Performance analysis of a PCM integrated domestic solar water heater by numerical simulations
by K. Dileep; Divakaran Dishnu; K.R. Arun; M. Srinivas; S. Jayaraj
World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development (WRSTSD), Vol. 17, No. 2/3, 2021

Abstract: The present work attempts to analyse the performance of a non-pressurised domestic solar water heater (DSWH) integrated with phase change material (PCM) during the two modes of operation, namely the charging and discharging modes. PCM's melting and the solidifying rate has been identified as the primary criterion influencing the heater's performance under standard test conditions. A co-axially placed cylindrical PCM container is modelled along with the evacuated tube collector (ETC) type water heater. A transient, three-dimensional numerical solver assuming constant solar insolation is used to study the phase change characteristics assisted by natural convective effects within the DSWH. The solver discretises the conservative equations using the finite volume method (FVM). Average solar insolation of 800 W/m² has been fixed on the upper semi-cylindrical surface of ETC tubes and 35% of it as the reflected radiation falling on the ETC tubes' bottom surface. During charging, the melt fraction plot indicates that seven hours of charging is insufficient for the PCM to completely melt primarily due to the reduced heat conductivity of the PCM. Therefore, the extended period of discharge at the specified temperature expected by incorporating PCM is limited by the fraction of material remaining as solid.

Online publication date: Fri, 30-Apr-2021

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development (WRSTSD):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com