Sphere encapsulated PCM heat storage for solar assisted ventilation.

Presents the design of latent heat storage with small polyethylene spheres with encapsulated PCM, forming porous media inside the duct of the building ventilation system. The study assumed that ambient air is first heated in the solar roof, then passed through latent heat storage and finally enters the living spaces as preheated ventilation air. This latent heat storage serves to prevent overheating and prolong ventilation system operation till the evening or even the night. The authors have taken a numerical approach to transient heat transfer and melting process calculation. Also presents results of numerical simulations at different boundary conditions that occur in reality, such as real-time variation of solar radiation and solar roof efficiency, different air flow rates, various latent heat storage size and different PCM melting temperatures.