STORAGE OF LATENT HEAT AND THERMAL ENERGY FOR INDOOR COMFORT CONTROL: A STUDY TO DETERMINE TECHNO-ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY

Abstract

The feasibility of using phase change materials as a medium for the storage of cold thermal energy for district cooling was evaluated from both a scientific and a financial point of view. Mixed-integer quadratic programming was used in order to accomplish this goal. This allowed for the best management of a cooling bus network to be found. The substances eutectic salt, paraffin, and polyethylene glycol are examples of substances that are capable of undergoing phase shifts. This research also investigated the ways in which district cooling cold thermal energy storage systems may be enhanced by the use of a storage medium that does not need a lot of space and has a high density. One of the potential solutions for enhancing the comfort of a building while simultaneously reducing its energy consumption is the storage of thermal energy and latent heat. The evidence that is currently available bears this out. The primary purpose of this research is to determine, via the application of a mix of technical and economic criteria, whether or not heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are capable of utilising phase change materials (PCMs) and thermal energy storage (TES) devices. This is made possible by the presence of materials that go through phase transitions. This makes it easier to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the building and decreases the amount of work that the HVAC system has to do. This study will examine several storage technologies and the most effective PCMs, as well as diverse approaches to system integration. The study's main focus is on how thermal capacity, cost, and the environment are all related to each other. It also looks at how the weather and other types of buildings affect the economy. The payback time, the amount of money saved on operational costs, and the initial cost of using the product are all examples of things that fit into this group.