Energy efficient PCM-based variable air volume air conditioning system for modern buildings

This work aims at achieving enhanced energy conservation for space conditioning with the application of a new combined variable air volume (VAV)-based chilled water air conditioning (A/C) system and thermal energy storage (TES) system. The phase change material (PCM) used in this system exhibited good charging and discharging characteristics that directly helped in conserving the overall energy spent on cooling and ventilation. The present system was experimentally investigated for summer and winter climatic conditions under demand controlled ventilation (DCV) and DCV combined with the economizer cycle ventilation (ECV) to substantiate its energy savings capability. Based on the results, in the DCV and combined DCV-ECV modes, this system achieved 28% and 47% of per day average energy conservative potential, respectively, while compared to the conventional chilled water-based A/C system. Similarly, the VAV-TES system yielded an on-peak total energy savings of 38% and 42%, respectively, for the same operating conditions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.