PCM based cooling solution for ventilation applications

Citation: V. Ljungdahl, M. Jradi, and C. Veje, "A PCM-based cooling solution for ventilation applications," Energy Informatics, vol. 4, no. 1, p. 30, 2021/09/24 2021, doi: 10.1186/s42162-021-00145-9. Full text of the paper please see: https://energyinformatics.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s42162-021-00145-9#Sec29 Presented at the Energy Informatics.Academy Asia 2021 PhD workshop The workshop website: https://www.energyinformatics.academy/eia-asia-2021-phd-workshop Abstract: In order to meet increasingly ambitious energy goals, buildings being one of the major consumers in the sector needs alternative technologies and solutions to meet heating, ventilation and air conditioning demands. Phase Change Material (PCM)-based cooling technologies in ventilation have shown potential in the recent years. In this work, a PCM-driven air heat exchanger cooling module for comfort cooling in office buildings is investigated. A numerical model of the PCM module utilizing the apparent heat capacity method with hysteresis is developed. The integration of the PCM module with a room model and a ventilation unit model is performed in order to test the system in different conditions. Simulations of the system operation under standard climatic conditions in Denmark and a short period of extreme ambient temperatures are conducted. The results demonstrated that the module performance is highly sensitive to the ambient conditions. Thermal comfort violations of 16.6°Ch for a year and 94°Ch for a five-day period of extreme temperatures are reported. Additionally, a large reduction in energy consumption was observed with the PCM module scenario compared to a conventional Direct Expansion (DX) cooling technology. A yearly electricity consumption of 109 kWh was reported for the PCM module compared to 220 kWh for the DX technology.