Design and Fabrication of Solar Thermal Energy Storage System Using Potash Alum as a PCM

Muhammad Suleman Malik, Naveed Iftikhar, Abdul Wadood, Muhammad Omer Khan, Muhammad Usman Asghar, Shahbaz Khan, Tahir Khurshaid, Ki-Chai Kim, Zabdur Rehman and S. Tauqeer ul Islam Rizvi
Additional contact information
Muhammad Suleman Malik: Electrical Construction Division, Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company (TESCO), Peshawar 25000, Pakistan
Naveed Iftikhar: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Science & Technology, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 23640, Pakistan
Abdul Wadood: Department of Electrical Engineering, Air University, Islamabad, Kamra Campus, Kamra 43570, Pakistan
Muhammad Omer Khan: Department of Electrical Engineering & Technology, Ripah International University, Faisalabad Campus, Punjab 38000, Pakistan
Muhammad Usman Asghar: Department of Electrical Engineering & Technology, Ripah International University, Faisalabad Campus, Punjab 38000, Pakistan
Shahbaz Khan: Department of Electrical Engineering, Air University, Islamabad, Kamra Campus, Kamra 43570, Pakistan
Tahir Khurshaid: Department of Electrical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280, Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsangbuk do 38541, Korea
Ki-Chai Kim: Department of Electrical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280, Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsangbuk do 38541, Korea
Zabdur Rehman: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Air University, Islamabad, Kamra Campus, Kamra 43570, Pakistan
S. Tauqeer ul Islam Rizvi: Department of Aeropsace Engineering, Air University, Islamabad, Kamra Campus, Kamra 43570, Pakistan

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-16

Abstract: Renewable energy resources like solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy, photovoltaic etc. are gaining much importance due to the day by day depletion of conventional resources. Owing to the lower efficiencies of renewable energy resources, much attention has been paid to improving them. The concept of utilizing phase change materials (PCMs) has attracted wide attention in recent years. This is due to their ability to extract thermal energy when used in collaboration with photovoltaic (PV), thus improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency. In this paper, the objective is to design and fabricate a novel thermal energy storage system using phase change material. An investigation on the characteristics of Potash Alum as a phase change material due to its low cost, easy availability and its usage as an energy storage for the indoor purposes are taken into account. The use of a latent heat storage system using phase change materials (PCMs) is an effective way of storing thermal energy and has the advantage of high-energy storage density and the isothermal nature of the storage process. In the current study, potash alum was identified as a phase change material combined with renewable energy sources, that can be efficiently and effectively used in storing thermal energy at compartively lower temperatures that can later be used in daily life heating requirements.A parabolic dish which acts of a heat collector is used to track and reflects solar radiation at a single point on a receiver tank. Heat transfer from the solar collector to the storage tank is done by using a circulating heat transfer fluid with the help of a pump. The experimental results show that this system is capable of successfully storing and utilizing thermal energy on indoor scale such as cooking, heating and those applications where temperature is below 92 °C.

Keywords: thermal energy storage; parabolic dish; latent heat; phase change material; heat transfer fluid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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