WINTER 2019 PCM Heat Storage for Solar Hot Water System
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PCM Heat Storage Capacity Insulation to minimize heat losses 3" ABS pipe 1/2" copper tubing Water inlet Water outlet PCM Heat Storage for Solar Hot Water System Chase Ambeau • Mike Bos • Cameron Leslie • Jacob O’Neill WINTER 2019 E N GIN EERIN G Acknowledgements Faculty advisor: Shohel Mahmud Ph.D., P.Eng Special thanks to: Mike Speagle • Marc Depatie Motivation Design a thermal energy system that utilizes the latent heat properties of PCM to store energy from a TSC source Harnessing the sun’s energy via a thermal solar collector (TSC) to heat water is a commonly employed practice with growing popularity. Unfortunately, TSC’s are unable to produce enough heat during the night or cloudy weather conditions. Heat storage systems on the market are inadequate for a system relying solely on solar energy. This project utilizes the high latent heat of phase-change materials (PCM) to store thermal energy in a compact and efficient manner to produce a reliable output of hot water. Background Objectives Manufacture a prototype and execute a real-world analysis The system should be suitable for residential use and incorporate an automated control system The thermal storage unit is designed to be compact and efficient. The unit consists of 6 pipes, each composed of 4 lengths of copper, encapsulated by paraffin wax and enclosed by ABS pipe. Design Solution Thermal Storage Unit Copper tubes configured to maximize surface area and enhance heat transfer Charge/discharge of system as one loop for compact & cost effective design Automation System Electrical enclosure box with lcd screen Expansion tank 1/25 horsepower circulation pump Air release vent Motorized ball valve PCM heat storage capacity 4 motorized ball valves and 5 thermocouples to initiate the charge and discharge cycles and ensure the system does not overheat The PCM heat storage system is fully automated and includes: A micro-controller which governs the embedded system LCD screen and remote controller to display temperatures in the system, charge/discharge cycle and time For testing purposes, a real time clock and sd card reader records system temperatures with a date & time stamp Results Conclusions Objectives A phase change material (PCM) is a substance that absorbs and releases high amounts of energy in the form of latent heat when transitioning between states. Energy is absorbed as the PCM melts and is released during solidification. The PCM used in the system is a paraffin wax with a melting point of 55°C. The design carries an ability to be effectively scaled according to user requirements. System effectively maintained a 45L tank above 20°C temperature for up to four hours after sundown in a 0° C environment. The daily collector cycle provided sufficient energy to phase change the paraffin wax. Further testing in various weather conditions will aid in fully defining system performance Alternative PCM choices may be considered in future iterations to further improve system performance The design carries an ability to be effectively scaled according to user requirements The daily collector cycle provided sufficient energy to heat and phase change the paraffin wax System effectively maintained a 45L tank above 20°C temperature for over four hours after sundown in a 0° C environment k z
Transcript of WINTER 2019 PCM Heat Storage for Solar Hot Water System
PCM Heat Storage CapacityInsulation to minimize heat losses3" ABS pipe1/2" copper tubingWater inletWater outlet
PCM Heat Storage for Solar Hot Water SystemChase Ambeau • Mike Bos • Cameron Leslie • Jacob O’Neill WINTER 2019
ENGINEERING AcknowledgementsFaculty advisor: Shohel Mahmud Ph.D., P.EngSpecial thanks to: Mike Speagle • Marc Depatie
Motivation
Design a thermal energy system that utilizes the latent heat properties of PCM to store energy from a TSC source
Harnessing the sun’s energy via a thermal solar collector (TSC) to heat water is a commonly employed practice with growing popularity. Unfortunately, TSC’s are unable to produce enough heat during the night or cloudy weather conditions. Heat storage systems on the market are inadequate for a system relying solely on solar energy. This project utilizes the high latent heat of phase-change materials (PCM) to store thermal energy in a compact and efficient manner to produce a reliable output of hot water.Background
ObjectivesManufacture a prototype and execute a real-world analysisThe system should be suitable for residential use and incorporate an automated control system
The thermal storage unit is designed to be compact and efficient. The unit consists of 6 pipes, each composed of 4 lengths ofcopper, encapsulated by paraffin wax and enclosed by ABS pipe. Design Solution Thermal Storage Unit
Copper tubes configured to maximize surface area and enhance heat transferCharge/discharge of system as one loop for compact & cost effective design
Automation System Electrical enclosure box with lcd screenExpansion tank1/25 horsepower circulation pumpAir release ventMotorized ball valvePCM heat storage capacity
4 motorized ball valves and 5 thermocouples to initiate the chargeand discharge cycles and ensure the system does not overheatThe PCM heat storage system is fully automated and includes:A micro-controller which governs the embedded system
LCD screen and remote controller to display temperatures in the system, charge/discharge cycle and time For testing purposes, a real time clock and sd card reader recordssystem temperatures with a date & time stamp
Results
Conclusions
ObjectivesA phase change material (PCM) is a substance that absorbs and releases high amounts of energy in the form of latent heat when transitioning between states. Energy is absorbed as the PCM melts and is released during solidification. The PCM used in the system is a paraffin wax with a melting point of 55°C.
The design carries an ability to be effectively scaled according to user requirements. System effectively maintained a 45L tank above 20°C temperature for up to four hours after sundown in a 0° C environment. The daily collector cycle provided sufficient energy to phase change the paraffin wax.
Further testing in various weather conditions will aid in fully defining system performance Alternative PCM choices may be considered in future iterations to further improve system performance
The design carries an ability to be effectively scaled according to user requirements
The daily collector cycle provided sufficient energy to heat and phase change the paraffin wax System effectively maintained a 45L tank above 20°C temperature for over four hours after sundown in a 0° C environment
kz
