Design tool for thermal energy storage in buildings

Paper in proceeding, 2019

The requirements on reducing the energy use and peak heating and cooling power in building applications is now in focus in many countries. Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology has been meticulously studied during the past decades due to its benefits in terms of higher energy storage density per unit volume, as well as given and a narrow temperature operation range [Nazir et al., 2019]. However, the lack of full scale application of TES in building industry shows a need for development of easily accessible guidelines and validated design tools, for such technology to be promoted by designers, decision makers and researchers [Castel et Solé, 2015].
This limitation is addressed here by proposing a novel numerical design tool for TES in Building Applications. The tool, developed under MATLAB/GUI environment, is based on a physically sound TES model [Stathopoulos et al., 2017, 2016], providing a database with commercially available Phase Change Materials (PCM). The tool uses input from the potential user (type of application, energy demand, operating condition, etc…) to select suitable PCMs and calculate the dimensions of the proposed system and its operation profile (temperature, power and energy variation). Results are then presented in a separate file, summarizing the information provided by the user, the selected PCMs including their properties and the performance of the system.
The tool is targeted to designers, decision makers and researchers for increased possibilities for TES design in building district energy systems.