Utilization of Latent Heat Storage Unit for Comfort Ventilation of Buildings in Hot and Dry Climates

Abstract

In hot and dry climatic conditions of South Asia, summer night temperatures are low, and phase change material (PCM) based heat storage technique could be used as heat sink to reduce ambient air temperature during hot day times, as an alternate of current ventilation techniques for the building sector. This can help in reducing electricity consumption and consequently reducing green house gas emissions. This study presents the analysis of PCM storage unit using cooler night temperatures for charging of storage material and later acting as a heat sink for hot ambient air during day time in hot and dry climatic conditions. The influence of air flow rates and melting point of PCM on the availability of comfort temperatures at storage unit outlet has been studied. The results clearly indicate the feasibility of PCM storage unit as a heat sink to keep ambient air within comfort limits during the hot day time in summer season. When the PCM melting temperature is equal to the comfort temperature of the hottest summer month, the storage unit performance is maximized for all the months during the summer season.

Keywords:

• Cooling
• PCM
• Latent heat storage
• Heat exchanger
• Hot and dry climates
• Thermal comfort

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This study is supported and funded by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC).