Demonstration of a Latent Heat Storage Unit Using a Pillow-Plate Heat Exchanger in a Zero Emission Building
Abstract
An innovative latent heat storage (LHS) unit was implemented in the central heating system of a zero-emission building. The LHS consists in 24 parallel pillow-plates and 3 tons of phase change material (PCM) CT37 (biowax – transition temperature 37 ˚C). There are two different operation modes to charge and two to discharge the LHS system depending on the heat demand, electricity costs and forecast prediction, as it can be combined with photovoltaic panels installed on the building. After several months using a time-based control strategy, results on the relation of the temperature of the LHS unit and the heat output and heat storage capacity are of high interest to improve the system and control monitorization.