Login | Register

Modelling and Experimental Evaluation of an Active Thermal Energy Storage System with Phase-Change Materials for Model-Based Control

Title:

Modelling and Experimental Evaluation of an Active Thermal Energy Storage System with Phase-Change Materials for Model-Based Control

Dermardiros, Vasken (2015) Modelling and Experimental Evaluation of an Active Thermal Energy Storage System with Phase-Change Materials for Model-Based Control. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

[thumbnail of Dermardiros_MASc_F2015.pdf]
Preview
Text (application/pdf)
Dermardiros_MASc_F2015.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Spectrum Terms of Access.
4MB

Abstract

This thesis presents an experimental and numerical investigation of an active thermal energy storage (TES) system utilizing phase change material (PCM). The PCM-TES intended for building integration consists of PCM panels with active air circulation between the panels. Air is drawn through a channel to charge and discharge the PCM enabling the system to be used for both heating and cooling purposes – conditioned air, room air or outdoor air for night cooling can be utilized. This creates the possibility of a low thermal mass building to operate more like a high mass building and thereby gaining advantages commonly associated with traditional TES systems such as an ability to incorporate peak load reducing and shifting strategies without the significant weight of a traditional high mass building.

A prototype PCM-TES is built and tested in an environmental chamber. The experimental data collected is used for model validation. A 30th order non linear model with varying thermal capacitance {C(T)} is developed and compared for fitness to experimental data. A simplified 2nd order model is shown to adequately predict the dynamic response of the system for thermal charging/discharging and can be incorporated into model-based control systems, which are effective in peak load reducing and shifting strategies. Simplified models are easier to implement and calibrate since they contain fewer parameters to adjust which could be learned in real time (online calibration) by using measurements from the building automation system to compensate for installation and construction tolerances.

The model was extended to investigate the effect of increasing the exposed surface area to the air stream by having more air circulation channels while keeping the total air mass flow rate and convective heat transfer coefficients constant. Increasing the exposed area resulted in faster responding systems.

A case study was simulated to demonstrate the use of the simplified 2nd order non-linear PCM-TES model for heating peak load reduction. The PCM-TES was shown to reduce the peak by at least 50% for the simulated conditions.

Divisions:Concordia University > Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science > Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Concordia University > Research Units > Centre for Zero Energy Building Studies
Concordia University > Research Units > Solar Buildings Research Network
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Dermardiros, Vasken
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M.A. Sc.
Program:Building Engineering
Date:September 2015
Thesis Supervisor(s):Athienitis, Andreas K.
ID Code:980456
Deposited By: VASKEN DERMARDIROS
Deposited On:02 Nov 2015 15:56
Last Modified:18 Jan 2018 17:51
All items in Spectrum are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved. The use of items is governed by Spectrum's terms of access.

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads per month over past year

Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
- Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
Back to top Back to top