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Heat transfer analysis in PCM-filled RCC roof for thermal management

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Abstract

We analyzed of heat transmission across three roof structures ; bare RCC (reinforced cement concrete) roof, RCC roof with weathering coarse and RCC roof with PCM (phase change material) above RCC. A transient numerical procedure was developed. ANSYS-Fluent 12 finite volume method based software was used for solving the problem. The numerical procedure was validated against the available experimental data. The simulation was carried out on 365 days of the year for these three roofs. The PCM melted from 8 h to 18 h and solidified during the rest of the day. From March to August, the net heat entering into the room per day is positive, thus more and more PCM melts and becomes liquid. The liquid portion of PCM increases from March to August, during September to February, there is a net heat rejection per day, thus the melted PCM becomes solid progressively, and at the end of February, almost all PCM has become solid. Thus there is a melting cycle on a daily basis and over the year. It takes care of all the external climatic variations and keeps the roof bottom surface temperature almost constant and close to room air temperature. On yearly basis, about 56% reduction in heat transmission into the room is obtained with PCM roof when compared to the conventional weathering coarse laid roof.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Knowledge Institute of Technology Salem, Salem, India

    P. S. S. Srinivasan

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bannariamman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, India

    M. Ravikumar

Authors
  1. P. S. S. Srinivasan
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  2. M. Ravikumar
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Correspondence to M. Ravikumar.

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Recommended by Associate Editor Man-Yeong Ha

M. Ravikumar received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, Bharathiyar University, India. He received his Master’s in Energy Engineering from Regional Engineering College, Trichy, Bharathidasan University and obtained Ph.D. from Anna University during 2012. His areas of interest are Heat Transfer and Computational Fluid Dynamics.

PSS. Srinivasan obtained his B.E. Mechanical Engineering from Bharathiar University during 1988. He is a recipient of Gold medal from IITBombay at his M.Tech., during 1990. He obtained Ph.D. from Bharathiar University in 2002. His areas of interest are Heat and Mass Transfer, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning, Waste Heat Recovery, Renewable Energy, Solar Passive Design of Buildings.

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Srinivasan, P.S.S., Ravikumar, M. Heat transfer analysis in PCM-filled RCC roof for thermal management. J Mech Sci Technol 28, 1073–1078 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-013-1137-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-013-1137-0

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