Energy and Exergy analysis of solar water heating system integrated with phase change material (PCM)

Abstract

Recent projections anticipate that the essential energy consumption will increase by 48% in 2040. This has prompted to a need to create proficient and sustainable techniques of storing energy. Solar thermal energy can be stored in the form of latent heat by utilizing appropriate phase change materials (PCMs), which offer high heat storage capacity. An experimental study was done in Khartoum city during summer season to investigate the thermal performance of solar water heating system integrated with PCM using flat plate collector as a heat source. The PCM used was paraffin wax whose melting point is 56 °C. An energy and exergy analysis was done to assess the thermal performance of the system and fix the thermodynamic blemish in the energy system. The outcomes showed that PCM acted as smart material which can regulate the temperature of system in the required range. The outcomes indicated that the overall energy and exergy efficiencies of the system were 85% and 76% respectively. The number of entropy generated was 0.26. The results showed that PCM acted as smart regulator to keep supplying the amount of heat to the system even after the absent of heat source. PCM also could increase the exergy output and led to reduce the exergy destruction. This indicates that the PCM could improve the exergy efficiency. The overall outcomes showed that the PCM optimized the performance of solar water heater system by improve energy and exergy efficiencies.