Experimental Analysis of the Performance of a Commercial Latent Thermal Energy Storage for Domestic Hot Water
摘要
On the verge of the transition towards a climate neutral future, latent thermal energy storages (LTESs) can play a significant role towards net-zero-energy buildings. These systems offer the possibility to decouple energy demand and availability, which leads to a better use of renewable energy. To bridge the gap between research and industrial applications, the integration between all components of a system is crucial to ensure the proper deployment of LTESs. Thus, phase change materials (PCMs) and heat exchangers shall cooperate to enhance the performance of the LTESs and reduce the drawbacks of PCMs (e.g., low thermal conductivity). Moreover, if coupling LTESs with heat pumps represents the opportunity to decarbonize the residential sector, an improper integration between them can lead to inefficiencies and energy waste. In the present work, a commercial LTES is coupled to a commercial heat pump designed for domestic hot water production. The LTES is filled with an organic PCM with a melting point of around 49 °C. This work presents the results of the experimental analysis conducted to gather information when these two systems work together. Several working conditions were investigated. Results are presented in terms of water power and heat pump efficiency. They were analyzed and discussed to optimize the system, making it economically viable and ready for commercialization.