Energy and exergy analysis of a multipass macro-encapsulated phase change material/expanded graphite composite thermal energy storage for domestic hot water applications

Ajay Muraleedharan Nair, Christopher Wilson, Babak Kamkari, Simon Hodge, M Huang, P Griffiths, Neil Hewitt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
9 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study presents the development and performance evaluation of an innovative thermal energy storage (TES) system utilizing a commercially available bioderived organic phase change material (PCM) for domestic hot water production. The primary objective of this research is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of thermal energy storage solutions by macro-encapsulating the PCM-expanded graphite (EG) compressed modules in a multi-pass tube arrangement. A comprehensive experimental setup was employed to investigate the thermal performance of the proposed TES unit, focusing on charging and discharging cycles. Key findings reveal that conduction is the dominant mode of heat transfer, with the system achieving a significant maximum average charging power of 1440 W and a discharging power of 1990 W. The thermal energy storage capacity reached an impressive 12.6 MJ, enabling the discharge of 90 % of stored energy within 90 min. Furthermore, the exergy analysis indicated high exergy efficiencies, with charging efficiencies reaching 98 % and overall exergy efficiency at 18 %.
The implications of this research are significant, demonstrating the feasibility of using bioderived organic PCM for sustainable energy applications. It highlights the potential of the modular structure of the system to integrate with heat pump and solar energy systems, thereby enhancing efficiency and sustainability in domestic hot water applications. This work significantly contributes to the advancement of sustainable thermal energy storage technologies and establishes a solid foundation for future studies aimed at optimizing TES systems for domestic hot water production.
Original languageEnglish
Article number100788
Pages (from-to)1-14
Number of pages14
JournalEnergy Conversion and Management:X
Volume24
Early online date8 Nov 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 14 Nov 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024

Data Access Statement

No data was used for the research described in the article.

Keywords

  • Domestic hot water
  • Expanded graphite
  • Heat transfer
  • Phase change materials (PCM)
  • Thermal energy storage (TES)
  • Phase change materials
  • Thermal energy storage

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