Mathematical evaluation of a buried phase change concrete cooling system for buildings

Jo Darkwa

Applied Energy, 2009, vol. 86, issue 5, 706-711

Abstract: A laminated phase change concrete duct system has been numerically analysed for cooling applications in buildings. The analysis shows that number of transfer units (NTUs) have considerable effect on the thermal performance of the system. For instance the highest factor of phase change material (PCM) melting thickness and surface temperature fraction were achieved with the lowest NTU value of 0.1. In terms of cooling effects, the two scenarios achieved maximum cooling capacities of 12.5Â kW and 25Â kW respectively. However in order to achieve effective thermal response in a mechanically ventilated ductwork system, some form of turbulent flow through surface roughness and configuration would have to be created. Even though the model was developed based on the assumption that the PCM is pure and may melt at a specific temperature the results appear to be a fair representation of what might happen in practise. Experimental validation is however recommended towards commercial and economic evaluation.

Keywords: Integrated; concrete; PCM; Thermal; response; Cooling; system; Number; of; transfer; unit; (NTU) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306-2619(08)00145-1
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:86:y:2009:i:5:p:706-711

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 405891/bibliographic

Access Statistics for this article

Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan

More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().