SISTEM ZA SKLADIŠTENJE TOPLOTNE ENERGIJE

SA FAZNO PROMENLJIVIM MATERIJALOM

ZA HLAĐENJE I GREJANJE ZGRADA
PCM THERMAL STORAGE SYSTEM
FOR COOLING AND HEATING OF BUILDINGS
Uroš STRITIH
Vincenc BUTALA
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana
uros.stritih@uni-lj.si; vincenc.butala@uni-lj.si
U cilju smanjenja korišćenja energije u zgradi, konstruisan je sistem sa fazno
promenljivim materijalom (FPM). Tokom letnjih noći, hladnoća se akumulira (FPM
se učvršćuje) i isporučuje tokom dana za prethlađenje svežeg vazduha, dok se zimi
akumulira odnosno skladišti toplota iz solarnog kolektora za vazduh (FPM se topi)
tokom sunčanih dana, da bi se upotrebila za grejanje tokom hladnih večeri i noći.
Sistem se sastoji od samostalne jedinice, koju čini 30 ploča napunjenih parafinom
RT22HC, ventilatora, otvora (hatch) i solarnog kolektora za vazduh tokom zime.
Cilj rada je da se ispita funkcionisanje sistema u kancelariji na godišnjem nivou.
Merenja su vršena tokom cele godine kako bi se odredila izvodljivost sistema i za
hlađenje i za grejanje.
Ključne reči: FPM, akumulator toplotne energije, CSM ploče; kolektor top-
log vazduha

In order to reduce building energy use, system with phase change material
(PCM) was constructed. During summer nights, cold is stored (PCM solidifies) and
is delivered during the day for pre cooling of the fresh air, whereas in winter, heat
from solar air collector is stored (PCM melts) during sunny day for heating during
cold evening and night hours. System consists of a stand-alone unit, composed of 30
plates filled with paraffin RT22HC, fan, hatch and solar air collector during winter
time. The objective was to examine the functioning of the system in the office room
on an annual basis. Measurements were conducted year round in order to determine
system feasibility for both cooling and heating.
Key words: PCM; Thermal energy storage; CSM plates; Hot air collector.

1. Introduction
In developed countries buildings account for a 40 % of the total final energy
consumption. More than 50 % of that energy goes to HVAC systems. Therefore one
of the priorities of the EU is to minimize the energy consumed by buildings. The

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EPB Directive states that it is necessary to choose alternative solutions for heating
and cooling [1]. One option is thermal energy storage (TES) using phase change
materials (PCMs).
We built an experimental system for cooling and heating an office in our
building [3, 4, 5]. The idea was to utilize natural sources within stand-alone active
system. Outdoor cold during summer nights is stored and supplied to the indoor
environment during the day when the cooling load increases. For the heating re-
quirements, energy from the sun is used with help from solar hot air collector. Heat
during the sunny day is stored and supplied to the office in early mornings or late
evenings or in cloudy days. The main objective was to examine closely the function-
ing of the suggested system on an annual basis and to explore the feasibility of using
it for office cooling as well as for heating.

2. The existing systems for latent cooling with the use of the PCM materials
Quite a few companies in the world is dealing with systems for latent cooling
using PCM materials. One of these is the German company Emco Bau und
Klimatechnik GmbH & Co. KG, which has corporate offices in Hamburg Imtech
tying cooling system. This is one of the first cooling system of the individual area of
application of the PCM material. With calculations are dimensioned amount of PCM
material, determined the working principle and designed storage for cold with air
distribution. Per square meter of area is embedded 5 kilograms PCM material having
a melting point at 22 ° C, which is sufficient for the storage of 60 W / m² cooling. In
summer, during the night, when the temperature drops below 18 ° C, the system is
throughout the day able to maintain the room temperature below 26 ° C. [6]

Figure 1: The building company Imtech in Hamburg, Germany [6]

The principle of operation of the cooling system is based on the 4 cycles. The
first cycle begins at 8:00 am, the time when the employees come into the office and
lasts until the ambient temperature reaches 26 ° C. During this cycle, the outdoor air
is supplied into the room through the accumulator. The second cycle or cooling
cycle lasts until consumption coolness stored in the PCM material. During this cycle

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air is circulating in the room. In the accumulator of cold, air enters with a tempera-
ture of 26 ° C and is then cooled to 22 ° C and is returned back into the room. The
third cycle is an intermediate period after cooling and as long as the outside air tem-
perature drops below 22 ° C. During this cycle, in small quantities pulse supplied
outdoor air in order to avoid unnecessary overheating, but when the temperature
drops below the ambient air temperature in the room, the outdoor air is supplied to
normal. The fourth cycle or charging cycle starts when the outside air temperature
drops below 22 ° C and to 8:00 am when the first cycle starts again. During this
cycle, the outdoor air is supplied and thus coolness is stored in the PCM material.
Thus, there is provided a chill for the next day. In the picture below you can see the
individual cycles of the cooling system. [6]

Figure 2: The operating principle of latent cooling with the use of the PCM material
in the 4 cycles [6]
Cold storages are installed under the window and are protected by a metal
casing. The figure below shows the appearance and cross section of cold storage.
The German company Rubitherm Technologies GmbH also deals with sys-
tems for latent cooling using PCM material. In Berlin Botanical Gardens are dimen-
sioned cooling system to ensure optimal temperature in the greenhouse. In the
greenhouse are two towers with a PCM modules, which have a melting point of 25 °
C, intended for the circulation of air. During the day, the air in the roof of the green-
house heat up fast, then the fan at the top of the tower transported air down the tower
to plant. On the way through the tower, the air due to PCM modules to cool down
and the cool air gets to the plants. At night, the air from the roof of the greenhouse is
cooled rapidly, then the fan at the top of the tower is transported air down through
the tower to the plants. On the way through the tower, the air due to PCM modules

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to warm up and warm air comes to plants. PCM modules during the day filled with
warmth at night with cold, this cycle repeats.

Figure 3: Section and the appearance of cold storage [6]

Figure 4: Botanic garden in Berlin[2]

3. Eperimental setup
An experimental rig for testing storage unit’s thermal response was set up as
shown in figure 1. On the basis of calculations of office cooling and heating loads,
we determined type and quantity of phase change material for the thermal storage.
Chosen PCM should operate in temperature range between 20 and 26 °C. We decid-
ed to use PCM RT22HC, produced by Rubitherm GmbH, with melting point around
22 °C [5].
Thermal storage casing was made of 5 cm thick EPS and the internal dimen-
sions were 73 cm × 45 cm × 39 cm. Used PCM was macroencapsulated in the form
of CSM plates. Outer dimensions of plates were 30 cm × 45 cm × 1.5 cm and they
were horizontally positioned in the storage tank (the shorter side parallel to the
flow). The unit contained 29 CSM plates (air gap between plates was 0.8 cm).

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Measured average mass of filled plate was 1361 g, weight of paraffin in the plate
was 1003 g and volume of each plate was 1.48 liters. Approximately 12% of the
plate’s volume is empty in order to compensate the volume expansion of the liquid
PCM and to avoid deformation of the plate due to higher pressure. Thermal storage
tank is on both sides gradually moving to the tube with diameter 110 mm. Tubes are
isolated with 20 mm of insulation. Fan, connected with speed regulator is installed
before the thermal storage tank. It has five speed levels. At the output of the air from
thermal storage we installed a hatch, which can direct airflow to the office or out.
Part of the setup is also a solar hot air collector which is installed on the outer wall
of the office. Experimental setup is shown on figure 2.

Figure 5: Conceptual design of experimental setup

Working of the experimental system is different for heating and cooling.
In heating mode system operates from 8 am to 4 pm. When there is enough
sun radiation, collector heats air and that heat is stored in thermal storage (PCM
melts). In evening and mornings or during days with low or no sun radiation, stored
heat is used to heat the office (PCM solidifies).

Figure 6: Experimental system: in room (left), solar air collector outside (right)

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 In cooling mode system is working in two cycles. First cycle is happening
during the night, when cold air is supplied to the thermal storage and its cold is
stored (PCM solidifies). Second cycle is happening during the day, when warm air
is supplied to the thermal storage where it is cooled down (PCM melts) and supplied
to the office.

4. Measurements
Measurements of air temperature, air flow and energy consumption were
conducted. Figure 3 show us positions of measuring sensors.

Figure 7: Testing line oF PCM storage with measurement points

Electrical power of the system was measured at the connection of system to
the electricity grid. Air speed was measured at the outlet of air from the system.
Temperature sensors were put to nine important places. In this way we get precise
data of temperature throughout the system.
Measurements in cooling mode were carried out in October 2014; in heating
mode in January 2016.

5. Results
A. Cooling mode
Figure 4 depict air temperature of inlet and outlet air in thermal storage for a
period of 24 hours in a day in October. We see big difference between lowest and
highest temperature of inlet air. It cools down to almost 14 °C during the night (low-
est at 6 am) and warms up to almost 30 °C during the day (between 1 and 3 pm).
Outlet air from the thermal storage has a lot smaller difference between lowest and
highest temperature. During the night PCM solidifies and give heat to the air so the
temperatures do not fall below 18 °C. During the day opposite happen. Because of
high temperature of inlet air PCM melts and takes away heat from that air so the
outlet temperature do not exceed 22 °C.
We calculate stored and used cold for each day. Theoretically calculated fig-
ures were not met in any day. Energy consumption was also calculated and system
efficiency was determined. Results show us efficiency between 0,6 and 2.44.

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 Figure 8: Air temperature cooling
B. Heating mode
When in heating mode system operates from 8 am to 4 pm. Figure 5 shows us
temperatures in inlet and outlet of thermal storage. Temperature in inlet of thermal
storage is also outlet temperature of solar hot air collector. It was partly sunny day
(foggy morning, some clouds in the afternoon) as we can conclude from the inlet air
temperature. In the morning cold inlet air was heated (PCM solidifies), but when sun
shows inlet air quickly became hot enough to reverse the process (PCM melts – heat
is stored). Stored heat is then used in the afternoon and the next day.

Figure 9: Air temperature heating

Efficiency of heating mode is much greater - average 12.9. Mainly because of
two things: system is operating only for 8 hours (during work time) and temperature
difference between inlet air temperature and melting point of PCM is much greater
than in cooling mode which means that lower air flow is needed and that means low
energy consumption of the system. As we can see in figure 5 we have high inlet air
temperatures, but without thermal storage we cannot use all available heat because
of overheating. So in reality efficiency of system with thermal storage is much
greater than efficiency of system without thermal storage.

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 6. Conclusion
Systems with phase change technology definitely are promising alternative to
conventional systems. Our results show that in cooling mode system did cool down
the air, but also consume electrical energy for the fan. In heating mode results are
much better and show us that in solar hot air collector systems thermal storage is
mandatory. PCM thermal storage perform great with air cooling and heating systems
because it deliver outlet air of almost constant temperature. Electrical energy can be
decreased with using of PV modul.

7. Acknowledgment
This work has been done in the frame of IEA-ECES Annex 31: Integration of
energy storage with energy efficient Buildings and Districts: Optimisation and Au-
tomation.

8. References
[1] *** EU, Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council,
2010, June.
[2] *** Rubitherm Technologies: www.rubitherm.de.
[3] Stritih, Uroš, Butala, Vincenc. Energy savings in building with a PCM free
cooling system. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, ISSN 0039-2480, Feb.
2011, vol. 57, no. 2, pages 125-134.
[4] Osterman, Eneja, Hagel, K., Rathgeber, C., Butala, Vincenc, Stritih, Uroš.
Parametrical analysis of latent heat and cold storage for heating and cooling of
rooms. Applied thermal engineering, ISSN 1359-4311, Jun. 2015, vol. 84, pages
138-149.
[5] Osterman, Eneja, Butala, Vincenc, Stritih, Uroš. PCM thermal storage
system for free heating and cooling of buildings. Energy and buildings, ISSN
0378-7788, 2015, pages 1-9.
[6] *** Emco Bau und Klimatechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Emcovent PCM individual
room conditioning, Subject to tecnical changes, januar 2009

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