HEAT STORAGE BY PHASE CHANGING MATERIALS AND THERMOECONOMICS

Abstract

Heat storage systems by phase changing materials (PCM) need to identify the performance limits and optimize processes and cycles with thermodynamic analysis. Such an analysis consists of concepts like thermoeconomics, entropy generation minimization, and the extended exergy accounting, which calculates resource-based value of a commodity by establishing a comprehensive relation between exergy and economic values. Some other concepts are the cumulative exergy consumption method and exergy cost theory. Thermoeconomics connects mainly the second law of thermodynamics and economics to estimate the cost of exergy by using the cost 0accounting and structural theory. This study presents a thermodynamic analysis of latent heat storage by PCM. It also presents a case study for a seasonal solar heat storage system by paraffin wax by using a system of 18 solar air heaters with 27 m(2) of total absorber area in order to heat a 180 m(2) greenhouse.