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Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a PCM-Supported ...

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There is actually a commercial product based on zeolite/water adsorption available,<br />

also in Germany, namely self-cooling bear kegs. The user just turns a h<strong>and</strong>le <strong>and</strong><br />

waits for about ten minutes. Then he/she can serve 20 liters <strong>of</strong> cold beer to guests.<br />

The empty kegs are returned to the factory, recharged by heating, <strong>and</strong> filled with<br />

beer again. Air humidification/cooling <strong>and</strong> dehumidification/heating are being used to<br />

cool the bear glasses <strong>and</strong> recharge the empty kegs, respectively. Since its<br />

introduction in 2001, about 20,000 kegs are in regular use [105].<br />

Thermochemical reactions have the potential to store up to 1 MWh.m -3 , depending <strong>of</strong><br />

course upon the actual reaction [103]. However, they are more complex than other<br />

thermal energy storage systems, <strong>and</strong> still in the development phase, but they are<br />

also more flexible [98].<br />

2.4 Sensible heat energy storage (SHES)<br />

In sensible heat storage (SHES), temperature <strong>of</strong> the storage material varies with the<br />

amount <strong>of</strong> heat energy stored. SHES system utilizes the heat capacity (c) <strong>and</strong> the<br />

change in temperature ΔT <strong>of</strong> the material during charging <strong>and</strong> discharging<br />

processes. The amount <strong>of</strong> stored heat depends on specific heat <strong>of</strong> the medium, the<br />

temperature change, <strong>and</strong> the amount <strong>of</strong> storage material.<br />

T<br />

2<br />

<br />

Q m.<br />

c.<br />

dT<br />

(2.1)<br />

T<br />

1<br />

Most SHS use water, stone, iron, earth, or ceramic bricks as the thermal storage<br />

material, <strong>and</strong> air, water, or oil as the heat transfer fluid. The high heat capacity <strong>of</strong><br />

water <strong>of</strong>ten makes water tanks logical choice for thermal energy storage systems<br />

that operate in a temperature needed for heating <strong>and</strong> cooling applications, but the<br />

low density <strong>of</strong> water requires large volumes. In desalination technology, water<br />

storage tanks are highly recommended for 24 hours operation <strong>of</strong> humidificationdehumidification<br />

solar desalination units [87]. The relatively low heat capacity <strong>of</strong><br />

thermal storage materials such as rock <strong>and</strong> ceramics is somewhat <strong>of</strong>fset by the large<br />

temperature difference possible by these materials <strong>and</strong> their relatively high densities<br />

[88].<br />

2.5 Latent heat energy storage (LHES)<br />

2.5.1 Concept <strong>of</strong> Phase Change Energy Storage<br />

The latent heat storage (LHES) or phase change materials (<strong>PCM</strong>) absorb <strong>and</strong><br />

release heat as it undergoes a change in phase from solid to solid, solid to liquid or<br />

15

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