Elsevier

Renewable Energy

Volume 6, Issue 2, March 1995, Pages 119-124
Renewable Energy

Article
Transient analysis of thermosyphon solar air heater with built-in latent heat thermal energy storage system

https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-1481(94)00050-GGet rights and content

Abstract

The thermal performance of a thermosyphon solar air heater with built-in latent heat thermal energy storage system is presented. Phase change materials (PCM) of different melting temperatures (Tm) of 61, 51, 43 and 32°C are studied and compared with the system with no storage material. The results are presented for two limiting values of the maximum (noon) solar intensities of 700 and 900 W m−2 and the average ambient temperature of the city of Alexandria, Egypt. It was found that the heaters with Tm = 51 and 43°C show the best performance. For Tm = 43°C, the heater thermal load of minimum outlet air temperature of 8°C above ambient, and minimum air flow rate of 0.01 kg s−1 (30 m3 h−1), is delivered for the whole day. The hot air flow rate varies from 0.006 kg s−1 (18 m3 h−1) for 24 h, to 0.036 kg s−1 (111 m3 h−1) for 10 h, depending on the system flow resistance. The proposed air heater is simple in design and adds no operational or maintenance complexities over conventional air heaters.

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