Coupled TRNSYS-CFD simulations evaluating the performance of PCM plate heat exchangers in an airport terminal building displacement conditioning system
Gowreesunker, B. L., Tassou, S. A. and Kolokotroni, M.
2013 Building and Environment, Volume 65, July 2013, Pages 132-145
Gowreesunker, B. L., Tassou, S. A. and Kolokotroni, M., (2013), "Coupled TRNSYS-CFD simulations evaluating the performance of PCM plate heat exchangers in an airport terminal building displacement conditioning system", Building and Environment, Volume 65, July 2013, Pages 132-145.
Abstract:
This paper reports on the energy performance evaluation of a displacement ventilation (DV) system in an airport departure hall, with a conventional DV diffuser and a diffuser retrofitted with a phase change material storage heat exchanger (PCM-HX). A TRNSYS-CFD quasi-dynamic coupled simulation method was employed for the analysis, whereby TRNSYS? simulates the HVAC and PID control system and ANSYS FLUENT? is used to simulate the airflow inside the airport terminal space. The PCM-HX is also simulated in CFD, and is integrated into the overall model as a secondary coupled component in the TRNSYS interface. Different night charging strategies of the PCM-HX were investigated and compared with the conventional DV diffuser. The results show that: i) the displacement ventilation system is more efficient for cooling than heating a space; ii) the addition of a PCM-HX system reduces the heating energy requirements during the intermediate and summer periods for specific night charging strategies, whereas winter heating energy remains unaffected; iii) the PCM-HX reduces cooling energy requirements, and; iv) maximum energy savings of 34% are possible with the deployment of PCM-HX retrofitted DV diffuser.
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