Enhancement in Free Cooling Potential through Evaporative Cooling Integrated with PCM Based Storage System: Experimental Design and Response Surface Approach

Abstract

PCM-based thermal energy storage in conjunction with an electric air source is offered as a potential tool to support domestic energy demand reduction while at the same time minimizing supply challenges for the electricity utilities. This study is to advance the use of hybrid ventilation concepts in building design by assessment of PCM storage unit with an operation of the evaporative ventilation system. RSM CCD methods was employed to evaluate and optimize the individual/interactive effect of parameters on the cooling efficiency of the proposed system. Optimization results indicate that maximum efficiency can be achieved when inlet air temperature and velocity of 28 oC and 1.2 m/s when PCM coils number was set to 28, respectively. This research compared the effectiveness of the passive and free cooling application of PCM when applied to a duplex brick veneer building in Melbourne. It was observed that during the studied period, the free cooling application method is more effective than the passive application method in reducing the peak zone temperature.

Keywords

• free cooling
• phase change material
• thermal comfort
• response surface methodology