WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development
Print ISSN: 1790-5079, E-ISSN: 2224-3496
Volume 15, 2019
Simulation of a Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage for the Solar Air-Conditioning System of a Net-Zero Energy Hotel
Authors: ,
Abstract: Hotels consume a large amount of energy for air-conditioning, especially in hot regions of the world. In the context of climate change, improvements can be made using the concept of net-zero energy (NZE) buildings. Renewable energy enables to satisfy this objective. In this article, a literature review justifies the use of a solar photovoltaic air-conditioning (PV AC) system coupled to a latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES). The LHTES uses fatty acids derived from coconut oil embedded in a compressed expanded matrix to enhance the apparent thermal conductivity of the composite up to 20 W.m-1.K-1. A simple simulation tool was developed to evaluate the melting time, in different configurations of LHTES for assisting design engineers. PCM in shell-and-tube configuration (tube spacing of 20 cm, tube diameter of 60 mm), slab-like configuration (thickness of 24 mm) and beam-like configuration (edge length of 39 mm melt in less than 6 hours. This study shows the possibility of storing cooling energy in a large LHTES.
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Pages: 510-526
WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development, ISSN / E-ISSN: 1790-5079 / 2224-3496, Volume 15, 2019, Art. #55