Experimental Investigation Of Phase Change Material–Integrated Solar Water Heaters With Varying Structural And Thermal Storage Designs
Keywords:
PCM-ISWHs, HTF, CFDAbstract
Phase change material-integrated solar water heaters (PCM-ISWHs) incorporate latent heat storage to extend usable hot water supply beyond daylight hours, mitigating solar intermittency. This article details experimental investigations into structural variations such as encapsulation types (cylindrical, slab), fin enhancements, and cascaded PCM layers and thermal storage designs, including HTF flow rates and tank geometries. Paraffin waxes (RT42, RT50, RT58) dominate due to melting points (42-58°C) aligning with domestic needs (45-60°C). Key experiments show single PCM boosting temperatures by 9-23°C over sensible storage, cascaded setups achieving 3-7% higher collection efficiency via uniform phase transitions, and finned designs accelerating charging by 20-30%. Productivity rises 35-92% in hybrid configurations, with exergy efficiencies up to 71%. Challenges like low conductivity (addressed by nano-additives) and leakage are explored, alongside CFD validations. Findings advocate cascaded, fin-augmented cylindrical encapsulations for 52-85°C delivery, reducing payback to 2-3 years in tropical climates. Future hybrid nano-PCMs promise further gains.
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