Jr. Turnpenny et al., Novel ventilation cooling system for reducing air conditioning in buildings. Part I: testing and theoretical modelling, APPL TH ENG, 20(11), 2000, pp. 1019-1037
A latent heat storage unit incorporating heat pipes embedded in phase chang
e material (PCM) is developed and tested for a novel application in low ene
rgy cooling of buildings. A one-dimensional mathematical model of the heat
transfer from air to PCM is presented to allow sizing of a test unit. Detai
ls of the construction and testing of one heat pipe/PCM unit in a controlle
d environment are described, and measurements of heat transfer rate and mel
ting times are presented. When the difference between air and PCM temperatu
re was 5 degrees C, the heat transfer rate was approximately 40 W over a me
lt period of 19 h. The heat transfer rate could he improved, and the phase
change time shortened, with an alternative design for finning of the heat p
ipe inside the PCM. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.