Experimental Investigation of a Novel Solar Energy Storage Heating Radiator with Phase Change Material

Abstract

A novel solar energy storage heating radiator (SESHR) prototype filled with low-temperature phase change material (PCM) has been developed to accommodate the urgent demand in thermal storage and the fluctuation in renewable energy utilization. This equipment integrated by several independent heat storage units (HSUs) and water and paraffin wax was used as a heat transfer fluid and an energy storage material, respectively. The experimental test platform for low-temperature SESHR was designed and established. The total storage/dissipation time, average storage/dissipation capacity, and the rate and overall thermal efficiency were investigated under different operating conditions. Experimental results showed that a higher temperature difference between the heat source and the melting point of the PCM could significantly improve the heat storage capacity and rate. The heat dissipation rate of the SESHR could be controlled by adjusting the opening ratio of the air convective channel. The average storage rate of the SESHR with 2#PCM reached 1106 W at a heat source temperature of 85 °C, and the average heat dissipation rate reached 80.7 W at 100% opening ratio when the SESHR was filled with 1#PCM.