Optimizing thermal performance of evacuated tube solar collectors with cascaded phase change materials

IF 6.4 2区工程技术 Q1 THERMODYNAMICS

Case Studies in Thermal Engineering Pub Date : 2025-04-16 DOI:10.1016/j.csite.2025.106138

Sana Said , Sofiene Mellouli , Talal Alqahtani , Salem Algarni , Ridha Ajjel , Badr M. Alshammari , Lioua Kolsi

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Abstract

This study assesses the performance of an Evacuated Tube Solar Collector (ETSC) featuring cascaded Phase Change Materials (PCMs). Numerical simulations are employed to conduct a comparative analysis of two new design configurations of the ETSC that utilize cascaded PCMs. Configuration 1 is an ETSC with stacked PCM rings, while Configuration 2 is an ETSC with surrounding PCM layers. Five different PCMs are evaluated to identify the best combination of cascaded PCMs for the ETSC. The impact of the cascaded PCMs' frequency and arrangement on the system's thermal efficiency is examined. A comparative analysis of cascaded configurations and single PCM cases in ETSCs is conducted. The findings suggest that PCM 3 (Rubitherm RT50) is the most suitable option for a standard ETSC utilizing a single PCM, achieving a maximum efficiency of 34.74 %. The optimal arrangement for Configuration 1, featuring three stacked PCM rings, achieves the highest overall efficiency of 36.73 % and an Energy Enhancement Ratio (EER) of 1.74 % compared to a standard ETSC. In contrast, the optimal arrangement for Configuration 2, which incorporates two surrounding PCM layers, reaches a maximum efficiency of 36.64 %. These results underscore the importance of PCM selection and arrangement in optimizing the performance of an ETSC that utilizes cascaded PCMs for improved energy storage and efficiency.

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来源期刊

Case Studies in Thermal Engineering Chemical Engineering-Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

CiteScore

8.60

自引率

11.80%

发文量

812

审稿时长

76 days

期刊介绍： Case Studies in Thermal Engineering provides a forum for the rapid publication of short, structured Case Studies in Thermal Engineering and related Short Communications. It provides an essential compendium of case studies for researchers and practitioners in the field of thermal engineering and others who are interested in aspects of thermal engineering cases that could affect other engineering processes. The journal not only publishes new and novel case studies, but also provides a forum for the publication of high quality descriptions of classic thermal engineering problems. The scope of the journal includes case studies of thermal engineering problems in components, devices and systems using existing experimental and numerical techniques in the areas of mechanical, aerospace, chemical, medical, thermal management for electronics, heat exchangers, regeneration, solar thermal energy, thermal storage, building energy conservation, and power generation. Case studies of thermal problems in other areas will also be considered.