Phase-Change Material Thermal Energy Storage for the Smart Retrofitting of Existing Buildings

Eneja Osterman, Claudio Del Pero, Eva Zavrl, Fabrizio Leonforte, Niccolò Aste and Uroš Stritih ()
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Eneja Osterman: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Claudio Del Pero: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Polytechnical University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy
Eva Zavrl: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Fabrizio Leonforte: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Polytechnical University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy
Niccolò Aste: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Polytechnical University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy
Uroš Stritih: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-13

Abstract: This article presents the use of phase-change material (PCM) thermal storage within the Horizon 2020 HEART project (Holistic Energy and Architectural Retrofit Toolkit), aimed at decarbonising the European building sector through the retrofitting of existing structures into energy-efficient smart buildings. These buildings not only reduce energy consumption, but also incorporate advanced technologies for harnessing green energy, thereby promoting environmental sustainability. The HEART project employs state-of-the-art technologies for electricity production/dispatching and heat generation/storage, managed by a cloud-based platform for the real-time monitoring of parameters and optimising energy utilisation, enabling users to control their environmental comfort. The article provides a detailed examination of one of the project’s demonstration sites in Italy, focusing on various components such as heat pumps, photovoltaic systems (PV), controllers, and particularly emphasising the significance of storage tanks. The study involved the measurement and analysis of three heat storage tanks, each with a total volume of 3000 L. These tanks utilised PCM modules for latent heat storage, significantly enhancing overall heat accumulation. Water served as the heat transfer fluid within the tanks. Through meticulous calculations, the article quantifies the accumulated heat and presents a comparative evaluation between PCM-based storage tanks and conventional water tanks, showcasing the advantages of PCM technology in terms of increased heat retention and efficiency.

Keywords: energy renovation of the building; heat pump; heat storage tank; phase-change material (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: 2023
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