Experimental Study of Active Slab with PCM During Summer Period
Abstract
Energy consumption in buildings has become an important part of the global energy consumed in Europe and it is mainly related to HVAC systems. Moreover, the implementation of cooling systems is increasing which causes problems in the electricity grid. Therefore, it is crucial to reduce the energy consumption which can be achieved by decreasing the energy demand or/and improving the efficiency of the cooling systems. In this study, an innovative technology for heating and cooling application in buildings is presented. The experimental set-up of Puigverd de Lleida (Spain) allocates two house-like cubicles, one with a conventional slab and the other one with an active slab. The target is to use the internal slab as a storage unit by incorporating phase change material in order to increase the heat storage capacity. The operational summer mode consists of solidifying the PCM with the outer cool air during the night-time. Then the cold is stored inside the slab for covering a later cooling demand. Moreover, a solar air collector has been installed in the South facade of the cubicle to act as a heat source during winter season. The hot air provided by the air collector is directly pumped to the inside of the slab in order to melt the PCM. Thus, the slab becomes a heat storage component and when heat supply is required, the heat stored is used to cover the demand. Experimental analysis will demonstrate the potential of the technology for heating and cooling purposes and the need of a control strategy to optimize the operational principle.
Keywords
Phase change material, Cooling system, Heating system, Hollow core slab, Experimental study.