Experimental study of phase change materials coupled solar thermal energy for building heating in winter

Abstract

With the increasing of building consumption, the solar thermal energy has been seriously taken into account again. Because the phase change material (PCM) is characterized with huge energy storage, solar thermal energy can be converted into a continuous and stable energy resource and a higher indoor comfort is created. As a part of the coupled PCM-solar thermal collector system (CPSS), the integration of PCM and double-pipe heat exchanger (PDPE), was developed to couple PCM with solar thermal energy (PS) and experimented in a room. PDPEs encapsulating the mixture of capric acid and hexadecyl alcohol (CAHA) were installed in the floor and solar thermal collector was placed on the roof. Furthermore, several sequential experimental processes in winter were used for evaluating the applicability, energy saving ability and advantages of CPSS.