The concepts of the energy saving equivalent (ESE) and energy saving index (ESI) are presented in this paper to evaluate the performance of new materials and components in passive buildings. The ESE represents the hypothetical energy that should be input to maintain a passive room at the same...

Theoretical investigations of fatty acids as a phase change material (PCM) for energy storage system have been conducted in this study. The selected fatty acids were capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid. For the two-dimensional simulation model based on the...

In order to really assess the potential of Phase Change Material (PCM) wallboards, a renovated office building has been monitored during approximatively one year. A room was equipped with PCM wallboards in the lateral walls and in the ceiling. Another room, identical to the first one, was not...

This paper presents results of tests carried out to investigate the potential application of heat pipes and phase change materials for thermoelectric refrigeration. The work involved the design and construction of a thermoelectric refrigeration prototype. The performance of the thermoelectric...

The use of photovoltaic (PV) systems has been showing a significant growth trend but for a more effective development of this technology it is essential to have higher energy conversion performances. Producers of PV often declare an higher efficiency respect to real conditions and this deviation...

In this article we present a solar wall, which absorbs solar energy into black paraffin wax which is an example of phase change material (PCM). The stored heat is used for heating the air for the ventilation of the house. Experimental results for prototype of the solar wall are presented and...

This paper is aimed at analyzing the behavior of a packed bed latent heat thermal energy storage system. The packed bed is composed of spherical capsules filled with paraffin wax as PCM usable with a solar water heating system. The model developed in this study uses the fundamental equations...

This paper is aimed at analyzing the melting behavior of paraffin wax as a phase change material (PCM) encapsulated in a cylindrical capsule, used in a latent heat thermal energy storage system with a solar water heating collector. The heat for melting of PCM in the capsule is provided by hot...

Latent heat thermal storage (LHTS) is a technology that can help to reduce energy consumption for cooling applications, where the cold is stored in phase change materials (PCMs). Free cooling is a concept developed for air conditioning applications, in which coolness is collected from ambient...

Thermal cycling tests were performed to check the stability in thermal energy storage systems on some selected organic and inorganic phase change materials (PCMs). The possibility of using these PCMs in thermal energy storage systems were examined on the basis of thermal, chemical and kinetic...