Journal
SOLAR ENERGY
Volume 205, Issue -, Pages 399-408Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.075
Keywords
Solar water heating; Phase change material; Thermal energy storage; Energy saving; Heat loss; Climate zone
Categories
Funding
- City University of Hong Kong under its New Research Initiatives for new faculty [9610408]
- Research Grants Council of Hong Kong [CityU 21201119]
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Recently there have been many reports on the application of phase change materials (PCM) in solar water heating system (SWHS). However, there are some doubts and different views in this field, since the sensitivity of the system to the PCM design parameters and external conditions. In this study, a typical SWHS with a PCM storage tank is proposed to overcome the existing problems. The mathematical model is established and validated against experimental data. Annual simulations have been done under a typical user load and different PCM design parameters (phase change temperature, PCM usage amount) among six cities which have different meteorological conditions. The results indicate that the application of PCM in SWHS can reduce the power consumption of electric auxiliary heater (EAH) and the heat loss, but the benefits vary widely by regions and PCM design parameters. The highest power saving rate is up to 31% in Lhasa which has extremely abundant solar energy, while for the heat loss saving rate the highest value is 9.9% in Guangzhou which is located in the hot summer and warm winter zone. Besides, a parametric study has been conducted to explore the power saving potentials with different PCM design parameters in different regions, as well as to discuss the optimal phase change temperature and the PCM usage amount. This study aims to provide theoretical references and suggestions for the design of the PCM storage tank in SWHS.
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