Khun, Nang San. Performance analysis of air-cooled chiller integrated with phase change material-propylene glycol water energy storage. Master's Degree(Energy Engineering). Chiang Mai University. Library. : Chiang Mai University, 2568.
Performance analysis of air-cooled chiller integrated with phase change material-propylene glycol water energy storage
Abstract:
This study investigated the performance of a phase change materialpropylene glycol/water (PCMPG/W) storage tank integrated into a conventional air-conditioning system during the charging (solidification) and discharging (melting) processes. Experimental tests were carried out on a 0.125 m³ storage tank containing a staggered array of RT 5 paraffin-based PCM tubes (melting point: 5 °C), with PG/W serving as the heat transfer fluid. During the charging phase, chilled water from an air-cooled chiller solidified the PCM by extracting latent heat, thereby storing thermal energy. In the discharging phase, heated PG/W returning from a fan coil unit located in a testing room, subjected to a 1 kW internal cooling load, was circulated through the PCM-PG/W tank. As the fluid passed through the PCM tube bank, thermal energy was transferred to the PCM, which absorbed the heat and lowered the PG/W outlet temperature. Three configurations were examined: full (77 tubes), two-thirds (51 tubes), and without PCM. Each PCM tube had a diameter of 0.025 m and was arranged in a staggered configuration. A theoretical model was developed to predict the temperature profiles of both PCM and PG/W along the tank length during both thermal phases. The model showed good agreement with the experimental results. The validated model was then employed to evaluate the effects of PCM tube quantity, PG/W flow rate, and ambient temperature on the outlet PG/W temperature and indoor air temperature. The optimal configuration that sustained a 1 RT cooling load and maintained the room temperature below 28 °C during office hours (9:00 to 17:00) was identified as a 2 m³ PCM-PG/W tank with a full tube configuration (416 tubes) at a flow rate of 0.167 kg/s. Compared to no PCM, a PCM-PG/W storage tank with 416 tubes saved approximately 5.83 kWh in daily electrical energy consumption.