Experimental study on a novel flat-heat-pipe heating system integrated with phase change material and thermoelectric unit

Hongli Sun, Borong Lin, Zhirong Lin and Yingxin Zhu

Energy, 2019, vol. 189, issue C

Abstract: A flat-heat-pipe heating system using phase change material (PCM) and thermoelectric unit was proposed. The flat heat pipe was utilized as a heating terminal in this system, which provided for intermittent radiant heating for specialized applications. The proposed system can use solar energy to achieve a higher energy efficiency owing to the integrated PCM. In addition, the thermoelectric unit, which acted as an auxiliary heat source, was integrated innovatively with PCM and flat heat pipe. This novel structure increases the heating coefficient of performance of the thermoelectric unit and makes it possible to apply the thermoelectric unit in the field of heating. Different components of the heating system complemented each other and allow for intermittent heating to be achieved at any time. The experimental results show that the heating terminal could be heated in only 500 s and the terminal showed a relatively higher thermal response speed when compared with conventional radiant heating systems. When the heat supplied by the PCM was insufficient, the thermoelectric unit provided the required heat with a coefficient of performance that exceeded 1.70. The thermoelectric unit had a heating coefficient of performance of 1.35–1.54 when no heat was stored in the PCM. Overall, this heating system is capable of efficient intermittent heating.

Keywords: Heating system; Flat heat pipe; Phase change material; Thermoelectric unit (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:189:y:2019:i:c:s0360544219318766

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.116181

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