EXERGETIC EFFICIENCY OF PASSIVE SOLAR AIR HEATER WITH PHASE CHANGE ENERGY STORAGE MATERIAL

ABSTRACT

Energy and exergy analysis of solar air heater with phase change material energy storage is considered in this research work. Energy and exergy models for component systems like flat plate solar collector and phase change material in one-dimensional heat conduction in a cylindrical pipe, for storing periods were obtained. Exergy analysis, which is based on the second law of thermodynamics, and energy analysis, which is based on first law, was applied to improve system efficiency. Measured data, like hourly insolation, collector temperature, PCM temperature, environmental temperature and air flow rate were used as an input on the energy and exergy models to determine system performance. The Software, Engineering Equation Solver (EES) was used to solve the generated equation models. The results of the analysis revealed that the average energy and exergy efficiencies were 48% and 35% respectively.