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Assessing the Effectiveness of an Innovative Thermal Energy Storage System Installed in a Building in a Moderate Continental Climatic Zone

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Listed:
  • Luis Coelho

    (MARE—IPS—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Campus do IPS—Estefanilha, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal)

  • Maria K. Koukou

    (Energy and Environmental Research Laboratory, Evripus Campus, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 34400 Psachna, Evia, Greece)

  • John Konstantaras

    (Energy and Environmental Research Laboratory, Evripus Campus, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 34400 Psachna, Evia, Greece)

  • Michail Gr. Vrachopoulos

    (Energy and Environmental Research Laboratory, Evripus Campus, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 34400 Psachna, Evia, Greece)

  • Amandio Rebola

    (MARE—IPS—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Campus do IPS—Estefanilha, 2910-761 Setúbal, Portugal)

  • Anastasia Benou

    (Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES), Marathonos 19th Km, 19009 Pikermi, Greece)

  • Constantine Karytsas

    (Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES), Marathonos 19th Km, 19009 Pikermi, Greece)

  • Pavlos Tourou

    (Institute for Power Systems Technology and Power Mechatronics, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany)

  • Constantinos Sourkounis

    (Institute for Power Systems Technology and Power Mechatronics, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany)

  • Heiko Gaich

    (Geoteam Technisches Buro fur Hydrogeologie, Geothermie und Umwelt GMBH, Bahnhofguertel 77/4, 8020 Graz, Austria)

  • Johan Goldbrunner

    (Geoteam Technisches Buro fur Hydrogeologie, Geothermie und Umwelt GMBH, Bahnhofguertel 77/4, 8020 Graz, Austria)

Abstract

In the present work, the operating results from an innovative, renewable, energy-based space-heating and domestic hot water (DHW) system are shown. The system used solar thermal energy as its primary source and was assisted by a shallow geothermal application in order to accommodate the space-heating and DHW needs of a domestic building in Austria. The system incorporated phase-change materials (PCMs) in specially designed containers to function as heat-storage modules and provide an energy storage capability for both the space-heating and DHW subsystems. This system was designed, implemented, and tested under real operating conditions in a building for a period of one year. The operating and energy results for the system are demonstrated in this work. The system was compared with a conventional one, and a reduction in the primary energy consumption equal to 84.3% was achieved. The maintenance and operating costs of the system were reduced by 79.7% compared to the conventional system, thus significantly contributing to the NZEB target of the building. The newly proposed system, although presenting an increased operating complexity, utilizes an innovative self-learning control system that manages all of its operations. The combination of a solar thermal energy source with thermal energy storage increases the use of renewable energy by extending the capacity of the system beyond the solar hours and using excess solar energy for space-heating needs. The thermal energy storage unit also increases the energy and economic efficiency of the geothermal heat pump by operating it during the hours of a reduced electricity tariff and using the stored energy during hours of a high electricity demand. The cost for the installation of such a system is higher than a conventional one, but due to the significantly decreased operating costs, the pay-back period was calculated to be 8.7 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Luis Coelho & Maria K. Koukou & John Konstantaras & Michail Gr. Vrachopoulos & Amandio Rebola & Anastasia Benou & Constantine Karytsas & Pavlos Tourou & Constantinos Sourkounis & Heiko Gaich & Johan G, 2024. "Assessing the Effectiveness of an Innovative Thermal Energy Storage System Installed in a Building in a Moderate Continental Climatic Zone," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:3:p:763-:d:1333972
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Skandalos, Nikolaos & Karamanis, Dimitris, 2021. "An optimization approach to photovoltaic building integration towards low energy buildings in different climate zones," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
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