Design and thermal performance evaluation of a new solar air collector with comprehensive consideration of five factors of phase-change materials and copper foam combination

Wentao Hu, Alekhin Vladimir Nickolaevich, Yue Huang and Chaoping Hou

Applied Energy, 2023, vol. 344, issue C, No S0306261923006323

Abstract: The low thermal conductivity of phase-change materials (PCMs) reduces the heat storage capacity, heat release efficiency, heat peak migration capacity, and heat collection efficiency of PCM-based solar air collectors (SACs) in building heating systems, thereby affecting the comprehensive heating requirements of building users. To solve this problem, in this study, a new SAC was designed with PCMs and copper foam (Type 2: PCMACFC-SAC model) by comprehensively considering five factors, namely thermal conductivity, heat storage capacity, heat release efficiency, heat peak migration capacity, and heat collection efficiency, based on a pure PCM-based SAC (Type 1: PCM-SAC model). Thereafter, the two models were compared. Comparative results of the thermal-performance evaluation index revealed that the thermal conductivity of the Type 2 test block was 2.2–2.3 times that of the Type 1 test block, indicating significantly improved thermal conductivity of the copper foam and PCM composite test block. Although the PCMACFC-SAC displayed better heat storage speed rate, time, and quantity, its nighttime heat release time was approximately 19.64% less than that of the PCMs-SAC; PCMACFC-SAC had a lower output temperature and smaller temperature fluctuation range over the solar day, which can increase indoor thermal comfort. The daily average heat collection efficiency of the PCMACFC-SAC decreased by 12.77%, indicating a stronger heat peak migration ability, which can transfer a greater amount of heat energy to be released at night.

Keywords: Phase-change materials; Copper foam; Thermal-performance; Solar air collector; Evaluation index analysis method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121268

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