Analysis of a Phase Change Material-Based Condenser of a Low-Scale Refrigeration System

Augusto Cavargna, Luigi Mongibello (), Marcello Iasiello and Nicola Bianco
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Augusto Cavargna: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale (DII), Università di Napoli Federico II, 80125 Napoli, NA, Italy
Luigi Mongibello: ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Portici Research Center, 80055 Portici, NA, Italy
Marcello Iasiello: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale (DII), Università di Napoli Federico II, 80125 Napoli, NA, Italy
Nicola Bianco: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale (DII), Università di Napoli Federico II, 80125 Napoli, NA, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-24

Abstract: This study concerns the numerical simulation and the experimental implementation of a low-scale Phase Change Material-based (PCM-based) condenser, to be included in a PCM-based portable cooling systems. In this category of cooling systems, the PCM can be integrated either in the condenser or in the evaporator. In the present study, the PCM is integrated in the condenser of the vapor compression cycle to absorb the heat power released from the refrigerant fluid (R134a) during condensation, thus eliminating the need to transfer heat to the external environment. The main objective of the present study is to realize and validate a numerical model capable of simulating both the refrigerant fluid and the PCM thermofluid dynamics. For this purpose, a commercial solver was used for the implementation of the developed numerical model, and experimental tests were performed to validate the numerical simulations results. The paper reports the details and test results of both the numerical model and the experimental apparatus. The simulation results indicate a good accordance between the numerical and experimental data.

Keywords: phase change materials; refrigeration system; numerical modeling; experimental validation (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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