Analysis of the thermal behavior of a phase change heat storage phase-change heat storage system for residential heating

Abstract

 This work presents the development and experimental characterization of a thermal storage prototype using phase chan­ge materials (PCM) for integration into a solar heating system. Three types of PCMs were utilized: beef fat, soybean wax, and stearin, encapsulated in recycled aluminum cans with metal fins, with a theoretical storage capacity of 16 MJ (a total of 60 kg of PCM). Tem­perature profiles were recorded during the charging and discharging cycles. The melting and solidification temperature ranges of each PCM, the subcooling phenomenon, and thermal gradients within the accumulator were characterized. During the charging phase, effi­ciencies between 10-30% were determined, depending on environmental conditions. During discharge, air outlet temperatures above 30°C were maintained for 5-8 hours. The heating system successfully kept a housing prototype comfortable for seven consecutive days.