Exergetic Efficiency of Passive Solar Air Heater with Phase Change Energy Storage Material

ABSTRACT 

Energy and exergy analysis of solar air heater with phase change material energy storage is considered in this research work. Energy and exergy models for component systems like flat plate solar collector and phase change material in one-dimensional heat conduction in a cylindrical pipe, for storing periods were obtained. Exergy analysis, which is based on the second law of thermodynamics, and energy analysis, which is based on first law, was applied to improve system efficiency. Measured data, like hourly insolation, collector temperature, PCM temperature, environmental temperature and air flow rate were used as an input on the energy and exergy models to determine system performance. The Software, Engineering Equation Solver (EES) was used to solve the generated equation models. The results of the analysis revealed that the average energy and exergy efficiencies were 48% and 35% respectively.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract - - - - - - - - - - i

Table of Contents - - - - - - - - - ii

Nomenclature - - - - - - - - - - iii

CHAPTER ONE

1. Introduction - - - - - - - - - 1

1.1 Objectives of Research - - - - - - - 3

CHAPTER TWO

2. Literature Review - - - - - - - - 4

2.2 Solar radiation- - - - - - - - - 8

2.3 The behavior of phase change material for charging periods- - - 13

CHAPTER THREE

3. The Energy analysis of the Absorber Plate - - - - - 15

3.1 The Exergy equation of the solar collector - - - - - 19

3.2 The Phase change material - - - - - - - 23

3.3 The Energy Balance Equation of PCM in cylindrical pipe for storing period 24

3.4 The Exergy Balance Equation of PCM - - - - - 26

CHAPTER FOUR

4. Results and Discussion - - - - - - - 29

CHAPTER FIVE

5. Conclusions - - - - - - - - - 61

 References - - - - - - - - - 62

Appendix A Computer program of the equation models - - 65

Appendix B Tables that show the results of the equation models - - 67