IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v251y2019ic12.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

System performance and economic assessment of a thermal energy storage based air-conditioning unit for transport applications

Author

Listed:
  • Nie, Binjian
  • She, Xiaohui
  • Du, Zheng
  • Xie, Chunping
  • Li, Yongliang
  • He, Zhubing
  • Ding, Yulong

Abstract

Traditional air conditioning (AC) faces low energy efficiency and thermal comfort challenges. This study explores the integration of thermal energy storage (TES) containing a phase change material (PCM) with a conventional AC unit (PCM-AC) to meet the challenge. A PCM based TES device was designed and fabricated and an experimental system was established. Comparisons are made between AC and PCM-AC scenarios in terms of spatial temperature changes at the initial transient stage, spatial temperature fluctuations at the steady-state operations, relative humidity, coefficient of performance (COP), energy savings, and emergency ventilation/cooling. A developed model was used to simulate the room temperature fluctuations with and without PCM under the Matlab Simulink environment. The experimental results showed that, compared with the AC, the testing space temperature fluctuation of the PCM-AC was reduced significantly to ∼2.56 °C (compared with 4.31 °C for the AC case); the ON-OFF frequency of the compressor of the PCM-AC was reduced by 27%; the overall COP was increased by 19.05%; and the emergency ventilation/cooling time was prolonged by almost 9 times. The results also showed the potential of the use of PCM-AC to significantly narrow down the relative humidity fluctuations and hence the potential for enhancing the thermal comfort. The simulation results agree well with the experimental data. The economic analysis showed that the electrical cost of the PCM-AC could be reduced by ∼17.82%, leading to a payback period between 1.83 and 3.3 depending on the grade the PCM used and the scale of operations.

Suggested Citation

  • Nie, Binjian & She, Xiaohui & Du, Zheng & Xie, Chunping & Li, Yongliang & He, Zhubing & Ding, Yulong, 2019. "System performance and economic assessment of a thermal energy storage based air-conditioning unit for transport applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:251:y:2019:i:c:12
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.05.057
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261919309109
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.05.057?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Farah, Sleiman & Liu, Ming & Saman, Wasim, 2019. "Numerical investigation of phase change material thermal storage for space cooling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 526-535.
    2. Moreno, Pere & Solé, Cristian & Castell, Albert & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2014. "The use of phase change materials in domestic heat pump and air-conditioning systems for short term storage: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 1-13.
    3. Zhao, Dongliang & Tan, Gang, 2014. "Experimental evaluation of a prototype thermoelectric system integrated with PCM (phase change material) for space cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 658-666.
    4. Zhou, D. & Zhao, C.Y. & Tian, Y., 2012. "Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCMs) in building applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 593-605.
    5. Tyagi, V.V. & Kaushik, S.C. & Tyagi, S.K. & Akiyama, T., 2011. "Development of phase change materials based microencapsulated technology for buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 1373-1391, February.
    6. Barzin, Reza & Chen, John J.J. & Young, Brent R. & Farid, Mohammed M., 2015. "Application of PCM energy storage in combination with night ventilation for space cooling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 412-421.
    7. Xie, Chunping & Hong, Yan & Ding, Yulong & Li, Yongliang & Radcliffe, Jonathan, 2018. "An economic feasibility assessment of decoupled energy storage in the UK: With liquid air energy storage as a case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 244-257.
    8. Xu, Biwan & Li, Zongjin, 2013. "Paraffin/diatomite composite phase change material incorporated cement-based composite for thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 229-237.
    9. Ascione, Fabrizio & Bianco, Nicola & De Masi, Rosa Francesca & de’ Rossi, Filippo & Vanoli, Giuseppe Peter, 2014. "Energy refurbishment of existing buildings through the use of phase change materials: Energy savings and indoor comfort in the cooling season," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 990-1007.
    10. Ramakrishnan, Sayanthan & Wang, Xiaoming & Sanjayan, Jay & Wilson, John, 2017. "Thermal performance of buildings integrated with phase change materials to reduce heat stress risks during extreme heatwave events," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 410-421.
    11. Allouche, Yosr & Varga, Szabolcs & Bouden, Chiheb & Oliveira, Armando C., 2017. "Dynamic simulation of an integrated solar-driven ejector based air conditioning system with PCM cold storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 600-611.
    12. Xiang, Bo & Cao, Xiaoling & Yuan, Yanping & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Zeng, Chao & Ji, Yasheng & Sun, Liangliang, 2018. "A novel hybrid energy system combined with solar-road and soil-regenerator: Sensitivity analysis and optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 419-430.
    13. Devaux, Paul & Farid, Mohammed Mehdi, 2017. "Benefits of PCM underfloor heating with PCM wallboards for space heating in winter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 593-602.
    14. Sun, Xiaoqin & Zhang, Quan & Medina, Mario A. & Liu, Yingjun & Liao, Shuguang, 2014. "A study on the use of phase change materials (PCMs) in combination with a natural cold source for space cooling in telecommunications base stations (TBSs) in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 95-103.
    15. She, Xiaohui & Peng, Xiaodong & Nie, Binjian & Leng, Guanghui & Zhang, Xiaosong & Weng, Likui & Tong, Lige & Zheng, Lifang & Wang, Li & Ding, Yulong, 2017. "Enhancement of round trip efficiency of liquid air energy storage through effective utilization of heat of compression," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1632-1642.
    16. Pasupathy, A. & Velraj, R. & Seeniraj, R.V., 2008. "Phase change material-based building architecture for thermal management in residential and commercial establishments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 39-64, January.
    17. Li, Yantong & Huang, Gongsheng & Xu, Tao & Liu, Xiaoping & Wu, Huijun, 2018. "Optimal design of PCM thermal storage tank and its application for winter available open-air swimming pool," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 224-235.
    18. Ling, Ziye & Cao, Jiahao & Zhang, Wenbo & Zhang, Zhengguo & Fang, Xiaoming & Gao, Xuenong, 2018. "Compact liquid cooling strategy with phase change materials for Li-ion batteries optimized using response surface methodology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 777-788.
    19. Liu, Ming & Saman, Wasim & Bruno, Frank, 2012. "Development of a novel refrigeration system for refrigerated trucks incorporating phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 336-342.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chao, Jingwei & Xu, Jiaxing & Xiang, Shizhao & Bai, Zhaoyuan & Yan, Taisen & Wang, Pengfei & Wang, Ruzhu & Li, Tingxian, 2023. "High energy-density and power-density cold storage enabled by sorption thermal battery based on liquid-gas phase change process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    2. Xiong, Chengyan & Meng, Qinglong & Wei, Ying'an & Luo, Huilong & Lei, Yu & Liu, Jiao & Yan, Xiuying, 2023. "A demand response method for an active thermal energy storage air-conditioning system using improved transactive control: On-site experiments," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    3. Barthwal, Mohit & Dhar, Atul & Powar, Satvasheel, 2021. "The techno-economic and environmental analysis of genetic algorithm (GA) optimized cold thermal energy storage (CTES) for air-conditioning applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    4. Teggar, Mohamed & Laouer, Abdelghani & Benhorma, Amani & Goudjil, Houssem & Arıcı, Müslüm & Ismail, Kamal AR & Mekhilef, Saad & Mezaache, El Hacene & Tahouri, Tahar, 2023. "Perspective role of phase change materials for energy efficiency in Algeria," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    5. Nie, Binjian & Zou, Boyang & She, Xiaohui & Zhang, Tongtong & Li, Yongliang & Ding, Yulong, 2020. "Development of a heat transfer coefficient based design method of a thermal energy storage device for transport air-conditioning applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    6. Gado, Mohamed G. & Hassan, Hamdy, 2023. "Energy-saving potential of compression heat pump using thermal energy storage of phase change materials for cooling and heating applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    7. Lin, Niangzhi & Li, Chuanchang & Zhang, Dongyao & Li, Yaxi & Chen, Jian, 2022. "Emerging phase change cold storage materials derived from sodium sulfate decahydrate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    8. Liu, Yang & Sun, Yongjun & Gao, Dian-ce & Tan, Jiaqi & Chen, Yuxin, 2024. "Stacked ensemble learning approach for PCM-based double-pipe latent heat thermal energy storage prediction towards flexible building energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    9. Nie, Binjian & Palacios, Anabel & Zou, Boyang & Liu, Jiaxu & Zhang, Tongtong & Li, Yunren, 2020. "Review on phase change materials for cold thermal energy storage applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nie, Binjian & Palacios, Anabel & Zou, Boyang & Liu, Jiaxu & Zhang, Tongtong & Li, Yunren, 2020. "Review on phase change materials for cold thermal energy storage applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    2. Alam, Morshed & Zou, Patrick X.W. & Sanjayan, Jay & Ramakrishnan, Sayanthan, 2019. "Energy saving performance assessment and lessons learned from the operation of an active phase change materials system in a multi-storey building in Melbourne," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1582-1595.
    3. Shafie-khah, M. & Kheradmand, M. & Javadi, S. & Azenha, M. & de Aguiar, J.L.B. & Castro-Gomes, J. & Siano, P. & Catalão, J.P.S., 2016. "Optimal behavior of responsive residential demand considering hybrid phase change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 81-92.
    4. Wu, Minqiang & Li, Tingxian & He, Qifan & Du, Ruxue & Wang, Ruzhu, 2022. "Thermally conductive and form-stable phase change composite for building thermal management," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PA).
    5. Ramakrishnan, Sayanthan & Wang, Xiaoming & Sanjayan, Jay & Wilson, John, 2017. "Thermal performance assessment of phase change material integrated cementitious composites in buildings: Experimental and numerical approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 654-664.
    6. Memon, Shazim Ali, 2014. "Phase change materials integrated in building walls: A state of the art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 870-906.
    7. Chandel, S.S. & Agarwal, Tanya, 2017. "Review of current state of research on energy storage, toxicity, health hazards and commercialization of phase changing materials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 581-596.
    8. Lamrani, B. & Johannes, K. & Kuznik, F., 2021. "Phase change materials integrated into building walls: An updated review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    9. Zeinelabdein, Rami & Omer, Siddig & Gan, Guohui, 2018. "Critical review of latent heat storage systems for free cooling in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2843-2868.
    10. Ikutegbe, Charles A. & Farid, Mohammed M., 2020. "Application of phase change material foam composites in the built environment: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    11. Lizana, Jesús & Chacartegui, Ricardo & Barrios-Padura, Angela & Ortiz, Carlos, 2018. "Advanced low-carbon energy measures based on thermal energy storage in buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3705-3749.
    12. Gohar Gholamibozanjani & Mohammed Farid, 2021. "A Critical Review on the Control Strategies Applied to PCM-Enhanced Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-39, March.
    13. Qv, Dehu & Ni, Long & Yao, Yang & Hu, Wenju, 2015. "Reliability verification of a solar–air source heat pump system with PCM energy storage in operating strategy transition," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 46-55.
    14. Mi, Xuming & Liu, Ran & Cui, Hongzhi & Memon, Shazim Ali & Xing, Feng & Lo, Yiu, 2016. "Energy and economic analysis of building integrated with PCM in different cities of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 324-336.
    15. Sarı, Ahmet & Alkan, Cemil & Bilgin, Cahit, 2014. "Micro/nano encapsulation of some paraffin eutectic mixtures with poly(methyl methacrylate) shell: Preparation, characterization and latent heat thermal energy storage properties," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 217-227.
    16. Soares, N. & Bastos, J. & Pereira, L. Dias & Soares, A. & Amaral, A.R. & Asadi, E. & Rodrigues, E. & Lamas, F.B. & Monteiro, H. & Lopes, M.A.R. & Gaspar, A.R., 2017. "A review on current advances in the energy and environmental performance of buildings towards a more sustainable built environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 845-860.
    17. Cao, Lei & Su, Di & Tang, Yaojie & Fang, Guiyin & Tang, Fang, 2015. "Properties evaluation and applications of thermal energystorage materials in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 500-522.
    18. Liu, Jiang & Liu, Yan & Yang, Liu & Liu, Tang & Zhang, Chen & Dong, Hong, 2020. "Climatic and seasonal suitability of phase change materials coupled with night ventilation for office buildings in Western China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 356-373.
    19. Akeiber, Hussein & Nejat, Payam & Majid, Muhd Zaimi Abd. & Wahid, Mazlan A. & Jomehzadeh, Fatemeh & Zeynali Famileh, Iman & Calautit, John Kaiser & Hughes, Ben Richard & Zaki, Sheikh Ahmad, 2016. "A review on phase change material (PCM) for sustainable passive cooling in building envelopes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1470-1497.
    20. Ren, Miao & Liu, Yushi & Gao, Xiaojian, 2020. "Incorporation of phase change material and carbon nanofibers into lightweight aggregate concrete for thermal energy regulation in buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:251:y:2019:i:c:12. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.