Sensible and Latent Storage Heat
Copyright © 2011 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved International Review of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 5, N. 2 Special Issue on Heat Transfer
280 heaters with paraffin as thermal energy storage material.
The first system had tank in tank type storage and the second had integrated type of storage using a reflector.
Both systems were able to deliver hot water during the night and in morning on a 24 h cycle basis the two
systems were found to be 45 and 60 efficient respectively. Canbazoglou et al [12] presented some
results of investigations on solar energy storage performance using sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate in a
conventional solar water heating system. In this study, authors used an experimental, open-loop conventional
passive solar energy system with a natural circulation to provide domestic hot water. The system consisted of
solar collectors, hot and cold water tanks and was equipped with sensors to take measurements. Al-Hinti et
al [6] made an experimental study of the performance of water-phase change material PCM storage for use with
conventional solar water heating systems. Paraffin wax contained in small cylindrical aluminum containers was
used as the PCM. The containers were packed in a commercially available, cylindrical hot water storage
tank on two levels. The PCM storage advantage is demonstrated with controlled energy input experiments
with the aid of an electrical heater on an isolated storage tank, with and without the PCM containers. It was found
that the use of the proposed configuration can provide a 13–14
o
C advantage in the stored hot water temperature for extended periods of time.
In this work, typical results from a solar installation developed at Technological Educational Institution of
Halkida to test PCM effect on solar energy storage under Greek climate conditions are presented and discussed.
Results show clearly enhancement of solar thermal energy storage performance compared to a conventional
system. The suggested storage configuration is simple and can be easily used with existing conventional
systems without major or expensive modifications.