on a Nanocomposite Organic PCM ChemEngineering heat exchanger pcm thermal energy storage experimental nanoparticles |
| title | Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Unit for Heating Applications Based on a Nanocomposite Organic PCM |
| title_full | Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Unit for Heating Applications Based on a Nanocomposite Organic PCM |
| title_fullStr | Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Unit for Heating Applications Based on a Nanocomposite Organic PCM |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Unit for Heating Applications Based on a Nanocomposite Organic PCM |
| title_short | Performance Evaluation of a Small-Scale Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Unit for Heating Applications Based on a Nanocomposite Organic PCM |
| title_sort | performance evaluation of a small scale latent heat thermal energy storage unit for heating applications based on a nanocomposite organic pcm |
| topic | heat exchanger pcm thermal energy storage experimental nanoparticles |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-7084/3/4/88 |
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