A new ventilated window with PCM heat exchanger—Performance analysis and design optimization

Yue Hu*, Per Kvols Heiselberg

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper proposes a ventilated window with a phase change material (PCM) heat exchanger as a new window application. In summer, night ventilation mode is operated to discharge energy stored in PCM by the ambient cold air, which can be reloaded again, when ventilation pre-cooled air is provided. Numerical model is built and verified by full-scale experiment to evaluate the PCM ventilation system. The nonlinear properties and hysteresis of PCM are set in the model. The conclusion is that the configuration optimization should be based on different climates. In the case study in Copenhagen, the heat exchanger with 10 mm plate thickness is optimized. It can cool down the ventilated air 6.5 °C on average in 3.9 h pre-cooling effective time with 3.19 MJ/day energy saving. The material cost saving is 16.87% compared to 20 mm plate thickness which has similar discharged heat amount. Nevertheless, the heat exchanger with 5 mm plate thickness has a faster thermal response and a higher cost saving ability, which is good for the climate when the period of outdoor air temperature suitable for night ventilation in a day is short.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEnergy and Buildings
Volume169
Pages (from-to)185-194
ISSN0378-7788
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • PCM modeling
  • Phase change material
  • Ventilated window
  • Ventilation pretreatment

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