EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION OF LATENT-HEAT STORAGE FORWATER-BASED SOLAR HEATING-SYSTEMS

An experimental and a theoretical study has been conducted to determin e the performance of phase-change energy storage materials for solar w ater-heating systems. Simulation techniques are used to determine the system performance over the entire heating season. Variations of the s olar-supplied fraction of the load with storage mass and collector are a for water-based systems with sensible and latent heat storage have b een examined. The variation of the outlet fluid temperature with diffe rent values of NTU and the variation of the stored energy with time fo r a phase change material (CaCl2 . 6H(2)O) are also investigated.