Open AccessThe investigation of using phase change material for solar pond insulation
Author(s) -
İsmail Bozkurt
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
thermal science/thermal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.339
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2334-7163
pISSN - 0354-9836
DOI - 10.2298/tsci210309185b
Subject(s) - phase change material , solar pond , thermal energy storage , solar energy , materials science , environmental science , phase change , energy storage , enthalpy , thermodynamics , nuclear engineering , electrical engineering , power (physics) , physics , engineering
Solar ponds are systems that store solar energy in salt water as heat energy. In order to store heat energy for a long time in solar pond, the heat insulation should be done well. In this study, the effect of phase change materials (PCMs) was investigated to improve the insulation of the pond and to store the heat energy for a longer time. The melting temperature is a key parameter in the selection of PCMs. The temperature distribution of the solar pond was examined and PCMs with melting temperatures in the range of the pond average temperature ? 10?C were selected.Three different phase change materials were used in the walls of the solar pond for insulation. The temperature and enthalpy changes of the system were calculated numerically for a year. The heat storage ratio of the solar pond was determined by using the obtained enthalpy and solar radiation data. Consequently, the heat storage ratio of the pond with glass-wool is maximum 20.95% in July and minimum 7.92% in January. The heat storage ratio of the solar pond which Paraffin C18, Capric acid and Paraffin 44 are used as PCMs is maximum 32.22%, 34.85% and 47.81% in December, respectively. It is observed that the appropriate selection of PCMs is provided a longer storage time for solar ponds.