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Performance Assessment of an Air-Conditioning System Utilizing a PCM-Based Annulus Cylindrical Latent Heat Storage

  • Research Article-Mechanical Engineering
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Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of using a phase change material (PCM)-based latent heat storage (LHS) integrated with an air-conditioning system. The study has filled the knowledge gap regarding the dependence of melting rate and operational time of the AC system on PCM volume. Additionally, the study has examined the influences of important parameters such as inlet velocity and Stefan number on melting rates, outlet temperature, and COP. The results have revealed that higher inlet air velocity and Stefan number have led to shorter melting duration. Specifically, an increase in velocity from 1.6 to 2.14 m/sec has reduced the time required for complete melting by 19.16% at a fixed Ste value and D value of 2. Further increasing the velocity to 2.67 m/sec has reduced the time by 31.59%. However, increasing the volume of the PCM has resulted in a longer melting duration, with the total melting time increasing from 3.35 to 7.11 h. Better COP values have been obtained for low-velocity cases. For all cases examined, the COP of the AC system with PCM has been superior to the COP without the PCM at any given time. Increasing inlet velocity and Ste raised the outlet temperature of the HEX, while PCM volume had little impact. The results have also indicated that lower inlet velocity is suitable for longer working periods and lower AC cooling loads, whereas higher inlet velocity is appropriate for shorter working periods and higher AC cooling loads.

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Data availability

The data provided in this research are accessible upon request to the corresponding author through e-mail.

Abbreviations

AC:

Air-conditioning

COP:

Coefficient of performance

D:

Outer-to-inner diameter ratio

HEX:

Heat exchanger

LHS:

Latent heat storage

MFV:

Melt fraction variation

PCM:

Phase change material

PCM-air HEX:

Phase change material-to-air heat exchanger

Ste:

Stefan number

g :

Acceleration gravity (m/s2)

A :

Area (m2)

Q :

Heat absorbed (W)

in:

Inlet

D 1 :

Inner diameter

L :

Latent heat of fusion (J/kg)

D 2 :

Outer diameter

out:

Outlet

h s :

Sensible enthalpy (J)

T :

Temperature (K)

H :

Total enthalpy (J)

u :

Velocity (m/sec)

α :

Melt fraction

μ :

Dynamic viscosity (kg/ms)

ρ :

Density (kg/m3)

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Funding

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for providing financial support in the form of a PhD fellowship during the course of this research.

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  1. Department of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah, 711103, West Bengal, India

    Prakash Chandra Singh & Pabitra Halder

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Correspondence to Prakash Chandra Singh.

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Singh, P.C., Halder, P. Performance Assessment of an Air-Conditioning System Utilizing a PCM-Based Annulus Cylindrical Latent Heat Storage. Arab J Sci Eng 49, 1759–1770 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-08009-y

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