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Modeling and analysis of a dual-channel solar thermal storage wall system with phase change material in hot summer and cold winter area

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Abstract

A dual-channel solar thermal storage wall system with eutectic phase change material is studied. The full-day cooling load in summer and heating load in winter can be both decreased by this novel system. To investigate the airflow in the dual channel, mixed area assumptions based on the experimental results are summarized. Dynamic mathematical models of the system under four work modes are established and verified by the experimental results. The average RMSD (root mean square deviation) value is 0.35% in summer and 0.95% in winter. By analyzing the heat flux, the combination of dual channel and PCM is proven to decrease and delay cooling load both in the daytime and nighttime of summer. In winter’s daytime, the thermal efficiency is promoted by the dual channel. And in winter’s nighttime, the system is able to heat the room constantly by the PCM boards. Based on parameter researches, the optimum phase change temperature range and the optimum thickness of the PCM are 26–30 °C, 1.5 cm in summer and 16–22 °C, 0.6 cm in winter respectively. To reach the optimum annual thermal performance, the coverage area is 2 m2 for this system.

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Abbreviations

A :

area (m2)

C :

loss coefficient

c :

thermal capacity (J/(kg·K))

D :

duct hydraulic diameter (m)

d :

thickness (m)

f :

view factor

Gr :

Grashof number

h :

convection coefficient (W/(m2·K))

h rad :

radiation coefficient (W/(m2·K))

I :

solar radiation (W/m2)

k :

conduction coefficient (W/(m·K))

L :

length (m)

m :

mass (kg)

Nu :

Nusselt number

T :

temperature (°C)

V :

speed (m/s)

α :

absorption rate

ν :

aerodynamic viscosity (m2/s)

ε :

emissivity factor

β :

factor of expansion (K−1)

σ :

Boltzmann constant

ρ :

density (kg/m3)

amb:

ambient

board:

absorber plate

channel:

air channel

g:

glass

i, j, k :

surface

PCM:

PCM plate

rad:

radiation

sw:

south wall

v:

vent

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Acknowledgements

This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51878636, No.51908527); the Jiangxi Provincial Key Technology R&D Program, China (No. 20202BBEL53033); the Key Research and Development Project of Anhui Province, China (201904a07020014); Young and Middle-aged Teacher Education Research Project 2020 (Science and Technology); the Education Department of Fujian Province (No. JAT200284); Research Start-Up Fund of Jimei University (ZQ2020016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marine Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Lijie Xu

  2. Institute of Energy Research, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang, 330096, China

    Chenglong Luo

  3. College of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, 200090, China

    Jingyong Cai

  4. Department of Thermal Science and Energy Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China

    Jie Ji & Shengjuan Huang

  5. School of Marine Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Leyang Dai

  6. College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 210009, China

    Bendong Yu

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  1. Lijie Xu
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  2. Chenglong Luo
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  3. Jingyong Cai
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  4. Jie Ji
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  5. Leyang Dai
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  6. Bendong Yu
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  7. Shengjuan Huang
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Correspondence to Chenglong Luo.

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Xu, L., Luo, C., Cai, J. et al. Modeling and analysis of a dual-channel solar thermal storage wall system with phase change material in hot summer and cold winter area. Build. Simul. 15, 179–196 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-021-0805-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-021-0805-8

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