Data acquisition and feedback system for thermal energy storage monitoring

Latent thermal energy storage (LTES) using Phase Change Materials (PCMs) have shown enormous potential for energy conservation due to their thermal characteristics. In order to utilize the prospective benefits new LTES systems need to be designed and asses the energy savings globally. In view of

Project Title

Data acquisition and feedback system for thermal energy storage monitoring

Project Area of Specialization

Robotics

Project Summary

Latent thermal energy storage (LTES) using Phase Change Materials (PCMs) have shown enormous potential for energy conservation due to their thermal characteristics. In order
to utilize the prospective benefits new LTES systems need to be designed and asses the energy savings globally. In view of the foregoing, a data acquisition, feedback system is
to be built for the monitoring of thermal energy storage. Using phase change materials (PCMs) with conventional materials helps with the thermal energy storage through enhancement
of thermal characteristics for the composites. Macro-encapsulation of commercially available PCMs having melting temperatures in a suitable range can be investigated
to analyze the thermal response of such systems. Experimental investigation and software simulations of PCMs behavior with respect to given ambient conditions will
lead to the choice of suitable LTES for the application.

Project Objectives

1. Design and Development of Data acquisition and feedback system for thermal energy storage in buildings.
2.  Experimental Investigation of cooling load of a room for thermal comfort with and without PCMs.

Project Implementation Method

An experimental setup comprising of a small scale building room is to be designed to determine the energy consumption and thermal behavior of the given system. PCMs will be used as thermal energy storage element in the model. Macro encapsulation technique will be used, on the inner sides of one of the walls and the ceiling as the major part of heat exchange takes place through ceiling. The inclusion of PCM will be in some form of package such as tubes, pouches, spheres, or panels. These containers can serve directly as heat exchangers or they can be incorporated in building products. Data Acquisition and Feedback System for Thermal Energy Storage Monitoring An active system will be used, which stores heat or cold contained thermally separated from the building by insulation and use it only on demand. Data acquisition system will take input from different temperature sensors that will be placed inside the test model
and perform calculations to give results of energy storage, effects on rise/drop in room temperature and other parameters to study the effect on various PCMs under different environmental conditions. A feedback loop is common tool/method used for designing control systems. A feedback loop takes the system output and send it to the input to see the difference between the values and then take necessary actions to get the desired output response. In this project the feedback system is going to be based upon the value of the output of the sensors. Heat flux/Temperature sensor will be mounted on the walls and roof to measure their value of temperature. The temperature difference between the outside and inside of the room will be noted to see the effects on heat flow through the sides having PCM layer encapsulated in them and those sides which don’t have PCM. Based on these values calculations will be performed for the conduction and convection of heat through the room from different sides. According to the values calculated and
noted, HVAC devices will be controlled with a microcontroller which will be getting feedback the reading of current temperature of the room and make a decision on turning
the device off or on according to defined range of thermal comfort. Furthermore if the technique known as free cooling is to be used which is based on incorporating PCMs with mechanical ventilation or chilling systems, in order to take advantage of coolness of night to charge the PCM and then discharge it in daytime. This system can enhance TES and the feedback control system can be incorporated with it to control the ventilators or chillers to automatically attain thermal comfort in the room.

Benefits of the Project

1. To store thermal energy in the building material when thermal energy is going to waste and use it for the thermal comfort of the building when needed.
2. To reduce the sum of total energy consumption and shift the peak load to off-peak conditions and to aim towards a green and less polluted environment

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

A cubical of 3mx3mx3m will be designed for performing experiments and obtaining the results with and without incorporating the PCMs. The CAD consists of the cubicle of mentioned dimensions with a 2mx1m door and a 0.8x0.8m window both on same side of the room. Standard kiln bricks will be used for the construction of room.

Final Deliverable of the Project

HW/SW integrated system

Type of Industry

Energy

Technologies

Others

Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and Clean Energy, Climate Action

Required Resources

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