Research on heat transfer performance of passive solar collector-storage wall system with phase change materials

Heat transfer performance on the wall has a great influence on energy conservation and indoor thermal comfort. In this paper, a new type of passive solar energy utilization technology, phase change materials (PCMs) added into passive solar collector-storage wall system was proposed. Heat transfer performance and energy saving characteristics were investigated theoretically and experimentally. Energy balance equations that including sunlight board, air in the channel, collector mortar layer and inner surface of wall were established to describe the heat transfer process of system. Experimental room was used to studied the energy saving characteristics in winter. The results indicate that the new passive solar collector-storage wall system with PCMs can promote indoor air thermal circulation and decrease indoor air temperature fluctuations. Its good heat storage capacity can apparently improve indoor thermal environment. Therefore, this new passive solar collector-storage wall system with PCMs can be popularized in engineering applications. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.