PCM-to-air integrated heat exchangers

With recent high energy consumption rates, the awareness has been increased for thermal energy storage systems to reducing cooling loads. Referring to literature potentials and limitations, the research hypothesis can be formulated as ‘Developing a free cooling system of phase change material (PCM)-to-air heat exchanger, utilizing both convection and radiation heat transfer modes, can maintain the indoor thermal comfort under hot climatic conditions’. The scientific contribution of the research is developing a generalized numerical model for the heat exchanger which can enable the application of the system for free cooling designs as well as for improving the thermal properties of supplied air to HVAC units, and thus, reducing the energy consumption for active cooling systems. So, the importance of this research could be magnified to reduce energy consumption and improve indoor thermal conditions. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Fariborz Haghighat

Student:

Partner:

Université de Lyon (Lyon, France)

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Green/Alternative Energy; Sustainability & the Environment; Construction

University:

Concordia University

Program: