Solar Thermal Energy Storage Using Paraffins as Phase Change Materials for Air Conditioning in the Built Environment

Abstract

Thermal energy storage (TES) using phase change materials (PCMs) has received increasing attention since the last decades, due to its great potential for energy savings and energy management in the building sector. As one of the main categories of organic PCMs, paraffins exhibit favourable phase change temperatures for solar thermal energy storage. Its application is therefore effective to overcome the intermittent problem of solar energy utilisation, thereby reducing the power consumption of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and domestic hot water (DHW) systems. This chapter reviews the development and performance evaluation of solar thermal energy storage using paraffin-based PCMs in the built environment. Two case studies of solar-assisted radiant heating and desiccant cooling systems with integrated paraffin-based PCM TES were also presented. The results showed that paraffin-based PCM TES systems can rationalise the utilisation of solar thermal energy for air conditioning while maintaining a comfortable indoor environment.