A review of research concerning the use of PCMS in air conditioning and refrigeration engineering

Publisher Summary Phase Change Materials (PCMs), which are an alternative to sensible storage, are finding new inroads into the large air conditioning scheme applications. Several novel methods of applying phase change materials in cooling systems are employed to improve the energy saving potential of PCMs. This chapter presents a scheme where thermal storage is incorporated into the cooling tower circuit that enables the system to charge the thermal store at night when there are lower wet bulb temperatures. The stored cold energy is released into the heat rejection circuit during the day, which produces lower condensing temperatures and higher efficiency. This method can reduce both peak energy and power use by as much as 35%. The chapter also discusses a scheme that uses night sky radiant cooling within the heat rejection water circuit. The lower effective temperature of the night sky is used as a heat sink with long wave radiation taking place between the condenser water and the night sky. With the use of thermal storage cold energy can be released during daytime hours to improve energy efficiency.

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