Performance analysis of solar collectors with nano-enhanced phase change materials during transitional periods between cold and warm seasons in the continental temperate climates

Abstract

The European Union's ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency has highlighted the importance of renewable energy technologies like solar collectors. Buildings, responsible for a significant share of the EU's energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, can benefit from solar collectors integrated with thermal energy storage systems to optimize both heating and cooling. This study investigates how the integration of nano-enhanced phase change materials (nePCM) into a transpired solar collector (TSC) can improve thermal energy storage and efficiency. To explore this, an experimental setup was constructed and tested under real conditions. This study evaluates a transpired solar collector (TSC) integrated with nano-enhanced phase change materials (nePCMs) for thermal energy storage. Experimental results revealed plate temperatures exceeding ambient by up to 20 °C and nighttime outlet air temperatures raised by 2–3 °C. The system achieved an average efficiency of 50 %, validated by a mathematical model (MBE: 3.13 %, RMSE: 3.86 %). This demonstrates the potential of nePCMs to enhance solar energy storage and efficiency under real-world conditions.