IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i9p3798-d1135849.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Analysis of a Phase Change Material-Based Condenser of a Low-Scale Refrigeration System

Author

Listed:
  • Augusto Cavargna

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale (DII), Università di Napoli Federico II, 80125 Napoli, NA, Italy)

  • Luigi Mongibello

    (ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Portici Research Center, 80055 Portici, NA, Italy)

  • Marcello Iasiello

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale (DII), Università di Napoli Federico II, 80125 Napoli, NA, Italy)

  • Nicola Bianco

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale (DII), Università di Napoli Federico II, 80125 Napoli, NA, Italy)

Abstract

This study concerns the numerical simulation and the experimental implementation of a low-scale Phase Change Material-based (PCM-based) condenser, to be included in a PCM-based portable cooling systems. In this category of cooling systems, the PCM can be integrated either in the condenser or in the evaporator. In the present study, the PCM is integrated in the condenser of the vapor compression cycle to absorb the heat power released from the refrigerant fluid (R134a) during condensation, thus eliminating the need to transfer heat to the external environment. The main objective of the present study is to realize and validate a numerical model capable of simulating both the refrigerant fluid and the PCM thermofluid dynamics. For this purpose, a commercial solver was used for the implementation of the developed numerical model, and experimental tests were performed to validate the numerical simulations results. The paper reports the details and test results of both the numerical model and the experimental apparatus. The simulation results indicate a good accordance between the numerical and experimental data.

Suggested Citation

  • Augusto Cavargna & Luigi Mongibello & Marcello Iasiello & Nicola Bianco, 2023. "Analysis of a Phase Change Material-Based Condenser of a Low-Scale Refrigeration System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:9:p:3798-:d:1135849
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/9/3798/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/9/3798/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Veselý, Michal & Zeiler, Wim, 2014. "Personalized conditioning and its impact on thermal comfort and energy performance – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 401-408.
    2. Cheng, Wen-Long & Yuan, Xu-Dong, 2013. "Numerical analysis of a novel household refrigerator with shape-stabilized PCM (phase change material) heat storage condensers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 265-276.
    3. Medrano, M. & Yilmaz, M.O. & Nogués, M. & Martorell, I. & Roca, Joan & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2009. "Experimental evaluation of commercial heat exchangers for use as PCM thermal storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(10), pages 2047-2055, October.
    4. Meng Yu & Xiaowei Sun & Wenjuan Su & Defeng Li & Jun Shen & Xuejun Zhang & Long Jiang, 2022. "Investigation on the Melting Performance of a Phase Change Material Based on a Shell-and-Tube Thermal Energy Storage Unit with a Rectangular Fin Configuration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-15, November.
    5. Lv, Laiquan & Zou, Yang & Huang, Shengyao & Wang, Xinyi & Shao, Rongyu & Xue, Xue & Rong, Yan & Zhou, Hao, 2023. "Experimental study on a pilot-scale medium-temperature latent heat storage system with various fins," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 499-508.
    6. Beyne, W. & T'Jollyn, I. & Lecompte, S. & Cabeza, L.F. & De Paepe, M., 2023. "Standardised methods for the determination of key performance indicators for thermal energy storage heat exchangers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Khan, Mohammed Mumtaz A. & Saidur, R. & Al-Sulaiman, Fahad A., 2017. "A review for phase change materials (PCMs) in solar absorption refrigeration systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 105-137.
    2. Wu, Jing & Tremeac, Brice & Terrier, Marie-France & Charni, Mehdi & Gagnière, Emilie & Couenne, Françoise & Hamroun, Boussad & Jallut, Christian, 2016. "Experimental investigation of the dynamic behavior of a large-scale refrigeration – PCM energy storage system. Validation of a complete model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(P1), pages 32-42.
    3. Xu, Yang & Ren, Qinlong & Zheng, Zhang-Jing & He, Ya-Ling, 2017. "Evaluation and optimization of melting performance for a latent heat thermal energy storage unit partially filled with porous media," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 84-95.
    4. Umair, Malik Muhammad & Zhang, Yuang & Iqbal, Kashif & Zhang, Shufen & Tang, Bingtao, 2019. "Novel strategies and supporting materials applied to shape-stabilize organic phase change materials for thermal energy storage–A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 846-873.
    5. Borderon, Julien & Virgone, Joseph & Cantin, Richard, 2015. "Modeling and simulation of a phase change material system for improving summer comfort in domestic residence," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 288-296.
    6. Nweye, Kingsley & Nagy, Zoltan, 2022. "MARTINI: Smart meter driven estimation of HVAC schedules and energy savings based on Wi-Fi sensing and clustering," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    7. Pahamli, Y. & Hosseini, M.J. & Ardahaie, S. Saedi & Ranjbar, A.A., 2022. "Improvement of a phase change heat storage system by Blossom-Shaped Fins: Energy analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 192-215.
    8. Pitié, F. & Zhao, C.Y. & Baeyens, J. & Degrève, J. & Zhang, H.L., 2013. "Circulating fluidized bed heat recovery/storage and its potential to use coated phase-change-material (PCM) particles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 505-513.
    9. Feng, Yanxiao & Liu, Shichao & Wang, Julian & Yang, Jing & Jao, Ying-Ling & Wang, Nan, 2022. "Data-driven personal thermal comfort prediction: A literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    10. Sardari, Pouyan Talebizadeh & Mohammed, Hayder I. & Giddings, Donald & walker, Gavin S. & Gillott, Mark & Grant, David, 2019. "Numerical study of a multiple-segment metal foam-PCM latent heat storage unit: Effect of porosity, pore density and location of heat source," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    11. Enescu, Diana, 2017. "A review of thermal comfort models and indicators for indoor environments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1353-1379.
    12. Beyne, W. & T'Jollyn, I. & Lecompte, S. & Cabeza, L.F. & De Paepe, M., 2023. "Standardised methods for the determination of key performance indicators for thermal energy storage heat exchangers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    13. Merlin, Kevin & Delaunay, Didier & Soto, Jérôme & Traonvouez, Luc, 2016. "Heat transfer enhancement in latent heat thermal storage systems: Comparative study of different solutions and thermal contact investigation between the exchanger and the PCM," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 107-116.
    14. Pu, Jing & Liu, Guilian & Feng, Xiao, 2012. "Cumulative exergy analysis of ice thermal storage air conditioning system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 564-569.
    15. Li Peng & Hongjun Wu & Qianjun Mao, 2022. "Visualizing Experimental Study of the Effect of Inclination Angle on the Melting Performance for an Energy Storage Tank," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-11, October.
    16. Joulin, Annabelle & Younsi, Zohir & Zalewski, Laurent & Lassue, Stéphane & Rousse, Daniel R. & Cavrot, Jean-Paul, 2011. "Experimental and numerical investigation of a phase change material: Thermal-energy storage and release," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(7), pages 2454-2462, July.
    17. Kirincic, Mateo & Trp, Anica & Lenic, Kristian, 2021. "Influence of natural convection during melting and solidification of paraffin in a longitudinally finned shell-and-tube latent thermal energy storage on the applicability of developed numerical models," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1329-1344.
    18. Pointner, Harald & Steinmann, Wolf-Dieter, 2016. "Experimental demonstration of an active latent heat storage concept," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 661-671.
    19. Haider Latif & Samira Rahnama & Alessandro Maccarini & Goran Hultmark & Peter V. Nielsen & Alireza Afshari, 2022. "Precision Ventilation in an Open-Plan Office: A New Application of Active Chilled Beam (ACB) with a JetCone Feature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, April.
    20. Longeon, Martin & Soupart, Adèle & Fourmigué, Jean-François & Bruch, Arnaud & Marty, Philippe, 2013. "Experimental and numerical study of annular PCM storage in the presence of natural convection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 175-184.

    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:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:9:p:3798-:d:1135849. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.