Modeling of a PCM TES Tank Used as an Alternative Heat Sink for a Water Chiller. Analysis of Performance and Energy Savings

Antonio Real-Fernández, Joaquín Navarro-Esbrí, Adrián Mota-Babiloni, Ángel Barragán-Cervera, Luis Domenech, Fernando Sánchez, Angelo Maiorino and Ciro Aprea
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Antonio Real-Fernández: Department of Mathematics, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Physics and Technological Sciences. C/San Bartolomé, 55, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain
Joaquín Navarro-Esbrí: ISTENER Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universitat Jaume I, Campus de Riu Sec s/n, E12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
Adrián Mota-Babiloni: ISTENER Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universitat Jaume I, Campus de Riu Sec s/n, E12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
Ángel Barragán-Cervera: ISTENER Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction, Universitat Jaume I, Campus de Riu Sec s/n, E12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
Luis Domenech: Department of Mathematics, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Physics and Technological Sciences. C/San Bartolomé, 55, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain
Fernando Sánchez: Department of Mathematics, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Physics and Technological Sciences. C/San Bartolomé, 55, 46115 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain
Angelo Maiorino: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy
Ciro Aprea: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-18

Abstract: Phase change materials (PCMs) can be used in refrigeration systems to redistribute the thermal load. The main advantages of the overall system are a more stable energy performance, energy savings, and the use of the off-peak electric tariff. This paper proposes, models, tests, and analyzes an experimental water vapor compression chiller connected to a PCM thermal energy storage (TES) tank that acts as an alternative heat sink. First, the transient model of the chiller-PCM system is proposed and validated through experimental data directly measured from a test bench where the PCM TES tank is connected to a vapor compression-based chiller. A maximum deviation of 1.2 °C has been obtained between the numerical and experimental values of the PCM tank water outlet temperature. Then, the validated chiller-PCM system model is used to quantify (using the coefficient of performance, COP) and to analyze its energy performance and its dependence on the ambient temperature. Moreover, electrical energy saving curves are calculated for different ambient temperature profiles, reaching values between 5% and 15% taking the experimental system without PCM as a baseline. Finally, the COP of the chiller-PCM system is calculated for different temperatures and use scenarios, and it is compared with the COP of a conventional aerothermal chiller to determine the switch ambient temperature values for which the former provides energy savings over the latter.

Keywords: phase change material; thermal energy storage; vapor compression system; HVAC; energy efficiency (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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