Search

A paraffin wax and copper foam matrix were used as a thermal energy storage material in the double passes air solar chimney (SC) collector to get ventilation effect through daytime and after sunset. Air SC collector was installed in the south wall of an insulated test room and tested with different working angles (30o, 45o and 60o). Different SC types were used; single pass, double passes flat plate collector and double pass thermal energy storage box collector (TESB). A computational model based on the finite volume method for transient tw dimensional domains was carried out to describe the heat transfer and storage in the thermal energy storage material of collector. Also, equivalent specific heat method was employed to describe the heat storage and release in the mushy zone. Experimental results referred to an increase in thermal conductivity of paraffin wax that supported by copper foam matrix more than ten times. While the ventilation effect was still active for hours after the sun set, depending on the heat storage amount. Maximum ventilation mass flow rate with TESB collector was recorded with value equals to 36.651 kg/hr., when the overall discharge coefficient that was calculated for the system equals to 0.371. Experimental results showed that the best working angle range was 45~60o, and the highest air to the collector approaching temperature appeared to the double passes flat plate collector. Results gave greater heat storage efficiency of (47)% when the maximum solar radiation was 780 W/m2 at 12.00pm, while the energy summation through duration charge time was 18460 kJ. Computational results, depending on the equivalent heat capacity method for heat storage or release from phase change material that supported by copper foam matrix, showed the behavior of paraffin wax melting and solidification situation through periodic for charge and released heat from the solar collector. Also, these results gave agreement approaching the experimental results for the heat storage in the combined heat storage material, with standard error of 16.8%.

In this work, a test room was built in Baghdad city, with (2*1.5*1.5) m3 in dimensions, while the solar chimneys (SC) were designed with aspect ratio (ar) bigger than 12. Test room was supplied by many solar collectors; vertical single side of air pass with ar equals 25, and tilted 45o double side of air passes with ar equals 50 for each pass, both collectors consist of flat thermal energy storage box collector (TESB) that covered by transparent clear acrylic sheet, third type of collector is array of evacuated tubular collectors with thermosyphon in 45o instelled in the bottom of TESB of vertical SC. The TESB was made from metallic iron sheets as a shell and fuelled by paraffin wax as phase change material (PCM). The PCM supported by copper foam matrix (CFM) to enhance thermal conductivity of wax. When heat is released from TESB to the air, a buoyancy force will be generated in chimney gaps. Then a difference in pressure between inside and outside test room leads to induce the air flow to test room through wet corrugated cellulose pad, where evaporative cooling (EC) occurs. Results of experimental work, that achieved in June, for 12 to24 hour in the test day, refer to effectiveness using EC to decrease the room temperature comparing. The system reduces test room temperature of up to 8.5~9.2 oC in 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and at highest effectiveness of EC, while minimum reduces in temperature of up to 3.5 oC in 8:00pm to 3:00 am. Also, the results showed the affectivity to using the TESB, during the night time for ventilation and EC, with lower effectiveness than from day time. The range of EC effectiveness equals 30.5-37.5 with a natural vent, while The maximum air change per hour (ACH) equals (3.8-6.187), and the maximum mass flow rate is equal to (36.651 kg.hr-1) at experimental evaluation of the system’s discharge coefficient value 0.371.

In this work, a test room was built in Baghdad city, with (2*1.5*1.5) m3 in dimensions, while the solar chimneys (SC) were designed with aspect ratio (ar) bigger than 12. Test room was supplied by many solar collectors; vertical single side of air pass with ar equals 25, and tilted 45o double side of air passes with ar equals 50 for each pass, both collectors consist of flat thermal energy storage box collector (TESB) that covered by transparent clear acrylic sheet, third type of collector is array of evacuated tubular collectors with thermosyphon in 45o instelled in the bottom of TESB of vertical SC. The TESB was made from metallic iron sheets as a shell and fuelled by paraffin wax as phase change material (PCM). The PCM supported by copper foam matrix (CFM) to enhance thermal conductivity of wax. When heat is released from TESB to the air, a buoyancy force will be generated in chimney gaps. Then a difference in pressure between inside and outside test room leads to induce the air flow to test room through wet corrugated cellulose pad, where evaporative cooling (EC) occurs. Results of experimental work, that achieved in June, for 12 to24 hour in the test day, refer to effectiveness using EC to decrease the room temperature comparing. The system reduces test room temperature of up to 8.5~9.2 oC in 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and at highest effectiveness of EC, while minimum reduces in temperature of up to 3.5 oC in 8:00pm to 3:00 am. Also, the results showed the affectivity to using the TESB, during the night time for ventilation and EC, with lower effectiveness than from day time. The range of EC effectiveness equals 30.5-37.5 with a natural vent, while The maximum air change per hour (ACH) equals (3.8-6.187), and the maximum mass flow rate is equal to (36.651 kg.hr-1) at experimental evaluation of the system’s discharge coefficient value 0.371.