Experimental study on thermal performance of an integrated PCM Trombe wall. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duan, Shuangping; Wang, Lin; Zhao, Zhiqiang; Zhang, Chengwang
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 163(2021)
• Page Start: 1932
• Page End: 1941
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Trombe wall -- PCM -- Thermal performance -- The phase change region -- The melting temperature; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.10.081
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: In order to improve the thermal performance of Trombe wall, the mixture of 55% decanoic acid and 45% lauric acid as a kind of PCM was chosen to integrate with Trombe wall. The article presents a test of properties of the PCM and an experimental study on a small-scale integrated PCM Trombe wall. Two periodic heat input modes simulate the periodically varying solar radiation absorbed by the absorber. Its melting temperature and latent heat are 21.33 °C and 133.4 kJ/kg, respectively and its volume expansion rate is 7.94%. The experimental results show that the integrated PCM Trombe wall can increase indoor air temperature by 0.82 °C–1.88 °C for low heat input mode and 1.75 °C–3.27 °C for high heat input mode. Besides, two-dimensional heat transfer along the height and thickness directions of PCM wall results in large temperature difference in these two directions even if the absorber surface is heated evenly. There exists the irregular-shape liquid/solid interface. The PCM above the liquid/solid interface can be completely melted while that below the liquid/solid interface is always in the solid state. Therefore, it is suggested that the PCM with the suitable melting temperature, a wide range of phase change temperature and high latent heat should be chosen. Highlights: The properties of the mixture of 55% decanoic acid and 45% lauric acid are studied. Only the PCM in the upper region of PCM wall melts in two investigated cases. The maximum temperature difference in the height direction of PCM wall is 21.5 °C. The highest temperature rise in the air gap and is 19.33 °C. The highest laboratory temperature rise is 3.27 °C.